Things to Do in Iowa

Reiman Gardens is the largest public garden in Iowa, featuring year-round indoor and outdoor displays. The museum houses the 2,500-square-foot Butterfly Wing, where visitors can view many varieties of butterflies. This wing displays emergence cases and guests can view caterpillars in various stages of becoming butterflies.

The world’s largest concrete gnome, Elwood, also calls the gardens home and is especially popular with young guests. The Children’s Garden features tumbling mounds and a “hideout” for little ones. The museum is committed to education as well. Both new and seasoned gardeners will be enthralled by the trial gardens and teaching displays that demonstrate ideas related to gardening, landscaping, composting, pest control, and more.

1407 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50011, Phone: 515-294-2710

The Sioux City Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is a 20,000-square-foot cultural complex commemorating the Corps of Discovery’s expedition into the Sioux City area in 1804. The storyline of the exhibits focuses on the death and burial of Sergeant Charles Floyd.

The museum uses technologically advanced and interactive exhibits to tell the story of the military operation and artifacts from the expedition are also on display. The Traditional Native Games exhibit features items related to Native American games, particularly in relation to the role of the buffalo in Native American life. The center features a theater and several monuments.

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, 900 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA 51103, Phone: 712-224-5242

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is a library and museum committed to preserving the history and culture of the Czech and Slovak people. The museum is located in Cedar Rapids, which is home to many Czech and Slovak Americans. The museum exhibits are dedicated to telling stories from the past, learning from the past, and looking to the future.

The exhibits explore immigrant life and the idea of freedom. Czech and Slovak films and art pieces are often featured. The library houses a non-circulating collection of books, periodicals, and archives in several languages. Books must be used within the library only.

Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, Phone: 319-362-8500

The Buffalo Bill Museum, located in LeClaire, features exhibits related to life along the Mississippi and the history of the local area. History exhibits tell the stories of famous people from LeClaire, including the museum’s namesake - Buffalo Bill Cody.

The museum’s exhibits include a wooden paddlewheel steamboat and there are Native American artifacts on display, including an exhibit which displays cradle boards. The museum includes a research room where visitors can do historical research on Buffalo Bill, river pilots, riverboat history, and local history by appointment. The Buffalo Bill Museum features a gift shop and hosts a variety of seasonal events.

199 N. Front Street, Le Claire, IA 52753, Phone: 563-289-5580

The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum is a museum dedicated to antique trucks and trucking-related artifacts. The museum is the creation of Bill Moon, who founded the Iowa 80 Truckstop. Many rare and one-of-a-kind trucks are on display at the museum, including a 1919 Pierce Arrow, a 1910 Avery Tractor, and a 1915 Mack AB.

A collection of vintage gas pumps, oil drums, and other petrol-related artifacts is also on display and the museum features a large collection of antique toy trucks. The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum is open for individual and group tours all year round.

505 Sterling Drive, Walcott, IA 52773, Phone: 563-468-5500

The Field of Dreams is a baseball field a few miles outside Dyersville, Iowa. The baseball diamond was built for the 1989 movie Field of Dreams and has become a pop-culture tourist attraction. The baseball diamond is located on the Lansing family farm and even now, 25 years later, still attracts both fans of the Academy-award winning film and baseball enthusiasts.

During the summer, the field hosts several “Ghost Baseball” games where players wear vintage uniforms and play a game as an homage to the film. Several other activities and events take place at the park from time to time. There is also an onsite store where you can buy film and baseball-related memorabilia.

28995 Lansing Road, Dyersville, IA 52040, Phone: 563-875-8404

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is a museum dedicated to the 31st President of the United States and is also a library which houses the Presidential papers and memorabilia. The auditorium shows a 20-minute documentary about President Hoover, who is Iowa’s only President.

The museum is open daily for tours and features a museum store. The library preserves almost 300 collections and exists as a center for political thought and debate, especially about issues related to agriculture, famine, aviation, and US foreign policy. Materials in the library are available for research on a non-circulating basis and cannot be loaned out.

210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA 52358, Phone: 319-643-5301

The Iowa Capitol Building is located in Des Moines and houses the legislative and executive branches of government for the state of Iowa. The late 19th century building is the only five-domed capitol in the United States. Professional guided tours and self-guided tours are available at no cost and depart from the ground floor of the rotunda.

The Capitol gift shop features an offering of Iowa and Iowa Capitol themed gifts and souvenirs. Several monuments are located on the grounds surrounding the building and the Capitol’s hill-top location offers scenic panoramas of downtown Des Moines.

1007 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319, Phone: 513-281-5591

The Des Moines Farmers’ Market is an exciting community market featuring more than 130 vendors. Farmers from the area sell a variety of locally raised meat, including beef, pork, turkey, and duck. Visitors can also stock up on fresh eggs and in-season produce.

In addition to fresh foods, vendors also sell many fresh homemade products such as honey, salsa, cheese, and baked goods. Handmade decorations, apparel, and homewares are also a frequent sight at the market. It is recommended that you bring your own bag or purchase a jute shopping bag from the market to tote home your goodies.

700 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, Phone: 515-286-4911

The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium is a museum dedicated to preserving the history and culture of American rivers. The museum’s aquariums represent many river ecosystems throughout the United States, especially those of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

The museum also features several large outdoor exhibits which feature steam boilers, boats, river otters, and a bald eagle exhibit. There are museum stores in each of the buildings that feature local products, toys, wine, gifts, and more. The museum has two cafes which serve refreshments to visitors and the general public.

350 East 3rd Street, Port of Dubuque, IA 52001, Phone: 800-226-3369