Sitting squarely in the country’s heartland, Iowa embodies a sense of authentic, All-American charm. Home to legendary figures and iconic cultural destinations alike, Iowa has made a prominent imprint on modern American culture. Groups can get to know Iowa’s All-American side through an itinerary that highlights the state’s ties to the U.S. presidency, military history, women’s suffrage and all things Americana.
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
West Branch
Set to reopen in summer 2026 following an expansive renovation, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum offers visitors a chance to explore the life and career of America’s 31st president. Located in West Branch, where Hoover was born in 1874, the museum details how Hoover shifted from early work as a mining engineer into international humanitarianism and, later, the presidency. Hoover’s time as president from 1929 through 1933, during the height of the Great Depression, came during a period of intense economic hardship for the nation. Immersive exhibits and the museum’s vast holdings of Hoover’s personal letters, photographs and documents provide revealing context for these challenges as well as his pre-presidential life and post-office public service. Guests can also explore other portions of the 187-acre Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, including Hoover’s birthplace cottage and grave site and a restored blacksmith shop and schoolhouse that capture a snapshot of Iowa life during Hoover’s early years.
Ice House Museum
Cedar Falls
Sourcing naturally harvested ice from lakes and rivers served as the primary means of preserving perishable foods across America before electric refrigeration systems became widely available. Cedar Falls’ Ice House Museum tells that mostly forgotten story — and lays claim to fame as the only spot in America able to share the unique history of ice harvesting within an original ice house. Built in 1921, the distinctive, round facility is 100 feet in diameter and once featured enough space to house up to 8,000 tons of ice. Today, the facility fills its footprint with engaging displays that preserve the distinctive legacy of ice harvesting and its foundational role in the city’s early history. The museum’s vast collection includes carefully preserved saws, tongs, sleds, wagons and other tools once used to cut and haul ice from the Cedar River nearby. It is open for tours from May through October. If they’re visiting in February, groups can attend Cedar Falls’ Ice Harvest Festival, which features live ice-cutting demonstrations and ice fishing.
cedarfallshistory.org/who-we-are#IceHouseMuseum
Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home
Charles City
As founder of the League of Women Voters and president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, Carrie Chapman Catt played a pivotal role in the fight to secure voting rights for American women. At Chapman Catt’s Iowa girlhood home, interpretive exhibits offer insights into her early life and the factors that led to her eventual campaign for voting equality. The restored, eight-room, Victorian-era brick farmhouse near Charles City, built between 1865 and 1875, is included on the National Register of Historic Places. A timeline there outlines key career highlights from throughout Chapman Catt’s life. The adjacent museum includes additional displays about her remarkable legacy, plus artifacts from daily life in rural Iowa during her time growing up there. Outside, the expansive grounds offer acres of picturesque tallgrass prairies and an orchard to explore. Tours of the property’s interior spaces are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day or at other times of the year by appointment.
The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana
Mount Pleasant
Theater history buffs won’t want to miss a trip to The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana in Mount Pleasant. There, vintage memorabilia celebrate the legacy of popular traveling acting troupes who performed — often in tent theaters — throughout small-town America. Representing one of the largest repertoire theater collections of its kind in the U.S., the museum preserves a bygone era in American popular entertainment, which reached its heyday during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Exhibit highlights include rare original playbills, one-of-a-kind stage props and costumes, and a rich trove of production-related photographs, scrapbooks and newspaper articles. The museum’s collections offer a fascinating lens into the types of shows that were popular in America in the early 20th century. They also offer a unique window into the lives of the actors and actresses — like the Midwest’s Schaffner Players — who brought those stories to life. The museum is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, or at other times by appointment.
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
Johnston
A must-stop destination for military history enthusiasts, the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at historic Camp Dodge spotlights Iowans’ pivotal role in every U.S. armed conflict. Collections weave together the story of Iowa’s honored military past, from its initial statehood through the present day. Memorabilia from both World Wars and the Vietnam War feature heavily in museum displays — from soldiers’ uniforms, rifles and other personal effects to tanks, helicopters and other large-scale equipment. Collection highlights, including a life-size World War I replica trench and a modern-era F-16 flight simulator, encourage hands-on exploration for all ages. Outside, visitors can view more tanks, a helicopter and an armored personnel carrier. The site sponsors special annual programming around Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and it hosts a Vietnam Veterans Weekend each June. The museum is open to visitors Tuesdays through Saturdays. Groups can schedule guided tours by contacting the museum directly.
