Museum Campus

Carnegie Library:

The 1904 Carnegie houses an extensive collection of books that complements the holdings of the Perry Public Library right next door. Several ongoing themed exhibits inside the museum display books, quotations, and artifacts about immigrant groups that have settled Perry, as well as individual authors and historic events that have influenced local history. The Superior Courtroom has been restored in the Carnegie basement, which also is the site of many Hometown Perry, Iowa programs.

Security Bank Building:

The administrative and research offices of Hometown Perry, Iowa are here. The restored building also features a collection of Midwestern art, including Practical Idealist, an original Grant Wood illustration. The Security Bank Building houses the Clarion Room that has hosted many community occasions. 

Founded in 1995, Hometown Perry, Iowa is an innovative, interactive museum that shares the museums collection of more than 12,000 photographs and images.  The museum hosts an array of educational program, celebrations, and other events.

The purpose of Hometown Perry, Iowa is to study, understand, communicate, and celebrate, the vital contribution small towns have made to American life as seen through the prism of the immigrant experience in Perry, Iowa, and other small towns across the Midwest. 

Soumas Court:

Soumas Court, a pocket park adjacent to the Hotel Pattee, celebrates the people who make Perry a community. The park is named for George Soumas, son of Greek immigrants, World War II hero, leading citizen, and former mayor. The courtyard entrance features the Reconfiguration Arches designed by acclaimed sculptor Albert Paley.

Artist David Dahlquist designed the courtyard floor in brick with Boston Ivy tiles interspersed with oak leaves. The courtyard plants and trees are mostly Iowa natives, selected and placed by Better Homes and Gardens Editor Elvin McDonald.
The Wall of Witnesses, located on the northwest wall of Soumas Court, depicts the faces of well-known and well-loved Perry area men and women in ceramic plaques by David Dahlquist and Rebecca Ekstrand. 
Soumas Court is a public space designed by architect John Leusink and is available for private parties.

Perry High School Heritage Exhibit:

The Heritage Site puts the public as well as Perry High School students in touch with school history. The site features exhibits that include historic school photographs and quotations from students, teachers, administrators, and parents that mark critical moments and document everyday life throughout school history.

Reconfiguration Arches:
Visitors entering Soumas Court pass through history when they walk through a pair of ceremonial arches, located on each end of the Court.

Made of farm equipment, mining tools, railroad items, and used pieces of metal donated by local residents, the large, silver-colored arches recall the stories of the men and women whose labors built Perry and helped the area thrive.

Looking closely at the Reconfiguration Arches, you will see pieces of Perry’s past.  You will notice the wagon wheels, water pumps, tractor parts, augers, tillage disks, piano sounding board, railroad and mine rails, and more.  Welded together into four 16,000-pound sculptures, the arches reflect the local history that Perry-area residents and businesses shaped.

Local metalworkers helped Albert Paley fabricate the ceremonial arches to celebrate Perry’s metal manufacturing, mining, agricultural, and railroad heritage.  The workers came from Perry’s long-established metal-fabricating companies.

The Reconfiguration Arches were created by Albert Paley of Rochester, New York.  Recognized as one of the country’s most gifted metal artists, Paley has designed artwork for clients including the Renwick Gallery at the National Museum of American Art in the Smithsonian Institution.
“The objects in the Arches reflect the people who lived here and determined what this community was.  As pieces of rusted metal, the objects were worthless, but the connectedness and associations they bear witness to are extremely important,” Paley said.

Outdoor recreation:

Raccoon River Valley Trail & Hiawatha Trail:
The Raccoon River Valley Trail is a 56-mile long multi-use recreational trail that extends from Clive, in the Des Moines metropolitan area, to Jefferson, and will soon connect to Perry.  The trail is built on a former Chicago Northwestern Railroad right-of-way now owned by Dallas, Guthrie, and Greene County Conservation Boards.  The trail winds its way through the Middle and North Raccoon River corridors. Adding Perry to the trail, will create a 77-mile loop connecting to the Des Moines metro, and expand our recreation trails to connect Perry with other communities on the multi-county Raccoon River Valley Trail system and The American Discovery Trail.
The Raccoon River Valley Trail provides the opportunity to observe nature and learn more about Iowa’s cultural history while hiking, biking, in-line skating, jogging, or just taking an evening stroll system and The American Discovery Trail.
Recreational Opportunitiesmean more to small towns since they provide a common space for individuals and families to gather and explore.  It will also be a way to connect to our past as you will see through diligent renovations of the Brownfields Areas and the train depots.


