The History Center Museum Hours

  • Details

  • 9/06/25
  • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • $8
  • All Ages

  • Categories

  • Museum/Exhibit

Event Description

Grains of Growth: The National Oats Story

Discover the rich history of National Oats Company, a cornerstone of Cedar Rapids' industrial heritage. This exhibition traces the company's journey from its founding, through its significant growth during the World Wars, to its innovative breakthroughs, like 3-Minute Oats and Super-Pop Popcorn. Explore how National Oats evolved through various ownerships and its lasting impact on the local economy and the cereal industry.

Support provided by the State Historical Society of Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

The world’s only acrobatic golf comedian: Joey O.

Four-year-old Joey Ohsman took a trip to the circus and upon seeing the joy on his family’s faces, decided he wanted to make people happy. As Joey got older, he became the captain of the golf team at Washington High School, then played and coached the men’s golf team at Kirkwood and earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies at the University of Iowa.

In 1981, Joey decided to move to California with no job or savings. While living in California he got a job at a golf course popular with people in the entertainment industry, including Bob Hope. Joey taught Bob how to be a better golfer, while Bob wrote jokes for the budding star. With this help, Joey made his rise as the World’s only acrobatic golf comedian.

Joey’s act uses an arsenal of jokes, wacky clubs, a unicycle, a balance ball, and a balance board to wow his audience. He has forty-plus years experience touring the globe from performing overseas alongside Bob Hope to a bit with Jay Leno and Tiger Woods on the Tonight Show.