Have you ever seen a steamboat made into a Welcome Center and Museum? Me neither. So I had to go…read moreinside to check it out. I was met with two of the nicest ladies (working on a Saturday) answering questions and giving directions. Inside the steamboat is a small place to buy souvenirs and snacks as well as a museum on multiple levels. The majority of the museum is accessed up two small staircases. Kids and adults will find this Welcome Center a perfect place to stop in. Restrooms were in a separate building and a playground was available for the kids to get out some energy. There was also a beautiful walking path by the water to walk your dog. Go in and tell the nice ladies Marie sent you!

The last time I was here was 7 years ago. I was here two weeks ago & I had fun with my friend who…read morealso was here with me! A lot of interesting things to see regarding Sioux City & Lewis & Clark voyage!

My boyfriend, my brother & I all had fun here last weekend! I love the different selections of…read moreSioux City history they have here!

When I wandered past the museum on a walk when I was staying in Sioux City for the day, my…read moreexpectations were low. How much could there really be to say about Sioux City? I had a bit of time, so decided to find out. I left with a changed tune. For a free museum, I was impressed with the Sioux City Public Museum. They packed a LOT of history of the city into the space. There are displays and artifacts everywhere you look. Major city events, sports, famous residents, industry, history of the area, geological features - they're all covered. The displays look nice with lots of detail, words to read, items to look at, and even a short video or two. There's a little gift shop at the entrance if you need some Sioux City items (I did need a souvenir). Along with the many Sioux City displays, there were also two spaces that look like rotating display areas. One of them had a pretty cool fossils display with many different minerals, some raw and some cut or polished. The other was an entire room of art - paintings and sculptures - themed around wild animals. There were some incredibly beautiful pieces there, and it was a nice bonus to the public museum.

A passionate group of volunteers make your visit here very special. Between the historic buildings,…read morethe railroad history, the model trains, and the great people volunteering here, spending a couple of hours here is very rewarding. A gem for the community. You'll feel good about supporting this place and learning about railroad history in Sioux City!

I've only been here twice. Once during normal museum hours and once I was a part of a production of…read moreOrphan Train that a local Sioux City theater was putting on, and the lot opened so we could take some really cool pictures in costume. We got some amazing photos. The time I came for the museum I was chaperoning a small group of summer camp kids. Our tour guide was amazing. He let the kids ring the bell, go into some of the train cars, and walked us around the grounds. The kids really seemed to enjoy themselves. Both time the grounds were insanely muddy. But it's outside on actual old rail tracks. I don't quite remember the bathroom situation but I know they gotta have them. I don't think they have any food or gift shop. I know they do events every once in awhile. I see them advertised. Nice little Sioux City treasure tucked away from the city.

We came here on first leg to see Disney on ice. Our science museum reciprocal membership got us…read morefree admission. Our son couldn't have Venn happier on rainy day. So many things to do here and came before and after Disney on ice. Our son loved the market and cafe that he spent most time here. Afterwards, he did some of the other exhibits nearby. Nice that museum had its own parking lot instead of street parking. Also, all bathrooms have changing tables which was nice. Seating for eating was limited but worked. Overall, it's worth a stop over for your little ones to enjoy.

This place is great for children ages 2-12. Our family was visiting my adult son, his wife and our…read moregrand daughter in Sioux City and thought this looked like a fun place for us all to go. It was going to be expensive with five children and five adults, but I thought Gigi could splurge this once. I was so thankful that at the last minute my husband and three older sons (25, 15 & 13) decided to play golf instead. They would have been bored out of their minds! The girls (9 and 11) had a great time. I did not like the fact that my daughter-in-law, my 20 year old daughter, and I had to pay so much to in reality sit and watch the girls play. If I knew the environment, I would have taken the girls alone and let the other two go out, but hindsight is 20/20. So, in conclusion, take the kids - boys and girls- up to ages 13, and only pay for one adult to sit and supervise! Anything else is a waste of money!

