Iowa’s small towns are hiding some of the most fascinating and quirky museums around! Check out a few of our favorite museums in Iowa and plan a trip to visit them to support their unique collections.
- Bily Clocks Museum, Spillville
Google Local / Alain Chotil-Fani The Bily Brothers began making handcrafted clocks in the 1920s, as a way to spend time together when they had no other work to do. Today, their entire collection of 20 clocks is on display at this Spillville Museum! Their largest one is called “The Apostles’ Parade” and is nearly 10 feet tall. Even though Henry Ford offered to buy one of their clocks (“American Pioneer History”) for $1 million in 1928, the Bily Brothers insisted none of their clocks could ever be sold.
- Squirrel Cage Jail, Council Bluffs
Google Local / Nali Yan The Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail is the largest of the three rotary jails still in existence today. Once thought to be a brilliant, space-saving design, the idea of a jail where the cells rotated turned out to be a dangerous disaster. Read more about it right here.
- Froelich Gas Tractor Museum, McGregor
Google Local / Sherry Brendle In the late 1800s, farmers were frustrated with steam powered farm equipment. One man, John Froelich, decided to take matters into his own hands, and in doing so, changed the farming industry forever. In 1892, he invented the first gas-powered tractor that could be driven forwards and backwards. Today, the museum celebrates his achievements in this tiny Iowa community.
- Kate Shelley Museum, Boone
Tripadvisor / Init4Keeps Kate Shelley is one of Iowa’s most famous women. She defied all odds and rode through a storm to save a train full of people when a nearby high bridge washed out! You can visit the bridge named in her honor and a small railroading museum in Boone. Read more about it right here.
- Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and Museum, Le Mars
Flickr/Jody Halsted Did you know that the Ice Cream Capital of the World is here in Iowa?! Blue Bunny Ice Cream calls Le Mars their home. Visit their museum and ice cream parlor for an experience that’s sure to take you back in time. Read more about it right here.
- National Hobo Museum, Britt
Facebook / Britt Hobo Museum The National Hobo Museum in Britt, Iowa, is a fascinating place where you’ll learn about the history you’ve never considered! “Hobos” still ride the rails today, and an enormous festival comes to this small town ever year. Read more about it right here.
- Music Man Square, Mason City
Facebook / Music Man Square Meredith Willson is Mason City’s “favorite son”, and he put his hometown on the map when he wrote and composed the Broadway show The Music Man! Head to the replica of “River City” and enjoy an entertaining day visiting the famous storefronts. Read more about it right here.
What’s your favorite museum in Iowa? Let’s talk about them in the comments below, or you can nominate a collection that deserves a spotlight at the top of the page.
Google Local / Alain Chotil-Fani
The Bily Brothers began making handcrafted clocks in the 1920s, as a way to spend time together when they had no other work to do. Today, their entire collection of 20 clocks is on display at this Spillville Museum! Their largest one is called “The Apostles’ Parade” and is nearly 10 feet tall. Even though Henry Ford offered to buy one of their clocks (“American Pioneer History”) for $1 million in 1928, the Bily Brothers insisted none of their clocks could ever be sold.
Google Local / Nali Yan
The Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail is the largest of the three rotary jails still in existence today. Once thought to be a brilliant, space-saving design, the idea of a jail where the cells rotated turned out to be a dangerous disaster. Read more about it right here.
Google Local / Sherry Brendle
In the late 1800s, farmers were frustrated with steam powered farm equipment. One man, John Froelich, decided to take matters into his own hands, and in doing so, changed the farming industry forever. In 1892, he invented the first gas-powered tractor that could be driven forwards and backwards. Today, the museum celebrates his achievements in this tiny Iowa community.
Tripadvisor / Init4Keeps
Kate Shelley is one of Iowa’s most famous women. She defied all odds and rode through a storm to save a train full of people when a nearby high bridge washed out! You can visit the bridge named in her honor and a small railroading museum in Boone. Read more about it right here.
Flickr/Jody Halsted
Did you know that the Ice Cream Capital of the World is here in Iowa?! Blue Bunny Ice Cream calls Le Mars their home. Visit their museum and ice cream parlor for an experience that’s sure to take you back in time. Read more about it right here.
Facebook / Britt Hobo Museum
The National Hobo Museum in Britt, Iowa, is a fascinating place where you’ll learn about the history you’ve never considered! “Hobos” still ride the rails today, and an enormous festival comes to this small town ever year. Read more about it right here.
Facebook / Music Man Square
Meredith Willson is Mason City’s “favorite son”, and he put his hometown on the map when he wrote and composed the Broadway show The Music Man! Head to the replica of “River City” and enjoy an entertaining day visiting the famous storefronts. Read more about it right here.
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Address: Bily Clocks & Dvo?ák Residence, 323 S Main St, Spillville, IA 52168, USAAddress: Squirrel Cage Jail, 226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, USAAddress: Froelich Rd, McGregor, IA 52157, USAAddress: Kate Shelley High Bridge, Boone, IA 50036, USAAddress: Blue Bunny Dr, Le Mars, IA 51031, USAAddress: National Hobo Museum, 51 Main Ave S, Britt, IA 50423, USAAddress: 308 S Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA 50401, USA
