Department of Administrative Services

Press Release

For Immediate Release	For More Information:
January 10 , 2008 (4:30 p.m.)	Laura Riordan, DAS -- 515-242-5038 or Jeff Morgan, DCA -- 515-559-4419

State Historical Building re-opened after power outage this morning
“Caucus! The Musical” performance still planned for this evening

DES MOINES — The State Historical Building is once again open to the public after a power outage this morning temporarily closed the building.

The outage was discovered at approximately 7 a.m. The cause is believed to be an electrical motor that shorted out, which subsequently tripped the safety ground fault detection system. This resulted in the loss of power to the facility and prevented the emergency back-up generator system from starting. The safety system is in place to ensure no one is injured and to minimize or eliminate risk of damage to the equipment and facilities.

“The safety system worked exactly like it was designed to,” said Mollie Anderson, director of the Department of Administrative Services, which oversees building maintenance on the Capitol Complex.
There is no damage reported to the building or to any artifacts and exhibits housed at the Historical Building.

The public was allowed back into the building this afternoon, once it was determined that the air handling system, lights and elevators were working properly.

“Caucus! The Musical” will be performed at the Historical Building as scheduled at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Café Baratta’s buffet dinner also will be held at 5:30 p.m. in conjunction with tonight’s performance.
The State Historical Building is open 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The State Historical Library, housed in the Historical Building, is open 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Visit www.culturalaffairs.org for more information about the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its two divisions, the Iowa Arts Council and the State Historical Society of Iowa.

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