State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is an exciting adventure: its exhibits tell the stories of Iowa’s growth and development through the exhibition of a rich collection of historic artifacts and documents. Central to the history of Iowa are its people. Some found fame here. Others grew rich, some achieved notoriety. Iowa’s rich heritage is found not only in the stories of the rich, but also in the lives of ordinary people remembered only by family and friends. The State Historical Museum celebrates Iowans, their ambitions, accomplishments, disappointments, and their contributions – often unrecognized and unrecorded- creating a state-wide ethos that Iowans come to share. With more than 110,000 artifacts in its permanent collection; and exhibits that explore a variety of subjects; ranging from Iowa's natural resources and years before statehood to its history of aviation. "Rarely Seen: Cool Stuff from the Museum" offers a look at artifacts that have been preserved and protected for nearly 25 years in the museum's climate-controlled storage facility beneath the building.