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Experiences|Museums

10 Unique Museums In Iowa That You Must Visit At Least Once

Discover ten unique and hidden museums in Iowa that offer fascinating and unusual experiences.

Updated Sep 8, 2021

Written by 

Michaela Kendall

Where can you find a museum dedicated to hobos or antique farm toys? The answer is...only in Iowa. We Iowans are lucky to have some very cool, very unique museums right at the tips of our fingers. With so much to explore it can be hard to figure out where to start. Luckily for you, we have a list for that. Here are 10 of the most unique and hidden museums in Iowa that you have to visit at least once.

1. National Hobo Museum

Historic building featuring the Chief Hobo Museum, with a marquee and a mix of brick and stone architecture.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr

The Hobo Museum can be found in the town of Britt, which is the home of the National Hobo Convention. This is the only museum that dedicates itself to the hobo way of life. It's one of the most interesting hidden gems in Iowa.

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Read our previous coverage to learn more.

2. Sgt. Floyd Riverboat Museum in Sioux City

A large white and red tugboat docked on land, with a clear blue sky and trees in the background.
Ali Eminov/Flickr

The Sgt. Floyd Riverboat Museum in Sioux City is an old army inspection boat turned museum that sits on the riverfront. It is named for Sergeant Charles Floyd, the only man to have died on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Visit the webpage to learn more.

3. John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset

A small white house with a porch, surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery, featuring an American flag.
John Jacobsen/Flickr

The Duke's birthplace is now a museum in Winterset, where over a million visitors have gone to take a look into the early life of John Wayne. This makes for one of the most unique day trips in Iowa.

Read our previous coverage to learn more.

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4. Bily Clocks Museum in Spillville

A brick building with large arched windows and a sign reading "BILY CLOCKS," featuring a clock on the side.
florador/Flickr

The Bily Clocks Museum in Spillville showcases the elaborate, beautifully hand-carved clocks, created by the Bily brothers. If you're looking for little-known museums to visit in Iowa, you should add this one to your list.

Visit the website to learn more.

5. Herbert Hoover Museum

A small white house with a red roof, surrounded by greenery and a white picket fence on a sunny day.
Doug Kerr/Flickr

The Herbert Hoover Museum/Natural Historic Site in West Branch consists of the two room cottage where Hoover was born in 1874, as well as the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and grave sites of the former president and his wife.

Read our previous coverage to learn more.

6. Squirrel Cage Jail Museum

Interior of a prison cell block featuring barred doors and a circular cell area with peeling paint and dim lighting.
Martin Konopacki/Flickr

The Squirrel Cage Jail Museum in Council Bluffs is an old jail turned museum, where visitors can see the only 'squirrel cage jail' on this side of the Mississippi. This is one of the strangest hidden gems in Iowa.

Read our previous coverage to learn more.

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7. Laura Ingalls Park & Museum

A white, single-story building with a gray roof, featuring a sign and a parked car in front. Overcast sky.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

The Laura Ingalls Park & Museum in Burr Oak lets visitors walk through the childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder and experience her childhood. The museum is popular for its extensive doll collection.

Visit the website to learn more.

8. Froelich Tractor & 1890s Village Museum

A woman in a blue skirt adjusts a sign outside a pink storefront with open and closed hours displayed.
Todd Ehlers/Flickr

The Gasoline Tractor/Town Museum in Froelich is a great place to visit for those interested in inventions. John Froelich, the town's namesake, created the gas tractor, air conditioner, dish washer, washing machine, and more. A visit here could be one of the most unique day trips in Iowa you could take.

Visit the website to learn more.

9. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque

A view of the National Mississippi River Museum with a large waterwheel in the foreground and a bridge in the background.
SD Dirk/Flickr

The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque is an affiliate to the Smithsonian and is an awesome place to check out. They have many fascinating exhibits on animals, people, and history.

Read our previous coverage to learn more.

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10. Vesterheim The National Norwegian-American Museum & Folk Art School

Wooden sculpture of an elderly woman in a hat and glasses, holding a walking stick, set in a colorful room.
rochelle hartman/Flickr

Among all the little-known museums inIowa, the Vesterheim The National Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah is an absolutely amazing, premiere museum for anything Norwegian-American. In the past, it's been named one of the "15 Best Small Town Museums in the U.S."

Visit the website to learn more.

What are some other unique or quirky hidden museums in Iowa that you know about? We'd love to hear about your favorites!

