The building features an extensive collection of over 100,000 artifacts related to Iowa's history.
It houses a 'prehistoric' gallery that includes displays of marine fossils found in Iowa from when the state was covered by a shallow inland sea.
The facility maintains a research library that contains thousands of photographs and maps dating back to the mid-19th century.
The structure was specifically designed by architects Smith, Voorhees, Jensen and Associates to accommodate both archival storage and public exhibition space.
The museum holds significant collections detailing the history of the Meskwaki people in Iowa.
The State Historical Building of Iowa serves as the primary repository for the state's cultural and natural history. Located at the foot of Capitol Hill, the facility houses the State Historical Museum and the State Archives of Iowa. Permanent exhibits span thousands of years, covering Iowa's geological formation, indigenous heritage, and agricultural evolution. The building features an expansive atrium that connects multiple levels of galleries and a research library. Interactive displays document the transition from tallgrass prairie to modern industrialization. It serves as a hub for state records and genealogical research for historians and the general public. Architectural elements reflect a modernist approach designed to integrate into the surrounding government campus.
The central atrium provides a symmetrical view of the interior architecture and the expansive skylights.
Bring a notebook to record call numbers for materials in the research library.
Check the online events calendar before visiting to see if your trip coincides with a specialized historical lecture or gallery talk.
Take advantage of the quiet atmosphere to view the rotating temporary exhibits on the upper levels.
Do not confuse the main exhibit areas with the restricted-access archival storage vaults, which require special clearance.
Closed on Mondays and most state holidays.
Maintain a quiet volume and refrain from touching artifacts on display.
