Did you know that you can explore some of Iowa’s rich history at a free admission museum right in the heart of Des Moines? The Iowa State Historical Museum can give your family a bit of history and adventure without leaving town.
Iowa has a unique and colorful history that has expanded as settlers came our way to explore the west and that has continued through the present day. If you’re looking for a fun and free educational experience in the Des Moines area, Iowa State Historical Museum can help you discover Iowa's rich heritage through a variety of exhibitions, tours, collections and unique programs and events throughout the year.
The State Historical Museum of Iowa has more 80,000 objects and about 1,500 objects are on exhibit at any given time. They have great exhibits including the of life in Iowa before the settlers arrived, the role Iowans played in the Civil War and the story of the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®).
Here are just a few of the exhibits that you can check out and learn more about at this free Iowa museum.
- Learn about life in Iowa before it became a state and the many changes that took place when settlers arrived.
- Explore Iowa’s rich natural resources and the balance between using these resources and preserving them.
- Discover what inspired more than 76,000 Iowans to fight for the Union and the role they played in the nation’s bloodiest war.
- Explore Iowa’s legacy with the silver screen from the early 1900s to today in this blockbuster exhibit.
- Discover the history of bicycling in Iowa including the story of the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) that began in 1973.
With lots to look at and to explore, we love visiting the historical museum in Des Moines. There are so many different things to learn about our state’s history, and the museum is the perfect place to spend an educational morning or afternoon as a family.
Being movie fans, we really enjoy everything on display in the “Hollywood in the Heartland” exhibit which celebrates Iowa’s legacy with the silver screen throughout history. We’re huge movie fans and it was really interesting to see how Iowa has been portrayed on-screen in films like State Fair, The Music Man, Cold Turkey, Field of Dreams, The Bridges of Madison County, and others you may not have seen.
The exhibit introduces some of the talent that have made an impression on-screen and behind the scenes like John Wayne, Donna Reed and Jean Seberg, leading up to recent film stars like Tom Arnold, Ashton Kutcher, Brandon Routh and more.
In addition to regular exhibit hours, the museum has a variety of programs for families, schools, groups and individuals at the museum and across the state.
Looking for fun and educational experiences for your kids? The State Historical Society of Iowa hatched a program called Goldie’s Kids Club to introduce children aged 12 and under to Iowa history – starting with Goldie the eastern goldfinch, the state bird. Goldie's Kids Club members have exclusive access to select museum programs and events. All programs are free for Goldie's Kids Club members.
Membership in Goldie’s Kids Club is free and members can receive a newsletter full of fun facts and games, exclusive invitations to Des Moines area museum activities, a card from Goldie during your child’s birthday month and other goodies throughout the year.
Admission to the State Historical Museum of Iowa is free. It is located at 600 East Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319. Museum hours are Tuesday–Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
For more information call 515-281-5111 or visit iowaculture.gov/history/museum.
Looking for more fun things to do with kids in the Des Moines area? Check out our Newsbreak article on fun things to do with kids in Des Moines.