If you want to be remembered or leave a legacy, support the work of this museum. They need more…read morespace for exhibitions, a proper store for merchandising, climate-controlled space, in an extraordinary building. Surely, those whose families have built and sustained this community can come forth and donate the resources to make this the kind of place residents can be proud of. Currently housed in the Ames Cultural District next to an historic landmark and across the street from the Octagon Center for the arts, this wonderful museum is packed with historical items waiting to be displayed, used for research and exhibits worthy of this fine city. They need more volunteers, donors, members, and storage in order to stage the kind of exhibits that do justice to those who grew up here, studied here, and conducted business here. New exhibits on the craft beer industry and education are currently in process. How do you want to be remembered?

A long time in the making, the Ames Historical society has worked hard to assemble the history of…read morethe city. The pictures and story are presented in a very compelling way. Stop in and enjoy!

This was a complete waste of time and not worth the drive out of the way. The 2-hour train ride…read morecrawls along at about 8 mph, and 97% of what you see out the dirty windows is just thick wooded vegetation. There are only two bridges with a decent view -- the rest is painfully dull. I paid extra for the climate-controlled car (thank goodness I did), because the open-air and standard cars had no airflow at all. It looked absolutely miserable -- especially for young kids, who would find it long, hot, and painfully boring. I'm so glad I snuck in snacks, water, and some activities for my kids, or the ride would've felt even longer. There was very little narration or history shared, and the onboard bathroom was disgusting -- honestly worse than an airplane restroom. No food or drinks are available on the train, and the small museum at the station isn't much to see either. The only positive was that the staff were friendly and welcoming. Also, there's no cell service in the area, so you can't use navigation or stay occupied during the ride or after. Overall, this was a huge disappointment. I would never do it again.

I was a here 30 years ago, so much has changed in that time. They have gotten better with age…read more We drove up from the St. Louis area for the Valentine's Day dinner train. It is a throwback to earlier times being able to have a nice meal on vintage railway equipment. My wife enjoyed the shrimp and linguine and I had beef with noodles. Both were very good. The ride itself winds its way along the river and over a couple of bridges. The stop and allow everyone to go to the observation car to enjoy the view from the High Bridge. Dinner is a leisurely affair so that you can enjoy each others company while the scenery slides by. Because it was February, the sun sets early and the ride home was in darkness, the have lights on the exterior of the cars that illuminate the right of way as you head back to the station. I am glad that my wife knows how much I enjoy riding the rails, and indulges me with great times like this.

I'm so glad that a close friend encouraged me to visit this excellent venue, as it led to a…read morefantastic afternoon on Iowa State's main campus. We came on an afternoon with basketball games sandwiched on either side of our arrival and experienced zero issues. Easy parking and the venue are free with a suggested $8 donation. Their extensive collection is varied and covers many types of art. I enjoyed the Will Wilson photography on display and appreciated their "Talking Tintypes," which used iPad or Smart Phone tech to highlight Wilson's pieces. I thoroughly loved Josh Simpson's "Imaginative Journeys in Space and Sea," a phenomenal collection of complex and unique glasswork. I appreciated the accompanying video that dove into how the works were created. His "MegaPlanet" was incredible. In addition, two other works in the central portion of the museum were memorable - Yoshida's "Sacred Bridge" and Koitsu's "Lake Yamanaka." They have monthly events that I look forward to attending, and Brunnier is open 10-4 daily during the week, and 1-4 on the weekend.

From the owner: University Museums is a distinctive organization that encompasses two art museums, a National…read moreHistoric Landmark historic home museum, a sculpture garden, and one of the largest campus public art collections in the nation. University Museums brings world-class exhibitions with educational programming to Iowa State University, actively acquires works of art to add to the more than 30,000 permanent collection objects, conserves and preserves collections, conducts and publishes curatorial scholarship, and fosters student engagement.

Want to learn more about this amazing state? Then plan your trip to take a tour of the exhibits at…read morethe Historical Building. Conveniently located near a free parking ramp and the State Capitol building (while you're at it, take a tour there too!). This building also hosts events. I have attended a roof top wedding reception and a day long symposium is the auditorium.

There are an excellent array of exhibits here! Ranging from early Iowa settler history, to civil…read morerights war, and everything in between until present day! It's free, and there's a good amount of info in short blurbs so it's all easy to read. There's interactive exhibits and it's all very clean. Definitely check this out to learn a lot about Iowa and US history in the context of Iowa. It's very kid friendly as well.

I recently spent an hour at this museum and it was absolutely delightful. The director opened the…read moremuseum for us on an appointment basis (it's apparently only open to the public on a daily basis during the summer) and what we found was an amazing, immersive collection of artifacts that painted a remarkably vivid portrait of rural farm life from the 19th century through the 1950s, along with a treasure trove of genealogical information, for those interested in such things. The people of this small town have clearly put their souls into this museum and it shows in the meticulous attention to detail in every room of every building. Much more immersive than other heritage and living history museums I've been to in the area. I couldn't possibly recommend this enough. It's the kind of place where you will notice something new every time you go, and I will be stopping by every time I find myself in Iowa.

