House Resolution 109 - Introduced HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 109 BY MADISON , AMOS JR. , GAINES , WILBURN , BAGNIEWSKI , BROWN-POWERS , WESSEL-KROESCHELL , ANDREWS , GEARHART , R. JOHNSON , GUSTOFF , LEVIN , and WILSON A Resolution honoring the Jordan House Museum for more 1 than 180 years of historical service to the people 2 of Iowa. 3 WHEREAS, the Jordan House, a Victorian home 4 of Italianate Gothic design, was built in 1850 by 5 abolitionist and influential early Iowa settler James 6 C. Jordan, and has been listed on the National Register 7 of Historic Places since 1973; and 8 WHEREAS, the Jordan House is one of the oldest 9 structures in Polk County and the oldest structure in 10 West Des Moines; and 11 WHEREAS, the area surrounding the Jordan House 12 was historically inhabited by members of the Sac and 13 Fox Indian tribes, and the West Des Moines Historical 14 Society acknowledges Indigenous history at the Jordan 15 House and Legacy Woods through educational programs 16 highlighting the centuries-long presence of Native 17 peoples; and 18 WHEREAS, James C. Jordan was a staunch abolitionist 19 and “Chief Conductor” of the Underground Railroad in 20 Polk County which sheltered freedom seekers; and 21 WHEREAS, prior to the Civil War, the Jordan House 22 served as one of several stations on the Underground 23 Railroad in Iowa; and 24 WHEREAS, James C. Jordan founded West Des Moines 25 and is the namesake of several local sites, including 26 -1- LSB 5828YH (8) 91 mb/jm 1/ 3

H.R. 109 Jordan Creek Mall; and 1 WHEREAS, the Jordan House remained in the Jordan 2 family for nearly a century before it was preserved 3 and opened to the public, and the West Des Moines 4 Historical Society purchased the property in 1978 to 5 renovate it as a period home and museum; and 6 WHEREAS, the Jordan House continues to educate 7 the public on the histories of African Americans, 8 Indigenous peoples, and early Iowa settlers, and honors 9 Iowa’s contributions to the nation’s history, including 10 in celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the 11 United States; NOW THEREFORE, 12 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 13 That the House of Representatives honors the Jordan 14 House Museum for its more than 180 years of historical 15 importance, and recognizes the Jordan House’s important 16 contributions to the heritage of West Des Moines, the 17 state of Iowa, and the United States; and 18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Jordan House 19 should be included in the 250th anniversary of the 20 United States commemoration because it is a nationally 21 recognized Underground Railroad site where Iowans 22 actively advanced the founding ideals of liberty, 23 equality, and self-government in the generation after 24 1776; and 25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 26 resolution and cover letter celebrating the significant 27 historical contributions of the Jordan House to the 28 people of the state of Iowa and to the United States be 29 sent to members of Iowa’s congressional delegation; and 30 -2- LSB 5828YH (8) 91 mb/jm 2/ 3

H.R. 109 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 1 resolution and cover letter celebrating the significant 2 historical contributions of the Jordan House to the 3 people of the state of Iowa and to the United States 4 be sent to the Jordan House and Legacy Trail Museum 5 staff, the West Des Moines Historical Society, the City 6 Council of the City of West Des Moines, Polk County 7 government officials, and Catch Des Moines, a local 8 tourism board; and 9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 10 resolution and cover letter celebrating the significant 11 historical contributions of the Jordan House to the 12 people of the state of Iowa and to the United States be 13 sent to Iowa’s committee marking the 250th anniversary 14 of the United States, the Smithsonian National Museum 15 of American History, the Smithsonian National Museum of 16 African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian 17 National Museum of the American Indian, and the 18 National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to 19 Freedom Program; and 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 21 resolution and cover letter celebrating the significant 22 historical contributions of the Jordan House to the 23 people of the state of Iowa and to the United States be 24 sent to the African American Museum of Iowa, and Betty 25 Andrews, President of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State 26 Area Conference of Branches. 27 -3- LSB 5828YH (8) 91 mb/jm 3/ 3