Learn about Chautauqua at Henry County Heritage Center Museum

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County Heritage Center Museum will host Theatre Museum Vice President Grace Swank-Davis as she presents a program about the Chautauqua movement.

According to HCHT, Swank-Davis’ presentation will include the history of the Chautauqua movement, how it spread across the county and its impact on the citizens of Mt. Pleasant.

While the Britannica Encyclopedias define the Chautauqua movement as a “popular U.S. movement in adult education that flourished during the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” which began in wester New York in 1974, Swank-Davis intends to take this educational opportunity to convey the importance of the movement to citizens of Mt. Pleasant.

According to The University of Iowa Library, the first circuit Chautauqua appeared in 1904 and traveled to 15 towns in Iowa to deliver educational, spiritual, and cultural stimulation to rural and small-town America.

These Chautauqua programs included motivational, instructional, inspirational and other provocative or humorous lectures, musical performances, variety acts, and dramatic readings.

For more information about the Chautauqua movement from Swank-Davis’ attend the program at Henry County Heritage Center, Saturday Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided.

To ask additional questions contact (319) 385-4983

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com