Making Iowa History Fun!

When I used to think about the State Historical Museum downtown, I never would have thought it would be fun for kids.  Well, I was totally wrong!  My kid begs us to take him to the FREE museum all the time to do the super fun scavenger hunt, see all of the animals and of course, eat lunch at the Barrata's cafe that is on the top floor.  

Visiting the museum makes for a great morning.  We start on the first floor where we pick up our pencils and scavenger hunt maps and get looking for stuff. It's fun and educational and our kids really enjoy exploring the museum at their own pace.  Since entrance is free, it's ok if we get tired and break for lunch early.

I love that this is a fun way to start to introduce our kids to Iowa's rich history.  There is so much to learn and this is a really cool museum.  There are even a few hands-on exhibits.  Not quite as kid-friendly as the Science Center, but hey, there is a lot to see and it's free.

We always bring a snack with us since there isn't a snack bar or other place to buy snacks other than the lunch cafe which serves soups, salads and sandwiches and always has a $5 special of the day like mac & cheese or lasagna.  They also have a kids menu, so feel free to bring the little ones.  Earlier is better for the cafe with kids since they tend to fill up with business people around noon, so if you're worried about your kids being too antsy, go at 11-ish after doing the museum for a few hours (they open at 9 on weekdays).  


Oh, and don't forget to bring quarters for the meter. You can park right in front of the building with no problem finding a spot if you get there right at 9, but you'll need change for the meter if you go on a weekday. My kid thinks it's pretty fun and we've been visiting since he was about 3.  Let us know if your kids like it too!