Welcome to the Belmond Arts Center!
Located on an 120-acre farm in north central Iowa, the Center, governed by the Belmond Area Arts Council (BAAC), is a hub for arts and history in Wright County. Throughout the year, the farm hosts a variety of events including the Power Show and Artists-in-Residence.
2025 Featured Events
For more information about upcoming events, please visit the Upcoming Events page.
Preservation Project | Iowa State Penitentiary Murray-Corliss Steam Engine
Preserving an Iowa-Built Giant in Belmond
The Belmond Area Arts Council is safeguarding a remarkable piece of Iowa’s industrial heritage: a 150-ton Murray-Corliss steam engine built in 1939 by Murray Iron Works of Burlington, Iowa. Rated at 1,000 horsepower and coupled to a 750 kW, 480V, three-phase alternator, this engine generated electricity for the Iowa State Penitentiary (ISP) in Fort Madison and remained on standby for backup power into the early 1950s.
Today, this Iowa-built, Iowa-used, and Iowa-preserved engine is being relocated and re-assembled at show grounds outside Belmond where it can educate, inspire, and awe future generations.