Click to Enlarge

Canoeing & Kayaking along Raccoon River

Hiawatha Bike Ride:

Annual ride in the second week of July. 2007 will be the 9th Annual bike ride. The ride begins at Pattee Park and heads south on P58 (7-8 miles) towards Washington Twsp. Then it loops around through Dawson back to Rippey on the BRR route back to Perry.

It began with Perry Vision 2000 to start raising funds for grant writing for trails and maintaining the trails as they are built.

BRR:

Bike Ride to Rippey. The original winter ride and tabbed as the “Ragbrai Reunion.” Join thousands of cyclists from all over the midwest on the 23 mile round trip. This is an annual ride that is the first weekend in February.

Fourth of July:

Parade, kid/adult water fights, baseball, horseshoes, concessions, inflatable games, arts/craft vendors, and entertainment at the bandstand with fireworks at dusk to celebrate the day. Bring the family for a fun filled day to celebrate the Fourth of July!

Friday Fest:

The Perry Chamber of Commerce offers live entertainment, kid’s activities, inflatable games, arts & crafts through our Friday Fest Events. The Friday Fest provides four events throughout the summer, that occurs once a month from May through August.

Lighted Christmas Parade:

This is an annual event that takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving. You will see dazzling & delightful lights on the floats during the parade as well as music. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, Carolers, kettle corn, soup, candy canes, hot chocolate or apple cider & a visit from Santa! There is also a Community Christmas Tree lighting following the parade with Carolers to bring in the Holiday Season as well.

McCreary Community Center:

The Perry Recreation Center attracts people of all ages.  The heated indoor pool is a six-lane, 25-meter pool with a shallow play area and a diving area as well.  They also offer a whirlpool, dry-air sauna, tot dock and sun deck for the warmer season. 

The gymnasium included two volleyball courts, walking/running area, six basketball hoops that also may be lowered so the kids can enjoy hoop time.

The recreation center also features a racquetball/Walleyball Court that may be reserved up to one week in advance at a cost of $4.00 per hour.  Must provide a 24-hour notice to cancel a reservation.  Equipment is available for checkout.

Included in the lobby area are billboards, ping-pong and pinball.  A variety of beverages and snack items area available for purchase.

Daily User Fees
Fees are good for entire day.  Admission fro children 5 years and under is FREE.  Youth under age 8, must be supervised by an individual 14 years or older at all times.

Building Hours
   Monday – Friday                                  6 a.m. – 9 p.m. 
   Saturday                                               7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
   Sunday                                                 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Pool closes at 8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and at 5:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday

Grand Theater:
Perry has a three theaters to entertain the young and old alike.  The Theater has all the amenities that make the movie experience extraordinary.    Bring the whole family or go with a friend to see your favorite movie characters or the upcoming Oscar winning films.  The Grand Theater also offers snacks and goodies to savor as you escape and become part of the screen.
Contact the Grand Theater for movie times and costs at 515.465.2605 or www.fridleytheater.com.

Other Central Iowa Attractions & Links:
Perry Chamber of Commerce
The Perry Chief
Forest Park - Dallas County Conservation
State of Iowa Tourism
Salisbury House
Des Moines Art Center
Botanical Center
Valley Junction
Des Moines Symphony
Iowa Cubs Baseball
Arts & Crafts Society
Roycrofters
River Valley Golf Course
Lake Panorama Golf Course
Voas Nature Area – Dallas County Conservation
Boone-Scenic Valley Railroad
Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace & Museum - Boone, Iowa
Kate Shelly Museum & Memorial Bridge - Boone, Iowa
Reiman Gardens-Ames
Ledges State Park
Seven Oaks Recreation
Picket Fence Creamery
Northern Prairie?
Prairieland Herbs
Deal’s Orchard – Jefferson
Whiterock/Garst Farms?
Madison County Covered Bridges
John Wayne’s Birthplace – Winterset
Howells
Madison County Historical Site
Civic Center
Event Center
Living History Farms