I had been to so many other Lewis and Clark sites, and so I did not budget much time for this one…read more I thought it would be the same old, same old, right? Well, about half of the building is dedicated to Lewis and Clark's journey, and the other half is the Betty Strong Encounter Center which has more artwork and local subjects. I spent a surprising amount of time here. I really like how some of the exhibits discusses Sergeant Floyd's death, which was previously glossed over. I only knew that he was the only death on the trial, but I never knew the circumstances. There's a nearby obelisk that also memorializes his death if you want to further explore the history.

While visiting Sioux City Iowa, I decided to spend half of the day just getting to know the area…read moreand exploring so I ended up over at the Lewis and Clark interpretive center. This was amazing and it is a must see for anyone who is wanting to know a little bit about our history in America and a lot about Sioux City. The exhibits are fantastic, the building is gorgeous as is the setting out on the riverfront. There are also lots of other places surrounding it that are locals and tourists alike. There is a dry docked boat museum next-door and there is also a cultural center attached to Lewis and Clark building that is a must as well!! All the way in addition, multimillion dollar improvement done to their waterfront area here that's in that same section. Park your car in their ample parking lot and start walking.

Driving north, I stopped at the Sioux City Art Center to see the Corn Room Murals from 1927 by…read moreGrant Wood. These delicate oil on canvas mounted on board panels of Iowa cornfields were rediscovered in 1979, saved, and removed from the local Martin Hotel in the 1980s. The vibrancy of the panels is no more. Seeing them in the small gallery here is like looking at ancient murals. The viewer is faced with the creamy yellows, tans, and browns but little detail remains. However, sit and gaze at these for a while, let your imagination help you, and you'll get a sense of how lovely these panels must have been. For the local community, this Grant Wood work, even in its diminished state, is an important historic and cultural touchstone. The Art Center itself is a nice space for exhibitions. The few here were more interesting than I expected. I was especially taken with Teo Nguyen's giant acrylic on vellum 'Lotus Pond,' from 2018-22.

Another small city art museum that pleasantly surprised me. It has a small permanent collection yet…read morehas some great pieces; including a Thomas Hart Benton that I wanted to see since hailing from Kansas City. They also had a whimsical temporary exhibit - "The Art of the Brick" with full scale sculptures made with Lego's, and an exhibit of area high school students that was truly awe inspiring with paintings, drawing and sculpture.The price was free, parking was easy and next to the interstate downtown. An easy and rewarding stop for anyone driving I-29. Nice job Sioux City!

What a surprise! We stumbled upon this musical treasure. Give yourself 2 hours. Large strings…read morecollection - as well as brass. A guitar from Elvis, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Much appropriate attention to the rich African/African American music of our country. Fun small gift store too.

Enjoyed my stop at the National Music Museum, prompted on a bitter-cold December day as a result of…read moresome terrific & frequent advertising along my drive on the 29. This site is more about the instruments than the music or the artists, however. Located on the campus of the University of South Dakota, the museum has a lot of exhibits and rooms full of historic instruments such as organs, pianos, guitars, drums, and horns. Liked learning about Johnny Cash, many other items. Enjoyed their interactive videos and music within the exhibits. Lots of parking.

Finally let me win back a little of what i put in. It's definitely not a place to get rich but it's…read moreok. They could improve by giving more free play.

4 stars instead of 5 strictly due to arrival confusion. There's no clear hotel entrance signage,…read moreand the front desk looks like a bar with a 20-foot wall of liquor. I got sent to a loading dock because someone made assumptions based on my work uniform rather than listening to me. Thankfully, Tina at the front desk completely saved the day. She was incredibly friendly, accommodating, and made the mishap vanish. Exceptional service from her! Beyond the arrival, the property is fantastic! Lobby & Hallways: Clean, modern, and very well maintained. Rooms: Spacious, great bedding, an incredible shower, and perfectly themed artwork. Atmosphere: The common areas double as a legitimate rock 'n' roll museum featuring memorabilia from Prince, Stevie Nicks, Elvis, and more. Casino & Perks: Thursday night rewards were great, plus room stays include a free drink ticket. Dining: Fuel American Grill was surprisingly amazing. The chicken pimento sandwich was delicious, and they even serve goulash! Despite the initial entrance mix-up, Hard Rock Sioux City hit all the right notes. Highly recommend!