Browse Museums

Blanden Art Museum

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Art, Children's, Culture, Historic House

The neoclassical building, which is on the national Register of Historic Places, is located in the interesting Oak Hill District of Fort Dodge. Along with with beauty and historical significance of the museum, the Blanden maintains a high standard of exhibition quality and dynamic spirit of community outreach in the visual arts. The museum is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to engage the community and foster creativity.

Children's

Unique hands-on educational museum for all ages. Touch a tornado, make a cloud, "drive" a combine, experiment with sound, create music, investigate the workings of your heart, play in the outdoor Kingdom for Kids, explore changing traveling exhibits.

Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Military, Park

The Old Bradford Pioneer Village Museum has 13 buildings on its walking tour, including an original Great Western Depot and a Chicago Northwestern caboose. Dr. Pitts' medical office, two authentic log homes, General Store, Laundry, Blacksmith Shop, Agriculture Bldg, Heritage Bldg, Cottage, Jail, one room schoolhouse and toy shop. The Cottage is the only original building to the grounds. It was the home of the caretaker of the Little Brown Church, which sits adjacent to the museum property. All of the buildings are bursting with the tools and utensils of the 1800s and early 1900s.

Children's, General, Science

A 'playground for the imagination", this interactive science center provides fun hands-on exhibits that demonstrate how science affects everyday life. Visitors unravel the mysteries of motion with scientific experiments: Roll-A-Ball, Bernoulli Ball, and the hammer table. Science demonstrations are at 11:00am, 1:30 and 3:00pm on Saturdays, and include such topics as Creepy Crawlies, Combustion, Chemistry, Magic of Science, Snakes Alive, Kitchen Science, and Super Cold.

Anthropology, Archaeology, Children's, Natural History, Science, University

Established in 1858, the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History serves the academic and public community with exhibits, research collections, and special programs. Exhibits are broadly representative of the four major divisions of natural science: anthropology, botany, geology and zoology, providing insight for adults and children alike.

Children's, Culture, General, History

With over 24,000 artifacts and 16 historic buildings, this national treasure showcases the best in historic and contemporary Norwegian folk and fine arts, and explores the American immigrant experience. "USA Today" named Vesterheim one of “ten great places in the nation to admire American folk art.” Come for our folk-art classes, holiday festivals, special group tours, or any time. Open all year (closed on Mondays from November through April).