Displays

Below are history displays that are now in the History Center. The wall displays can be viewed Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The building is closed Saturday and Sunday, unless special events are scheduled.

Historical research, scanned images and text were completed by history society members and sent to Will Thomson of Armadillo Arts, an exhibit design and graphic arts company in Iowa City, who created the wall displays.

"Our Early Settlement & Development" is near the kitchen
in the lower level of the Community Center.


"To Our West" is located in the lower level and highlights history from the Shueyville
and Western areas, including the College of Western.


 Our newest display features the military history of our area and is located in the
large meeting room on the lower level, to the right on the stairs.


Located in the stairwell is a wall display focusing on history of the schools of Ely.


 This clock advertises Joseph Lorenc's Drug Store which was once located 
on Dows Street in Ely. It hangs on the north wall of the stairwell.


Located in the upper floor hallway, this display features architectural
styles of some older homes in Ely.


 In the upstairs hallway are two original desks from the Ely School,
as well as a Ely High School girls basketball uniform.


 The Dows Street District display is located in the upstairs hallway as you
walk toward the City of Ely offices.


 This display is located in the Ely Council Chambers on the upper level.
Its focus is on City of Ely history, including Government, Volunteer Fire Department,
 Ely Public Library, 1972 Centennial Celebration and the conversion of the
Ely Schoolhouse into a Community Center.