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.

This was a fantastic museum! Small but mighty…read more The grounds are kept so well and I loved being able to walk the prairie landscape park by Jens Jensen. There was a lot of good information inside, of course with artwork, to artifacts and even some props brought over from Denmark. My favorite was the small photo album from the 1970's when they brought over the Danish windmill from Denmark and it shows the complete transformation. The staff was SO kind and helpful and just really eager for us to ask questions and have a great experience and visit. As someone who adores everything Danish I loved this exhibit! Their gift shop was so well done and I walked away with some local honey and Bjorn Wiinblad wall hanging to add to my collection. I would definitely recommend this place if you're visiting the area, and I so hope to be back one day!

Stop in here on a little road trip back home. I thought this place was really cool. It's in what…read moreI'm pretty sure is an actual Danish village. A lot of the people living near by are Danish I'm pretty sure. The museum building itself is beautiful then add in all the art and culture it's even more amazing. I brought my kids with me and I feel like they didn't appreciate it as much as I did but we were at the tail end of the trip and they wanted to be home. There were so many cool artifacts to look at that I wasn't able to see all of them because my kids were afraid being on the 3rd level . The woman working the front desk was so kind and lovely. I wish I would have gotten her name. It was peaceful and cool in here too. It was a fun stop in and learning experience!

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!

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?

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.

If you're a John Wayne fan this is a must see. So much information and many artifacts. The staff…read morewas amazing! Jill, Frances and Noah could not Jane been more accommodating if they'd have wanted to be. I'm so glad my sisters stopped in on our way back to Texas on June 21. Take a look around town while in Winterset. You won't regret either.

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.

This was a wonderful experience and we will definitely be returning for the different seasons…read more Maybe even the dinner train. I'm not sure why they have you show up a hour before departure time. But we did spend the time waiting in the museum. I wish there had been a description of the cars or even pictures of the various cars when choosing on the website. We ended up in the open air on a misty cloudy day. I thought this was a car without windows or something. But after about ten minutes it stopped raining and surprisingly it was not cold. Somehow the wind is blocked. They did say we could go into the other car if we wanted. I do have to WARN anyone riding in the open air car that the soot from the train ends up landing on you and by the end of the ride you are speckled with black dots. It's been a few days and I still have a few spots that won't wash off. With all these little complaints it still was wonderful. I just have more knowledge for next time.

We had tickets for an open car on what turned out to be a hot day. The crew offered us to seat in a…read morecar with shade. The railroad is the main attraction. The view is ok with a couple of highlights. We originally wanted to be on the pedaled carts but they were sold out. They certainly looked like fun. A good attraction for kids and seniors.

Had my wedding here and it was the perfect setting for a midwest/retro wedding. They were very kind…read morehere and allowed me to be there the day before to decorate for a very nominal fee.

This was a great little museum with many interesting historical items from the entire area. The…read morecurator, Trisha, was fabulous!!! She was so thoughtful and helpful. Made you feel right at home. A real local treasure and great person.

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.

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.

So I came here on a day they were closed. The hours are very short and it makes it hard for people…read moreto visit this museum. I am a lover trains and train history. I do enjoy the location because it is a very short drive from the center of town. It's also perched on a hill and the outside of the building looks very cute. I hope the hours are a little better when I come to Iowa next because I would love to see the inside. The outside was incredible and made me smile! The three stars is because of the hours being so short and during the middle of the week. I wish I could have seen the inside of this place on a Saturday. Next time I will try to visit during your business hours!

From the owner: The Restored Burlington Northern Depot and WWII Memorial Museum, built in 1903 and restored in…read more2003, is now a beautiful restored railroad depot and memorial military museum. Exhibits, library, theatre for viewing railroad and military related videos, all adjacent to the BNSF mainline between Chicago and Denver. Facilities for receptions, seminars, meeting of all kinds, and catering services, including an on-site kitchen. Usual OPEN hours: 10 am to 12 noon, Monday thru Friday, March thru December. OPEN by appointment anytime. t 712.621.9099 museum@depothill.net