Contact:
Jori Wade-Booth, Communications & Marketing Manager
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area
jwadebooth@silosandsmokestacks.org
Office: 319.234.4567; Cell: 319.404.1311
WATERLOO, Iowa (June 2, 2026) – For 250 years, agriculture has fueled Americas growth and identity. Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) is celebrating 30 years in 2026 while also joining communities across the nation in commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
“As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area during America’s 250th commemoration, we are reminded that the story of our nation is deeply rooted in the farms, factories, communities, and hardworking people of rural America,” said Candy Streed, Silos & Smokestacks managing director.
Agriculture is a living story. Every barn, every field, every factory and every main street holds a story about the agriculture industry. For 30 years Silos & Smokestacks has worked to share the culture, the people and the places that tell the evolving story of agriculture.
Iowa’s only National Heritage Area and member of the National Park Service National Heritage Area System, Silos & Smokestacks headquarters is located in downtown Waterloo. The heritage area spans 37 counties in northeast Iowa and includes a network of nearly 120 sites and attractions. SSNHA empowers Iowa communities and heritage sites by preserving and sharing the stories of agriculture, industry, innovation, nature, and rural life that helped shape America while sharing the story still being written today.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area began in 1991 as an economic revitalization initiative in downtown Waterloo. As the organization evolved, leaders recognized the national significance of northeast Iowa’s agricultural and industrial heritage beyond the city itself. In 1992, Silos & Smokestacks became a privately financed nonprofit partnership dedicated to preserving and promoting the region’s contribution to world agriculture. Following a 1994 National Park Service study recognizing the area’s importance as a living agricultural landscape, Congress officially designated the region as a National Heritage Area in 1996.
Today, travelers from across Iowa, the nation, and around the world visit heritage area sites to experience authentic rural and agricultural history firsthand. Visitors can tour historic farms and factories, explore museums and cultural sites, experience Iowa’s natural landscapes, and discover the innovations and traditions that continue to influence modern agriculture and American life.
“This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate our partners, supporters, and communities who have made this work possible,” said Candy Welch-Streed, Silos & Smokestacks managing director.
Throughout the year, Silos & Smokestacks will be engaging heritage area sites and attractions in recommitment conversations, highlighting America250 activities taking place across the heritage area, and sharing new video stories focused on our core pillars.
Visitors are encouraged to explore Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area sites and discover the stories that connect Iowa to the broader American experience.
To learn more about Iowa’s agricultural heritage, SSNHAs 30th Anniversary and plan a heritage area adventure, visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org/the-story/30-years.
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