The following description is courtesy Iowa History Journal Owner & Publisher, Michael Swanger.
Iowa History Journal, now in its 16th year, is the only popular, statewide magazine devoted exclusively to Iowa's fascinating history. Michael Swanger, a former longtime Iowa newspaperman, is the owner and publisher of Iowa History Journal, a family-owned, small business based in West Des Moines. During his tenure as the magazine’s owner since 2013, Iowa History Journal’s writers have won several awards from the State Historical Society of Iowa’s Board of Trustees in the Mills-Noun Award category and expanded its readership across the state and beyond to more than 30 states.
In this month's issue, learn about such topics as The Maintenance Shop, Robert Schuller, Glenn Miller, and the UNI Panthers.
For 50 years, The Maintenance Shop in Ames has hosted a wide range of live music that has pleased the ears of generations of music fans. With its thrust stage adorned by a large stained-glass window, its pin-drop acoustics, and its audience seated closely to the musicians, the feeling of reverence, awe, and reflection, is what sets the M-Shop apart from other live music venues in Iowa. So, too, is the roster of legendary musicians who have played the M-Shop that is located in the basement of Iowa State University’s Memorial Union. They include Muddy Waters, Albert King, Willie Dixon, Buddy Rich, Charles Mingus, Chick Corea, Arlo Guthrie, Doc Watson, Leon Redbone, Billy Joe Shaver, War, Tower of Power, Dick Dale, Gregg Allman, Uncle Tupelo, Smashing Pumpkins and The Lumineers. Iowa History Journal Publisher Michael Swanger takes readers backstage to learn the history of one of Iowa’s most respected listening rooms.
In his column, publisher Michael Swanger recalls the many terrific shows that he has witnessed at The Maintenance Shop in Ames during the last 30 years.
Learn the story of Robert Schuller, the Iowa farm boy who became a world-famous preacher from Arvid Huisman.
The Glenn Miller series concludes as historian and author Dennis Spragg and debunks the conspiracy theories regarding the famous bandleader’s mysterious death 80 years ago.
Radio broadcaster and author Tim Harwood chronicles the University of Northern Iowa’s 1980-81 men’s basketball team that established the Panthers as a D-1 program.
“Country Roads” columnist Arvid Huisman writes about how Christmas music rekindles the spirit of the holiday.
A one-year subscription to the Iowa History Journal costs $19.95 and a two-year subscription costs $35.95. Popular back issues have become highly collectible and most are still available for purchase. Single copies of the current issue can be purchased at Barnes & Noble, Hy-Vee, Beaverdale Books and select Walmart, Mills Fleet Farm and Hartig Drug stores.