School Break Programs
Join Goldie's Kids Club and the State Historical Museum of Iowa for seasonal break programs throughout the year. Even if school is in session, everyone can learn more about Iowa history any time of the year by exploring the digital library of past Goldie's Kids Club Storytime and Innovative Iowans activities.
Interested in becoming a Goldie’s Kids Club member? Join today – it's free!
Winter Break at the State Historical Museum of Iowa
Adventure into the past with special programs and events with the State Historical Museum of Iowa. Join the museum and Goldie's Kids Club for a variety of fun programs and activities for all ages to learn about Iowa history during the month of December. You and your young historians can explore the museum exhibits, register to join a guided tour, participate in a day camp, get up close while examining artifacts and learn about Iowa's fascinating past.
Family Museum Collections Tour
Sign up today to step inside the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s collections storage for a behind the scenes look at objects from Iowa’s past. The Family Museum Collections Tours takes young historians (ages 9 and up) and their families on a 30 minute guided tour through the museum collection vault as we explore a small sample of the museum’s 80,000 objects. Advance registration is required to attend this program.
| Program Date | Time |
| December 27, 2023 | 10 a.m. |
| December 29, 2023 | 1 p.m. |
Family Exhibit Tours
Join State Curator Leo Landis at the State Historical Museum of Iowa this winter break for a variety of guided tours of the museum's exhibits including our new exhibition, "Civics in Action." Offered at multiple times throughout the break, each 30-minute tour will explore one of the museums exhibits and highlight objects from Iowa's past. Advance registration is requested to attend each tour.
| Exhibit & Tour Themes | Date | Time |
| Iowa 175 - Iowa's People and Places Tour | December 27, 2023 | 1 p.m. |
| Civics in Action Tour | December 27, 2023 | 3 p.m. |
| Farming and Home Life, 1840-1860 Tour | December 28, 2023 | 1 p.m. |
| Civics in Action Tour | December 28, 2023 | 3 p.m. |
Special Storytime Program
Iowa is full of colorful characters! Meet a few this winter break for a special storytime program celebrating Iowa's birthday on December 28 at 2 p.m. Join our museum education staff to hear a fun story, create a craft and have lots of fun during this drop-in program held in the museum's Hands-on History exhibit space. No advance registration is required to attend this program. This program is recommended for young historians ages 3-7 years old.
Workshops and Day Camps
Young historians can learn about Iowa history with unique educational experiences only available at the State Historical Museum of Iowa. Using the museum and exhibits as a unique classroom, participants in the day camps and workshops will explore the museum and the history of Iowa while examining historical artifacts, diving into historical research and learning special skills.
| Program | Date | Time | Cost |
| Goldie's Family Day Camp | December 28, 2023 | 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | $5 per person |
History Mystery Program Returns!
You can read a book, but did you know you can also read an object or an image? Join museum education staff at the State Historical Museum of Iowa for an upcoming History Mystery program. This program allows young historians (recommended for ages 8-12) and their adults to examine and investigate selected artifacts and historic images from the museum collection. During the program, participants become history detectives and help determine how the objects were used and who might have used them. Are you ready to become a history super sleuth?
| Program Date | Time | Virtual/In-Person |
| Friday, December 29 | 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | In-Person, State Historical Museum |
Community Christmas at Montauk Historic Site
Celebrate the holidays at the State Historical Society of Iowa's Montauk Historic Site! This year the Clermont Community Club and Montauk Historic Site are partnering together to bring you a community Christmas event at Montauk. During the program, families and young historians can enjoy the historic house's holiday decorations, meet Santa Claus, do some cookie decorating, taste some holiday treats and enjoy music from the home's 1916 grand piano.
The event will be held on Saturday, December 2nd and run from 12-4 p.m. at Montauk Historic Site in Clermont, Iowa. The event is free to attend.