Browse Museums

American Gothic House Center
Eldon, Iowa

Art, History, Historic House, Specialized

Strike your own American Gothic pose in front of the house that inspired Iowa artist Grant Wood to begin his most famous painting. Costumes and pitch fork are provided by the American Gothic House Center!

Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad
Boone, Iowa

Specialized

An operating historical railroad museum running on 11 miles of track across the Des Moines River Valley. Home to "The Iowan", the last commercially produced steam locomotive in the world

Effigy Mounds National Monument
Harpers Ferry, Iowa

Park, Specialized

A unit of the National Park System established to preserve prehistoric Indian burial and ceremonial mounds and the environment where they are found.

Iowa Gold Star Museum
Johnston, Iowa

History, Specialized

The museum interprets the history of Iowans in the military from 1846 to the present.

John L. Lewis Mining & Labor Museum
Lucas, Iowa

History, Specialized

Photos, documents, artifacts all pertaining to coal mining, labor history and John L. Lewis who was a labor leader born 1 mile from Lucas, Iowa.

Mississippi River Museum
Dubuque, Iowa

History, Specialized

Mississippi and national river history, local history, National Rivers Hall of Fame, archives

National Farm Toy Museum
Dyersville, Iowa

Specialized

Established in 1986, this museum offers an array of farm toys, trucks and banks manufactured world-wide. Farm scenes illustrate the importance of agriculture throughout history. Enjoy our large pedal tractor display and 10 minute movie in a 45-seat theatre.

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum
Knoxville, Iowa

Specialized

World's only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the sport of sprint car racing.

The Danish Immigrant Museum
Elkhorn, Iowa

Art, Culture, General, History, Library, Park, Specialized

The Danish Immigrant Museum will tell the story of the Danish immigrants and the Danish-American experience and is organized to collect, preserve, study and interpret their material, culture and traditions.

The Restored Burlington Northern Depot & WWII Memorial Museum
RED OAK, Iowa

Culture, History, Historical Society, Library, Military, Specialized

The architecture of the Depot is the Richardson Romanesque Style which influenced the first Chicago School of architecture and architects such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. That Style, named after Henry Hobson Richardson, generally follows Romanesque Revival Style, incorporating 11th century southern French and Spanish Romanesque characteristics, plus Richardson designs, which can be observed on the Depot.

Bily Clocks Museum/Antonin Dvorak Exhibit
Spillville, Iowa

Specialized

An unexpected wonder located in the scenic backroad country of northeast Iowa - not to be missed!

Dows Welcome Center
Dows, Iowa

Historic House, Historical Society, Specialized

Built in 1896, the depot was the first one built in Wright County and operated as a working depot until 1980. Passengers rode the trains to nearby towns and many commercial products were shipped by rail such as poultry, farm products, and coal. The Dows Historical Society raised enough money to purchase and restore the depot in 1988, and today it is known as The Dows Depot Welcome Center. It has been placed on the National Register of Historical Places.

George M. Verity Riverboat Museum
Keokuk, Iowa

History, Historic House, Park, Specialized

Built in 1927 at Dubuque, Iowa by the U. S. Government, the S.S. Thorpe inaugurated barge service on the upper Mississippi . The first of four steamboats built for the revival of river transportation, it was the first to move barges from St. Louis north to St. Paul. It remained in service there until 1940, when it was sold to Armco Steel Corp. and put in service on the Ohio River. Armco renamed it the George M. Verity after their founder.

Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum
Arnolds Park, Iowa

History, Specialized

Displays the unique nautical history of Lake Okoboji and the Iowa Great Lakes through a collection of wooden boats and memorabilia.

Medical Museum
Iowa City, Iowa

Specialized

Through exhibits of photographs, artifacts and interactive displays, the story of health care in Iowa is used to illustrate the history of medicine in general.

National Balloon Museum and US Ballooning Hall of Fame
Indianola, Iowa

History, Library, Science, Specialized

Come and surround yourself in history and the "Beginning of the Space Age" with Ballooning from 1783 to the present. Learn about many of the Pioneers of Ballooning from our Hall of Fame and Women in Ballooning displays. The Children' Learning Area will entertain and teach them about ballooning through simulated video games, videos , balloon pictures and books.Our collection covers gas,smoke and hot air balloons as well as airships, blimps and Zeppelins and their memoribilia.

National Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame
Anamosa, Iowa

Specialized

As the motorcycle industry continues to change with technology, it is critical that the transformation be captured and preserved.
When you walk through the doors you will be transported back in time as you marvel at the extensive collection, dating back to 1903. Cruise in and experience over 170 vintage motorcycles, from Ariels to Zundapps, thousands of photographs, posters, postcards, and pieces of motorcycle memorabilis, plus a fabulous collection of antique motorcycle toys, and more!

Sergeant Floyd Museum & Welcome Center
Sioux City, Iowa

Specialized

Dry-docked 1932 Army Corps of Engineers work boat with exhibitions related to Siouxland maritime history; also serves as an official Iowa and Nebraska State Welcome Center

The Higgins Museum
Okoboji, Iowa

Specialized

Devoted to national banking in the US. National bank notes and memorabilia from Iowa and adjoining states. Research facilities.

The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana
Mount Pleasant, Iowa

Culture, History, Specialized

Built and maintained by the Midwest old Settlers and Threshers Association, Inc., the Museum of Repertoire Americana officially opened September 1, 1973, reflecting the long-time dream of repertoire theatre company owners and actors Neil and Caroline Schaffner. The museum is dedicated to the preservation of memorabilia and artifacts of early repertoire theatre. The collection includes numerous painted curtains and scenic pieces; costumes and equipment used by individual performers and technicians; playbills, show cards, advertising sheets, etc.; and an extensive research library of rare scripts, correspondence, tour schedules, production photos and other original source materials.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

2024 Colorado-Wyoming ANNUAL MEETING

May 1 - 4, 2024

Worland, Wyoming

West Virginia Association of Museums 2024 Conference

June 6 - 8, 2024

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Ohio Museums Association 2024 Conference with AMM

July 24 - August 3, 2024

Columbus, Ohio

South Carolina Federation of Museums 2024 Conference

September 16 - 18, 2024

Laurens, South Carolina

Florida Association of Museums 2024 Annual Conference & Exposition

October 13 - 16, 2024

Daytona Beach, Florida

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Museum Associations

03/07 Association of Midwest Museums

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03/07 Ohio Museums Association

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