Only open in the warmer months, the Kellogg Historical Museum is an amazing window into small town…read moreIowa life--a culture that is sadly disappearing in much of Iowa and the midwest. I highly recommend a visit. Take your family and your friends. It's donation-only and a short drive from Newton and Grinnell. The museum is in the old Simpson Hotel and is staffed by volunteers. Most of the artifacts (for lack of a better word) in the museum were donated by local families and represent daily life from the late 1800s to the 1960s. You'll get a real feel for what life was and is like Kellogg IA and Jasper County. You'll see old letters home from World War I, toys from the depression, mannequins from the 1950s, old farming implements and cash registers, tons of photo albums and vintage clothing. It really brings you back in time in a way that many of the larger, better funded museums in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Chicago don't. Seriously, if you're remotely interested in America's Heartland, go to the Kellogg Historical Museum. The staff is very friendly. If I remember right Donna works there and she's a Raider fan (don't hold it against her), and she made me feel right at home.

I stopped in on my way through Waterloo. I haven't been to the museum since I was little. It is…read moredelightful. Just the right size for a short stop, yet packed with great information and insights. The displays and interactive activities are well done and good for all ages. Thank you for persevering all this history.

Good sized museum with plenty of information about local history and some science topics. One thing…read moreI really liked was all the different options for fun photo opportunities that are good for both children and adults. These are arranged on two separate floors that are fairly well spaced so that you have plenty of room to explore, even with other patrons inside the museum. The displays are done well, with plenty of artifacts shown in a realistic setting and well written explanations of what the visitor is looking at. Overall, a nice place to spend a few hours learning and exploring.

Want to travel back in time? This preservation site includes historical buildings, tools, picture,…read moretoys, implements, documents and more. We are lucky enough to having loving relatives to guide us thru these olden structures that feel, at once, like they were created not that long ago and could still be utilized today.

This Museum was very nice filled with John Wayne memorabilia and artifacts. The John Wayne statue…read moreright outside the museum and birth house of John Wayne around the corner within a short walking distance. Great place to visit and take some pictures or video. There is a $20 ticket fee.

Fabulous, in-depth museum of a great American hero .. .. Learn all about him in multiple rooms…read moreincluding a small theatre with original rows of seats from the Chinese Theatre in LA .. .. His birthplace and family home is right next door and a docent is there to explain everything .. .. And, do yourself a favor, come in/out of WINTERSET on the 169 for one of the loveliest drives you can take in America!

Great value for anyone interested in aviation. There is an impressive amount of information on…read moreIowans in aviation from the early days at the turn of the 20th century to the present. There is a hangar with a number of vintage aircraft and information around 'famous plane crashes' that have taken place in the state. There is an Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame and library in the back of the hangar with racks of books, reference materials, and videos for perusal or research. This is a very quiet and quaint operation - don't expect anything too grand...but you will find a great deal of information with 'Iowa nice' treatment at a bargain price.

This is definitely a worthwhile stop for those of you who are interested in aviation. A little bit…read moreoff the beaten path and probably not Visited or recognized as much as it should be. The people who have put this together have done an amazing job. Five dollars fee for children $10 fee for adults free for members. Take the time, it's a beautiful place And definitely a tribute to those who have helped create aviation history but also those who have worked so hard to become the aviators.

A really nice cultural experience in the heart of Des Moines. The series of buildings includes the…read moreonly I M Pei design (same architect of the glass pyramid in the heart of the Paris Louvre). Iowa the Des Moines Art Center is a nice way to spend a few hours. Complementary admission and free parking is an added bonus and a fantastic value. And impressive selection of old world and modern art, including some more well-known artists such as Picasso, Goya, Cezanne, Miro, Lichtenstein, and an impressive selection of newer artists that definitely leave a lasting impression. I recommend that you stop, and even if only to see a few of the artists and a little bit of the architecture. Great gift shop too!

Spent an afternoon with artists Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Monet, and…read moreothers...at the fabulous Des Moines Art Center! I did not expect to see some of the world's greatest artists in Des Moines. Instead, it was an elite venue at an incredible price point. Located in Ingersoll Park, 20 minutes from Ankeny and 10 minutes from the State Capitol, the Art Center is a must-see, beautiful venue with spectacular works, considerable spaces, and gorgeous grounds. Amazingly, it is free. Loved the Samantha Box "Caribbean Dreams" exhibit, a fantastic collection of photography and art. I also loved works by Stella ("Interlagos"), Kiefer ("untitled"), Francis ("Summer #2"), and Schnabel. We also liked the postcard exhibit. The building has an awesome vibe and incredible visuals throughout its spectacular architecture. There is a great gift shop and discounted items near the entrance. Sensational guidance and kindness from the museum's docents, notably Loretta, Issac, and Gabby.