Fort Dodge Celebrates 175 Years With Frontier Days Festival
A weekend of music, history, and family fun marked the anniversary.
Fort Dodge commemorated its 175th anniversary with Frontier Days, a vibrant celebration held at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. The event featured live music, ancient reenactments, and family-pleasant activities, drawing attendees of all ages.
Inaugural Car Show Highlights Anniversary
The Frontier Days celebration included an inaugural car show, which, despite initial setbacks, attracted numerous participants. Jeanna Becker, the Frontier Days committee leader, mentioned her father’s car club connection and the decision to make entry free to encourage participation.
“This is the 175th year since the groundbreaking of Fort dodge and our 50th anniversary of the museum,” Jeanna Becker, the Frontier Days Committee leader, said.
“We’re trying to showcase what we can.”
Family Fun and Entertainment
One of the highlights of Frontier Days was the family-friendly entertainment. Justin Goodno, the events coordinator for the Opera House at the museum, emphasized the appeal of acts like Nick’s Kid Show and the hypnotist performance.
“My favourite part of Frontier Days is all the kids acts like Nick’s show and a lot of different acts,”
justin Goodno said. “There’s just a ton going on.”

Native American Dance Troupe Performs
A new addition to this year’s Frontier Days was the Many Moccasins Dance Troupe, a Native American group from Nebraska. Their performances were well-received, adding a cultural dimension to the celebration.
“This year we brought in the Many Moccasins, a Native American dance group from Nebraska,”
Becker said. “They’ve been to multiple different countries and everything. Somebody stopped to tell me how wonderful their show was, so that was very nice.”
Live Music Throughout the Weekend
Providing more live music was a priority for the Frontier Days Committee. Saturday’s lineup included performances by David Simmons, Evan pratt, Clint Riedel, Stadium Drive, and Tank Anthony.
According to a recent study, live music events contribute considerably to local economies, generating an average of $25.3 million in revenue per year for cities that host them (Statista 2024).

Historical Significance
Frontier Days also highlighted the historical importance of Fort Dodge. The Fort Museum and Frontier Village showcased artifacts and offered QR codes that provided access to videos explaining the history of the buildings.
“History is part of our heritage and we’re actually all connected to it, we just don’t realize it sometimes,”
said Gene Stevens, an author and blogger for the Central States Historic Association.
Author Shares Insights on Fort Dodge History
Gene Stevens, an author and blogger for the Central States Historic Association, shared his insights on Fort Dodge’s role as a frontier town.He emphasized Iowa’s significance as the gateway to the American West.

The 175th-anniversary celebration successfully blended entertainment with historical education, offering a memorable experience for all who attended. The event underscored the community’s pride in its heritage and its commitment to preserving it for future generations.