Student and Adult Group Visits
| Please note renovations at the State Historical Museum of Iowa are taking place now through winter 2022. Although the building will remain open during regular hours throughout the renovation, visitors may notice some temporary changes. |
The State Historical Museum of Iowa invites adult groups to take self-guided tours through a variety of exhibits displaying a rich collection of artifacts and documents. Visitors can journey through 13,000 years of Iowa history, learn about life in Iowa before it became a state, discover what inspired more than 76,000 Iowans to fight for the Union, and much more. The museum is wheelchair-accessible, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available at the front desk.
Museum Group Visit
All groups of 10 or more visitors should register in advance. Requests must be submitted through the Museum Adult Visit Request Form. If your group is larger than 50 people, please email museum.education@iowa.gov to discuss possible options.
Collections Vault Tour
Step inside the State Historical Museum of Iowa's collection storage for a behind the scenes look at objects from Iowa's past. The Collections Vault Tour is a 60 minute guided tour through the museum collection vault to explore a small example of the museum's 80,000 objects. Advance registration is required for this program.
The registration request form for this program will reopen in early January 2023.
Parking
Complimentary parking is available in the State Capitol Complex Parking Garage located at Pennsylvania Ave and Grand Ave. Metered street parking is also available.