The State Historical Museum of Iowa invites 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 at least two weeks in advance of their requested visit date. Requests must be submitted through the Museum Adult Visit Request Form. School groups should review our museum field trip options before submitting our School Visit Request Form. If your group is larger than 90 people, please email museum.education@iowa.gov to discuss possible options.
Museum Collections 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 Museum Collections Tour is a 60 minute guided tour through the museum collection vault to explore a small example of the museum's 80,000 objects.
Throughout the year, free guided tours of the museum collections are provided to the public. Dates and links to register for upcoming guided tours are provided below. Advance registration is required to attend the tours.
| Program | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Check back for future programs | -- | -- |
*all participants must be over the age of 12 years old. For younger historians over the age of 9 years old, check out our Family Museum Collections Tours.
Accessibility and Pre-Visit Information
Before your visit, review the Accessibility & Pre-Visit Information guide to find helpful information for your visit to the State Historical Museum of Iowa. The comprehensive guide includes information regarding mobility, sensory details, translation requests and additional topics to help prepare for your visit.
For accessibility questions and to request reasonable accommodations, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Lindsay Keast at shsi.accessibility@iowa.gov or call 515-281-8352. Please note that at certain times, certain accommodations may not be possible.
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.