Landmarks in Iowa History Films by Herb Hake

These films are from the television series "Landmarks in Iowa History," which aired on WOI-TV and was directed and hosted by Herbert Hake as an educational tool for school children in the state. Hake was a professor at the Iowa State Teachers College, later named the State College of Iowa, and currently the University of Northern Iowa. Hake was known for his "chalk talks" in which he drew as he told stories or taught lessons about various Iowa towns, landmarks, and history. He became the first radio program director in 1942 and the first director of radio and television in 1947. A portion of the larger collection of films from this series have been digitized with funds donated by UNI alumni. For more information about the collection of films and other works by Hake, see the finding aid for "Landmarks in Iowa History" and the Herb V. Hake Papers in University Archives.

Herbert V. Hake attended graduate school at the University of Iowa, where he earned his master's degree in scenic design in 1933. In the summer of 1936, he began his career at the Iowa State Teachers College (ISTC) with the Theater Department. From 1938 to 1942 he served as technical director, scenic designer, and instructor of speech courses. He was a pioneer in radio and television.

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Landmarks in Iowa History: Backbone State Park

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Backbone State Park in Iowa, focusing primarily on natural history and landscape formation from prehistoric times to the modern day.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Bradford

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Bradford, Iowa, including the construction of the Little Brown Church and the old Bradford Academy.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Burlington

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Burlington, Iowa, including the city's early days as the first capital of Iowa and modern day churches in the city.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Coralville

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Coralville, Iowa, including the historic boulder landmark near Clear Lake and the migration of 1,300 Mormons from Coralville to Salt Lake City.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Council Bluffs

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Council Bluffs, Iowa, including time under Spanish ownership and the expedition of Lewis and Clark.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Croton

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Croton, Iowa, including a monument and canonballs that fell on Iowa soil during the Civil War.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Davenport

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Davenport, Iowa, from the acquisition of the land in the Black Hawk Treaty to the bridges and trains of modern day.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Des Moines

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Des Moines, Iowa, including the history of all of the different capital cities and different capitol buildings throughout Iowa.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Dubuque

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Dubuque, Iowa including lead mining, Julien Dubuque's time in the region, and landmarks around the city.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Durango

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Durango, Iowa, including the lead mine that used to be located there and the different products that are made with lead.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Estherville

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Estherville, Iowa, including the story of the Estherville Meteorite.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Festina

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Festina, Iowa, including the story of the smallest church in the world, a monument boulder, and a man named Johann Gartner.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Fort Atkinson

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, including background information on relationships and conflicts amongst American Indians and white settlers and military personnel, the fort's construction, and its modern reconstruction.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Fort Dodge

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Fort Dodge, Iowa, including the history of the Gypsum Mine and the Cardiff Giant.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Fort Madison

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Fort Madison, Iowa, including excavation efforts, the fort's purpose, and its capture during the war of 1812.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Galland

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Galland, Iowa including the historic school as well as other landmarks in the surrounding area.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Gitchie Manitou Park

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Gitchie Manitou Park in Iowa, including the geology of that location and how the Sioux quartzite rocks were formed.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Iowa City

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Iowa City, Iowa, primarily focusing on the old captiol building.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Keokuk

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Keokuk, Iowa, focusing primarily on the chief for whom the town is named.
Landmarks in Iowa History: McGregor

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of McGregor, Iowa, including Pike's Peak and Marquette's expedition.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Muscatine

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Muscatine, Iowa including the origins of its name and the background of the button factory in town.
Landmarks in Iowa History: New Mellerary

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of New Melleray, Iowa, including the background of the monks, their daily lives, and buildings.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Oakville

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Oakville, Iowa, including the expedition of Marquette and Joliet.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Pella

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Pella, Iowa, including its Dutch founders, landmarks around the town, and cultural practices.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Plum Grove, 1950s

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of the historic home Plum Grove in Iowa City, including Robert Lucas's time as territorial governor of Iowa and the dispute between the Brown and Sullivan Line. In this episode, Hake is joined by guest Irving H. Hart, archivist and historian at Iowa State Teachers College. Please note there is a later episode about Plum Grove in this series.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Plum Grove, 1964

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Plum Grove, a historic home in Iowa City where Governor Robert Lucas lived. He also discusses the dispute between the Brown and Sullivan Line. Please note there is an earlier episode about Plum Grove in this series.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Spillville

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Spillville, Iowa, including the Bily Clocks Museum and the story of Antonín Dvorak's time in Iowa.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Spirit Lake

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Spirit Lake, Iowa, focusing on the Spirit Lake Massacre in 1857.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Tama

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Tama, Iowa, inluding the Meskwaki Powwow Grounds.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Toolesboro

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Toolesboro, Iowa, focusing on the Hopewellian mounds there.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Tracy

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hakes teaches the history of Tracy, Iowa, focusing primarily on the coal mining industry.
Landmarks in Iowa History: West Branch

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of West Branch, Iowa, focusing on Herbert Hoover and the house he was born in.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Winterset

Herb V. Hake

Herbert Hake teaches the history of Winterset, Iowa, including the introduction of the 'Delicious' apple and covered bridges.