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Experiences|Museums

The Family-Friendly Museum In Iowa Where Kids Can Explore The Mighty Tractor

Published May 29, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

I think every kid has some of the same "phases" growing up, where they can't get enough of a topic. There's the dinosaur phase, the space phase - and of course, the big ol' trucks phase! There's a reason that Hess has been putting out those famous toy trucks for decades! And if my memories of that phase as a little boy are accurate, it's not just trucks - it's every mighty machine that crosses the open roads or plows the fields. It just so happens that one of the mightiest machines out there - the John Deere tractor - has an interactive museum in Iowa that kids will love. The John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum is located in a sprawling building in Waterloo and packed with fascinating exhibits and hands-on displays that will intrigue adults and make kids want to drive one home!

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You can even see tractors outside the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum, which is a hint of what awaits inside.

Exterior of the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum, featuring a green tractor and modern architectural design.
Juan Parra/Google Local

As soon as you walk in, it's like you're standing in the middle of the history of this storied company.

A child walks through a museum exhibit featuring early farming machines and historical displays.
Wesley Farnsworth/Google Local

There is plenty of education on the wall that explains how John Deere wound up becoming the powerhouse it is today.

Exhibit wall featuring "Waterloo Boy" history with images, text, and illustrations about its origins and significance.
Scott Evans/Google Local

But we know why kids are here - tractors, and lots of them! Practically every model from the company's history is here.

A vintage John Deere tractor displayed in a museum, featuring green and yellow colors, with a modern exhibit backdrop.
Marsha Dowdle/Google Local

Yes, that means every model - including those going back to the very early days when they were much simpler devices.

A vintage red tractor with large wheels displayed indoors, featuring yellow accents and a sign labeled "Warrior 304."
Anna/Google Local

There are exhibits exploring the interior of modern tractors, fun quiz games, and even chances for kids to sit behind the driving seat of a stationary tractor.

Cutaway view of a detailed engine, showcasing internal components and mechanical systems.
Shannon Faulhaber/Google Local

Wonder just how much power these tractors hold? Test yourself against one of them in a feat of strength to see what a difference John Deere made!

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A wooden display featuring a plow and two horse silhouettes in a museum setting.
Bran Dible/Google Local

Have you visited the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum in Waterloo? Tell us what you or your little ones thought of this interactive museum in Iowa in the comments section! Details on the museum, including listings of exhibits and hours, can be found on the main John Deere website. If you're looking for another family-friendly activity in Waterloo, consider driving a few miles to Lost Island, the state's newest and most fantastical amusement park. That's right by the Isle Casino Hotel, a resort hotel with tons of unique amenities perfect for a family getaway.

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Experiences|Museums

The Coolest Visitor Center In Iowa Has A Museum Inside An Old Towboat

Sioux City’s Sergeant Floyd Monument visitors center is a unique museum boat offering interactive exhibits on Iowa’s history.

Updated May 3, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

Sioux City, located at the very northwest corner of Iowa, is one of the state's most underrated destinations. Bordering Nebraska and South Dakota, it's home to one of the most famous spots in the state - the Sergeant Floyd Monument. This towering obelisk is an iconic sight in the Hawkeye State, paying tribute to the quartermaster of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Charles Floyd. But did you know that the obelisk isn't the only tribute he has in the state? His name was given to a famous towboat built in 1932. It served as a support vehicle, but today it serves a very different purpose - as a museum boat! And the Sergeant Floyd Monument visitors center is one of the coolest visitors centers in Iowa. Not only can you learn a lot about the state here, but you can enter the boat itself and get an up-close look at Iowa's history on the river.

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Like all other Iowa welcome centers, the Sergeant Floyd Welcome Center is a great place to learn about Iowa.

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James Zaworski/Google Local

However, it has one thing that sets it apart from the others - it's set on an actual museum boat, permanently docked in Sioux City!

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LA Glickman/Google Local

You enter the museum just like you would board a boat, which is a very cool experience.

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Cindy M/Google Local

Inside, you'll find dozens of historic exhibits relating to the Lewis and Clark expedition, in which the boat's namesake participated.

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Paul Bridges/Google Local

But that's only the start - you can see exhibits relating to all of Iowa's extensive exploration and travel history.

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Lester Mac/Google Local

It's no surprise that this fascinating exhibit is a local favorite for tour groups and school trips.

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SXS Rider/Google Local

The museum is full of interactive activities that give visitors an idea of what it was like to guide this famous boat.

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Leif Norman/Google Local

However, the fan-favorite exhibit has got to be the extensive selection of miniatures recreating Iowa's history and geography!

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Yona Wurzburger/Google Local

Have you visited the Sergeant Floyd Monument visitors center in Iowa? Do you agree it's one of the coolest Iowa visitors centers? Tell us about your visit to this Sioux City institution in the comments section! You can find out more about the museum on the Sioux City Museum website. While you're in the area, why not book a stay at The Warrior Hotel?

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