Decoration Day + Historic Baseball

Explore the origins and meaning of Memorial Day!

Saturday, May 24 • 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

All activities included with General Admission

Memorial Day began in 1868 as a day called Decoration Day. More than 600,000 soldiers had died during the American Civil War, and their families did not want anyone to forget their sacrifice. On Decoration Day, these families went to the graveyard with flowers and flags to decorate the graves of their soldiers who had died.

Many small towns had parades. Veterans would carry flags and banners, and children walked in these parades carrying flowers.

Today, we honor all fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, not just those who died in the Civil War. Families still go to cemeteries to remember family members who are gone.

You can see what Decoration Day might have looked like over 100 years ago.

Historic Baseball on the Baseball Field • 3:30 p.m. • Included with General Admission

— ENDORSING SPONSOR —

Support is provided by the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority