Museums General
Iowa

Browse Museums

African American Museum of Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Culture, General, History, Library

Iowan history showcased via interactive exhibits and exciting educational programs. Because African American history is American history.

Clinton County Historical Society and Museums
Clinton, Iowa

General, History, Historical Society

The purpose of the museum is to preserve and promote the history of Clinton County by interpreting historical artifacts for its residents and interested persons.

Des Moines County Historical Society: Heritage Center Museum
Burlington, Iowa

General, History, Historical Society

A museum featuring the history of Des Moines County, as well as a heritage center.

Granger House Victorian Museum
Marion, Iowa

Culture, General, History, Historic House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Granger House Museum is the only fully-restored, middle-class family home in southeastern Iowa. Occupied by a single family for nearly 100 years, the house contains many of its original furnishings and is arranged to reflect the lifestyle of a successful, late 19th-century middle-class family. Behind the home is an 1879 brick carriage house which contains a variety of artifacts revealing the occupant's involvement with Morgan horses, dairying, and farming.

Montauk Historic Site
Clermont, Iowa

General, History, Historic House, Nature Centers, Park

Journey into the past at the home of Iowa's 12th governor, William Larrabee and Anna Larrabee, his wife. Enjoy a guided tour to see and hear how the Larrabee family furnished and maintained this 1874 vintage brick and natural limestone mansion for more than 100 years. All of the furnishings are original to the house. the State Historical Society of Iowa owns and preserves Montauk which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is designated as a State Preserve.

Old Bradford Pioneer Village
Nashua, Iowa

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.

Swedish American Museum
Swedesburg, Iowa

Cemetery, Church, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Military

The Society created the Swedish American Museum to collect and catalogue artifacts of Swedish heritage and early immigrants of the Swedesburg area. The Museum is housed in The former Farmers union Exchange (FUE) building, built in 1928 by second generation Swedish Farmers. The FUE served Swedesburg and the surrounding area as a general store and Gathering place for the settlers in the area. The building is typical of stores which once dotted the Iowa countryside. The facility is available for meetings, tours and meals.Reservations are required in advance.

Ushers Ferry Historic Village
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

General, History, Historic House

Whatever your meeting or party needs, you are sure to find building space or open air ground at Ushers Ferry that will work for you.

Wilder Memorial Museum
Strawberry Point, Iowa

Art, Culture, General, History, Military

Discover the Wilder Memorial Museum and connect with the heritage of Strawberry Point, Iowa. Exhibits include prarie farming, 800 hierloom dolls dating to the 1700's, Victorian art glass and furniture, Miessen and Dresden figuerines, as well as a military exhibit with items dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Bluedorn Science Imaginarium
Waterloo, Iowa

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.

Des Moines County Historical Society: Garret-Phelps House
Burlington, Iowa

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society

Sitting proudly at the top of Snake Alley, the Garrett-Phelps House Museum in historic Burlington, Iowa, sheltered three generations of one family for over 100 years.

German American Heritage Center
Davenport, Iowa

Art, Culture, General, History, Library

A growing ethnic museum focusing on the German-American in the Midwest. Located in an historic immigrant hotel, this museum explores German American immigration to the United States on the impact these individuals and their descendents had on regional development.

Hawkeye Log Cabin
Burlington, Iowa

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Park

The Hawkeye Log Cabin Museum local high on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

North Lee County Historical Society
Fort Madison, Iowa

Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Military

The Historic Center housed at the Santa Fe Railway Depot Complex is proud to boast a number of important regional, local, and railroad artifacts. Outside the depot sits a circa 1954 caboose, completely restored including brakemen seats, Conductor's desk, and folding seat/beds, of course the traditional cast iron stove remains in the old caboose, allowing visitors to picture the caboose crew warming their hands, coffee and cooking supper in the traditional way. The caboose was donated to the Historic Society by the Santa Fe Railway, now the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and was permanently placed on the depot property by volunteers. Also included on the site is a diesel utility car utilized by the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad.

Prairie City Historical Society
Prairie City, Iowa

General, History, Historical Society

Many artifacts from Prairie City's history are housed in the museum including the Dowden Potato Digger, which was originally manufactured in Prairie City.

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.

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum
Decorah, Iowa

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).

Winfield Historical Society and Museum
Winfield, Iowa

General, History, Historical Society

New Museum-local artifacts-old school-turn of the century room-Senator William Carden memorabilia-Fire Department display.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025

Westgate Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hosted by: Public Lands Alliance

The Public Lands Alliance Convention and Trade Show brings together nonprofits, land management agencies and companies to learn, network and engage on public lands issues. The 2025 Convention and Trade Show will take place Sunday, February 2 - Thursday, February 6, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV

Connect with peers, explore the latest in public lands products, and return inspired with new strategies and resources for success in conservation and visitor engagement

Our annual Convention and Trade Show (PLA) is the premier gathering for leaders in the public lands sector to network, gain essential tools, and explore products that enhance the visitor experience and support conservation, preservation, and enrichment efforts.

For more information, please call 301-946-9475.

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

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