Highest-rated museums in Iowa by visitors

Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.

With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Iowa on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. 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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1 / 30

#30. Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (106 reviews)
- City: Waterloo
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#29. National Farm Toy Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (103 reviews)
- City: Dyersville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#28. Historic General Dodge House

- Rating: 4.6/5 (103 reviews)
- City: Council Bluffs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#27. The Iowa Children's Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (153 reviews)
- City: Coralville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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5 / 30

#26. Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.4/5 (161 reviews)
- City: Cedar Rapids
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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6 / 30

#25. Buffalo Bill Museum

- Rating: 4.2/5 (332 reviews)
- City: Le Claire
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#24. Old Capitol Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (167 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#23. Museum of Natural History

- Rating: 4.3/5 (102 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#22. Music Man Square

- Rating: 4.4/5 (184 reviews)
- City: Mason City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#21. Sioux City Public Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (160 reviews)
- City: Sioux City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#20. Sergeant Floyd River Museum and Welcome Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (139 reviews)
- City: Sioux City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#19. Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- City: Le Mars
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#18. Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (217 reviews)
- City: Decorah
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#17. Science Center of Iowa

- Rating: 4.1/5 (264 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#16. State Historical Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (196 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#15. Mississippi Spoon Gallery

- Rating: 5.0/5 (102 reviews)
- City: Davenport
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#14. Squirrel Cage Jail

- Rating: 4.3/5 (142 reviews)
- City: Council Bluffs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#13. World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

- Rating: 4.8/5 (80 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#12. The Putnam Museum & Science Center

- Rating: 4.3/5 (234 reviews)
- City: Davenport
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#11. Figge Art Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (325 reviews)
- City: Davenport
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#10. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

- Rating: 4.7/5 (370 reviews)
- City: Cedar Rapids
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#9. Union Pacific Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (314 reviews)
- City: Council Bluffs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#8. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (301 reviews)
- City: Sioux City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#7. Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (500 reviews)
- City: West Branch
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#6. John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (205 reviews)
- City: Waterloo
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#5. Des Moines Art Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (322 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#4. Iowa 80 Trucking Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (648 reviews)
- City: Walcott
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#3. Salisbury House & Gardens

- Rating: 4.4/5 (162 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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29 / 30

#2. John Wayne Birthplace & Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (512 reviews)
- City: Winterset
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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30 / 30

#1. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,652 reviews)
- City: Dubuque
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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