Sioux City Public Museum — Attraction in Sioux City

We were pleasantly surprised by this museum. Sioux City is a nice town but I don't think it has grown in the last 40 years the way other cities have. However it has history to it, and a certain down to earth charm. The Sioux City Public Museum seems to capture that very well.

The museum is not what I would call large but it is absolutely jammed full of objects and exhibits that are practically piled on top of each other. Yet despite that density things flow and there is not a sense of clutter per se. They have some very good short videos including an orientation to the towns history that is projected on three different screens for an imersive effect in a mock opera house theater. At the conclusion of the film the main screen rises and behind it the doors from the theater open into the museum automatically.

It is absolutely worth a stop if you have some time in town. The creators and everyone who has worked on the museum deserve a pat on the back for a job well done....

This is such a cool museum for a FREE museum attempting to essentially cover all of history for an entire city. It can be a bit chaotic in places but overall does a great job, and I think the new sports exhibit is especially strong. My kids love the log cabin + tipi area most of the main section. Our very favorite exhibit right now is the dinosaur exhibit featuring dinos from Hell Creek. I hope they considering making it permanent because it's so cool! The existing dino dig and the small collection of fossils that were already in the rock room blend well into the temporary exhibit to make a really exciting dino experience. And I appreciate that in the gift shop they have a wide variety of options, including 25¢ dinosaurs so it's easy to say yes to letting kids pick something! The bathrooms are always clean in my experience and the metered parking isn't too expensive. I think it was around $2 for 2 hours this most recent visit...

Truly enjoyed my visit to the Sioux City Public Museum. The pleasant conversation with the front desk receptionist was a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed the 13-minute movie learning about some of the history of Iowa. The love for Iowa, Sioux City, and the people is present throughout the museum's multiple artifacts. The interactive displays are a nice touch. Being able to see real mist/smoke appear while a movie is describing the destruction of a town fire is genius. I also appreciate the displays that explained African-American and Native American contributions/stories and how they intertwined with the rich history of Iowa. Admission is free however donations are accepted. Additionally, remember to show support at the gift shop. Parking meters on the side streets were reasonable during my Friday...