Highest-rated specialty museums in Iowa, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated specialty museums in Iowa, according to Tripadvisor
The Ashmolean Museum, founded in 1683 at the University of Oxford, stands as the first public museum in the world. The gallery was started when its founder, Elias Ashmole, in 1677 donated his private collection to the university. 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 the world around them. Specialty museums are particularly focused, diving deep into highly specific subject matters, from seashells to ventriloquism.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest specialty museums in Iowa on Tripadvisor. Keep reading to see what unique museums are in your own home state.
#30. Music Man Square
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (164 reviews)
- Address: 308 S Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA 50401-3913
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#29. The Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 2600 Expedition Ct, Sioux City, IA 51111-1108
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#28. Antique Car Museum of Iowa
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 200 District Blvd, Coralville, IA 52241-2241
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#27. Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109-1657
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#26. RailsWest Railroad Museum & HO Model Display
- Rating: 3.5 / 5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 1512 S Main St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-6578
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#25. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 1000 N Lincoln St, Knoxville, IA 50138-1465
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#24. Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (65 reviews)
- Address: not available
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#23. Airpower Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 22001 Bluegrass Rd, Ottumwa, IA 52501-8569
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#22. Star Trek Voyage Home Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 361 E 1st St, Riverside, IA 52327-9674
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#21. Midwest Old Threshers
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 405 E Thresher Rd, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641-2584
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#20. National Farm Toy Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (90 reviews)
- Address: 1110 16th Avenue Ct SE, Dyersville, IA 52040-2374
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#19. Bix Beiderbecke Museum & Archive
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 129 N Main St Red Stone Building, Corner of Main and Second Streets, Davenport, IA 52801-1808
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#18. National Pearl Button Museum
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 117 W 2nd St, Muscatine, IA 52761-3714
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#17. National Motorcycle Museum
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (166 reviews)
- Address: 102 Chamber Dr, Anamosa, IA 52205-2113
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#16. African American Museum of Iowa
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 55 12th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-2202
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#15. Sioux City Railroad Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 3400 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109
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#14. Iowa 80 Trucking Museum
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (511 reviews)
- Address: 505 Sterling Drive I-80 Exit 284, Walcott, IA 52773
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#13. World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (77 reviews)
- Address: 100 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1767
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#12. Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (98 reviews)
- Address: 503 South St, Waterloo, IA 50701-1517
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#11. Vesterheim
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (204 reviews)
- Address: 520 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101-1734
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#10. John Wayne Birthplace & Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (448 reviews)
- Address: 205 S. John Wayne Drive, Winterset, IA 50273-1904
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#9. Sioux City Public Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (150 reviews)
- Address: 607 4th St, Sioux City, IA 51101-1634
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#8. Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail and Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (131 reviews)
- Address: 226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825
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#7. Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (95 reviews)
- Address: 243 W Broadway St, Okoboji, IA 51331-7779
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#6. Okoboji Classic Cars
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (91 reviews)
- Address: 810 Jeppeson Rd Intersection OF Hwy 86 & Jeppeson Road, Okoboji, IA 51351-1236
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#5. John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (175 reviews)
- Address: 500 Westfield Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50701
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#4. Buffalo Bill Museum
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (311 reviews)
- Address: 199 N Front St, Le Claire, IA 52753-7713
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#3. Union Pacific Railroad Museum
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (294 reviews)
- Address: 200 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825
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#2. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (346 reviews)
- Address: 1400 Inspiration Pl SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-5918
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#1. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,568 reviews)
- Address: 350 E 3rd St Port of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 52001-2302
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