DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new exhibition about cycling in Iowa and the annual RAGBRAI event will open this week at the State Historical Museum of Iowa.  Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds showcased the “Riding Through History” exhibition during a Monday news conference. The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, just before the annual RAGBRAI event begins Sunday.

RAGBRAI – which started in 1973 – is a week-long bicycle ride through Iowa sponsored by the Des Moines Register. The name stands for Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.   Artifacts in the exhibition include bicycles ridden in the race, press clippings about the early years and examples of food served along the route.

The museum will also host a day of events on July 23, when RAGBRAI is scheduled to come through Des Moines.