Vesterheim's Johnson receives Silos & Smokestacks award

Vesterheim Museum Executive Director Steven Johnson has received a Partnership Panel Service Award for his years of service to Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area.

Silos & Smokestacks was created in 1991 as a non-profit organization to recognize, preserve, and promote the region's heritage. Johnson has been involved with SSNHA since its inception and has served on the Partnership Panel since 2006.

Vesterheim Museum became a SSNHA partner in 1998.  Johnson was instrumental in that process.

SSNHA is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Through a network of sites, programs, and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness and rural communitiesâ€"past and present. There are currently 107 heritage sites within SSNHA.