The Boxcar Children

Where: Des Moines Playhouse, Kate Goldman Theatre, 831 42nd Street
Website: www.dmplayhouse.com
Date: Friday Feb 26, 2010 - Sunday Mar 14, 2010
Time: Fri 7 p.m.; Sat 1 p.m.; Sun 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Admission: varies - see website
Description: Finding themselves suddenly orphaned, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden band together and make a home for themselves in an abandoned railroad car. Based on the book by Gertrude Chandler Warner.

ACT: Fifty Years 1959/2009

Where: State Historical Museum, 600 E Grand, downtown
Website: www.iowahistory.org
Date: Friday Jan 22, 2010 - Monday May 31, 2010
Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tues-Sat; noon - 4:30 p.m. Sun
Admission: Free
Description: The exhibit traces the history of ACT, Inc. – originally known as American College Testing Program – to a meeting of co-founders E.F. Lindquist, a University of Iowa professor and national expert in educational measurement; Ted McCarrel, UI Director of Admissions and Registrar; and 16 state representatives who met in Iowa’s Old Capitol on the University of Iowa campus on Aug. 21, 1959. That event founded the American College Testing Program, now known as ACT, Inc. The display includes a timeline of major events in ACT history and artifacts from ACT’s past including test documents and components from early test scoring machines. Visitors can also view an audio-video display with recordings from early leaders describing how the organization evolved.

Dolls of Japan Exhibit

Where: State Historical Museum, 600 E Locust Street, downtown
Website: www.iowahistory.org
Date: Tuesday Feb 2, 2010 - Wednesday Mar 31, 2010
Time: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues-Sat; Noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday
Admission: Free
Description: “The Dolls of Japan: Shapes of Prayer, Embodiments of Love is sponsored by The Japan Foundation. Japanese dolls reflect the customs of Japan and the aspirations of its people, possess distinctive regional attributes, and over the centuries have developed in many diverse forms. Dolls also provide a showcase for traditional Japanese craft products, such as textiles.

Experience the Magic (Outdoor Ice Skating)

Website: www.brentonplaza.com
Date: Friday Nov 20, 2009 - Wednesday Mar 31, 2010
Time: varies - see website
Where: Brenton Skating Plaza, 520 Robert D. Ray Drive, downtown
Admission: varies - see website
Description: Skating lessons, birthday parties, freestyle ice time & broomball league. The rink may be closed to the public due to weather conditions, special events & private rentals. For the most up to date information, please call or visit our website.

Community Events Calendar

Other Things to Do Around Central Iowa:

Guided Tours of Terrace Hill
Terrace Hill, 2300 Grand Avenue. Tuesdays - Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Admission: $5 adults, $2 children ages 6-12. Terrace Hill is open from March through December for tours. Guided tours are given Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the hour and the half hour. Terrace Hill is closed to tours on Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Reservations are not required for groups of ten or fewer. Parking is available on Forest Drive. For questions, call (515) 281-3604

Honor the Colors: Iowa's Civil War Battle Flags
State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust Street. Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission: Free. Original equipment, period prints and paintings, and uniforms wills be featured at the State Historical Building. Highlighting selected original battle flags, the Historical Society will tell how the Civil War Battle Flags in the Capitol will be preserved.

Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge
Experience the breathtaking beauty of over 5,000 acres of tallgrass prairie and native Midwest wildlife. The Refuge reconstructs the native plant and animal communities that greeted Iowa's earliest settlers. Events are ongoing. For more information, visit tallgrass.org

Salisbury House
Visit this 42 room mansion modeled after the King's House in Salisbury, England. This American estate is located on a 10-acre plot of woodlands in the heart of Des Moines. Built between 1923 and 1928, the house has ongoing special events. For more information, visit salisburyhouse.org

Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave. - Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays and the first Friday of each month. Free. 277-4405.

Des Moines Botanical Center, 909 E. River Drive - Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday. $2 adults, $1 seniors and children ages 6-15, Sundays free. 323-8900.

State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust St. - Museum hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Free admission. Free parking in lot east of building. 281-4011.

Terrace Hill, 2300 Grand Ave. - Tours 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday on the half hour. Adults $5, children $2. First Lady Teas held the third Monday of each month. 281-3604.

Beginning Salsa - 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studio, 2745 Douglas Ave. $7 per session. 277-3545.

Night Club Dance - 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studio, 2745 Douglas Ave. $7 per session. 277-3545.

Farm House Museum, Knoll Road, Iowa State University, Ames - Tours available through the National Historic Landmark home, the first building constructed on what is now the ISU campus. Includes furnishings from the 1860s to 1910. Open noon-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays (closed Saturdays). Free admission. Tours available for 10 or more. (515) 294-3342.

Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum, 3702 Convenience Blvd., Ankeny - Featuring WWII trainers, memorabilia, uniforms and more. Open by appointment. Free. 964-8556.

Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, 7700 N.W. Beaver Dr., Johnston - Featuring exhibits on Iowa military history from 1846 to the present. The current exhibit includes archaeological materials recovered from the World War I Camp Dodge incinerator. Free. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. 252-4531.

Science Center of Iowa, 401 W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway - Center hours: Monday-Wednesday 9am-6pm, Thursday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 11am-6pm. The SCI IMAX Dome Theater may present films during and outside general facility hours. $7.50 adults, $5.50 children ages 2-12 and seniors age 65 and older are $6.50. 515-274-6868 or www.sciowa.org.