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Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum

Feb. 27, 2008

A new museum–the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum–is under construction in downtown Waterloo. Dedicated exclusively to honoring Iowa veterans, this new 30,000-square-foot facility is part of the Grout Museum District and includes 13,000 square feet of exhibit space. Its mission is the collection, preservation and interpretation of Iowa veteran stories and experiences and the contributions and sacrifices made by civilians on home front.

Applied Art worked closely with the museum’s design and fabrication provider, Split Rock Studios, throughout 2007 to concept and plan numerous computer interactives and audio-visual elements for the museum. In December, Applied Art & Technology was selected from a group of nationally known developers to provide content development, audio-visual production, and interactive development services for more than 30 visitor experiences.

Exhibit areas within the museum are divided by wars---from the Civil War to current conflicts—and convey the differences in veteran experiences over time, while honoring the unwavering bravery and sacrifices Iowans have made for our country.

Interactive “Communication Station” exhibits throughout the facility tell Iowans’ stories through letters and emails to and from individual soldiers, newspaper articles, radio and television broadcasts from around the globe.

Several small theaters let visitors hear first-hand about Iowans’ war experiences thanks to the museum staff and others who have recorded oral and video histories through interviews with veterans.

“Dog Tag” interactives allow each visitor to adopt a persona—young man, child, young mother, grandfather—to experience the impact a war has on all Iowans and how this impact changes from one war era to another.

“Contributions and sacrifices during wartime and conflicts are made by men and women; boys and girls; farmers, bankers, manufacturers, and students,” says Jeanie Jorgensen, Applied Art interactive media manager who is managing the project. “Whether on the battlefield or on the home front, each contributes to the war effort differently, and their situations can vary greatly from one conflict or another.”

A scrolling honor roll in the memorial area will recognize every Iowan who has served their country in the armed services, while veteran search stations let visitors look up Iowa veteran information.

The new Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum will open on Veterans Day 2008.