Tripadvisor
Highest-rated museums in Iowa, according to Tripadvisor
The first public museum was founded in 1684 at the University of Oxford. The Ashmolean Museum was founded when Elias Ashmole donated his private collection to the university in 1677. Much of that original collection is still on display, including a crystal ball, several kidney stones, and preserved, exotic animals. By creating the museum, Ashmole sought to do what all museum curators have worked for since: to create a space where people could be inspired and educated by artifacts and art from around the world.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Iowa on Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.
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Tripadvisor
#30. The Iowa Children's Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (152 reviews)
- Address: 1451 Coral Ridge Ave, Coralville, IA 52241-2800
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- Address: 1451 Coral Ridge Ave, Coralville, IA 52241-2800
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Tripadvisor
#29. Family Museum of Arts and Science
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (93 reviews)
- Address: 2900 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf, IA 52722-7710
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- Address: 2900 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf, IA 52722-7710
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Tripadvisor
#28. Museum of Natural History
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (99 reviews)
- Address: 17 N Clinton St Macbride Hall, Iowa City, IA 52240
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- Address: 17 N Clinton St Macbride Hall, Iowa City, IA 52240
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Tripadvisor
#27. Historic General Dodge House
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (97 reviews)
- Address: 605 S 3rd St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-6614
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- Address: 605 S 3rd St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-6614
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Tripadvisor
#26. Okoboji Classic Cars
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (96 reviews)
- Address: 810 Jeppeson Rd Intersection OF Hwy 86 & Jeppeson Road, Okoboji, IA 51351-1236
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- Address: 810 Jeppeson Rd Intersection OF Hwy 86 & Jeppeson Road, Okoboji, IA 51351-1236
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Tripadvisor
#25. National Farm Toy Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (97 reviews)
- Address: 1110 16th Avenue Ct SE, Dyersville, IA 52040-2374
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- Address: 1110 16th Avenue Ct SE, Dyersville, IA 52040-2374
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Tripadvisor
#24. Sergeant Floyd River Museum and Welcome Center
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (128 reviews)
- Address: 1000 Larsen Park Rd, Sioux City, IA 51103-4914
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- Address: 1000 Larsen Park Rd, Sioux City, IA 51103-4914
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Tripadvisor
#23. Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail and Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (135 reviews)
- Address: 226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825
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- Address: 226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825
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Tripadvisor
#22. World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (80 reviews)
- Address: 100 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1767
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- Address: 100 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1767
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Tripadvisor
#21. Sioux City Public Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (155 reviews)
- Address: 607 4th St, Sioux City, IA 51101-1634
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- Address: 607 4th St, Sioux City, IA 51101-1634
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Tripadvisor
#20. Old Capitol Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (160 reviews)
- Address: 21 Old Capitol The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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- Address: 21 Old Capitol The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Tripadvisor
#19. Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (154 reviews)
- Address: 410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1606
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- Address: 410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1606
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Tripadvisor
#18. Science Center of Iowa
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (259 reviews)
- Address: 401 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309-4776
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- Address: 401 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309-4776
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#17. National Motorcycle Museum
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (174 reviews)
- Address: 102 Chamber Dr, Anamosa, IA 52205-2113
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- Address: 102 Chamber Dr, Anamosa, IA 52205-2113
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#16. Music Man Square
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (173 reviews)
- Address: 308 S Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA 50401-3913
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- Address: 308 S Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA 50401-3913
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Tripadvisor
#15. Buffalo Bill Museum
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (323 reviews)
- Address: 199 N Front St, Le Claire, IA 52753-7713
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- Address: 199 N Front St, Le Claire, IA 52753-7713
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#14. The Putnam Museum & Science Center
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (226 reviews)
- Address: 1717 W 12th St, Davenport, IA 52804-3547
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- Address: 1717 W 12th St, Davenport, IA 52804-3547
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Tripadvisor
#13. Salisbury House
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (157 reviews)
- Address: 4025 Tonawanda Dr, Des Moines, IA 50312-2909
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- Address: 4025 Tonawanda Dr, Des Moines, IA 50312-2909
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#12. State Historical Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (192 reviews)
- Address: 600 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1006
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- Address: 600 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1006
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Tripadvisor
#11. Union Pacific Railroad Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (300 reviews)
- Address: 200 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825
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- Address: 200 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825
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Tripadvisor
#10. John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (189 reviews)
- Address: 500 Westfield Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50701
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- Address: 500 Westfield Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50701
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Tripadvisor
#9. Vesterheim
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (208 reviews)
- Address: 520 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101-1734
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- Address: 520 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101-1734
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#8. Des Moines Art Center
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (308 reviews)
- Address: 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312-2099
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- Address: 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312-2099
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#7. Figge Art Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (317 reviews)
- Address: 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52801-1804
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- Address: 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52801-1804
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#6. Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (469 reviews)
- Address: 210 Parkside Dr P.O.Box 607, West Branch, IA 52358-9685
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- Address: 210 Parkside Dr P.O.Box 607, West Branch, IA 52358-9685
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Tripadvisor
#5. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (282 reviews)
- Address: 900 Larsen Park Rd, Sioux City, IA 51103-4916
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- Address: 900 Larsen Park Rd, Sioux City, IA 51103-4916
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Tripadvisor
#4. John Wayne Birthplace & Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (484 reviews)
- Address: 205 S. John Wayne Drive, Winterset, IA 50273-1904
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- Address: 205 S. John Wayne Drive, Winterset, IA 50273-1904
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Tripadvisor
#3. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (360 reviews)
- Address: 1400 Inspiration Pl SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-5918
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- Address: 1400 Inspiration Pl SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-5918
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Tripadvisor
#2. Iowa 80 Trucking Museum
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (591 reviews)
- Address: 505 Sterling Drive I-80 Exit 284, Walcott, IA 52773
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- Address: 505 Sterling Drive I-80 Exit 284, Walcott, IA 52773
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Tripadvisor
#1. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,615 reviews)
- Address: 350 E 3rd St Port of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 52001-2302
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- Address: 350 E 3rd St Port of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 52001-2302
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