Browse Museums

Art, History

Famous as the backdrop of Grant Wood's 1930 painting, "American Gothic" Nice photo opportunity.

Anderson Gallery

Des Moines, Iowa

Art

Exhibitions of fine arts including faculty, student and juried shows.

Arts for Living Center

Burlington, Iowa

Art

Community arts facility offering fine arts and crafts classes for all ages, changing fine arts exhibition and music and dramatic performances. Adapted 1868 church building in historic Heritage Hill District.

Art, Culture, University

The Brunnier Art Museum is the state's only accredited museum emphasizing a decorative arts collection, and one of the nation's few museums located within a performing arts and conference complex (Iowa State Center). Founded in 1975, the museum is named after its benefactors, Iowa State alumnus Henry J. Brunnier and his wife Ann. The decorative arts collection they donated, the Brunnier Collection, is extensive, consisting of ceramics, glass, dolls, ivory, jade, and enameled metals.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Art, Culture

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art has a collection of more than 7,200 works of art spanning many eras—from Roman antiquity to the present. The collection is particularly strong in American art, especially from the first half of the 20th century. There are a number of artists the Museum holds in great depth—including the world's largest collection of works of art by Grant Wood. The Museum also possesses a strong collection of Roman portrait busts donated by Tom and Nan Riley, and an extensive print collection from the 15th century forward primarily donated by Peter O. Stamats.

Coe College Art Galleries

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Art

An art gallery established to exhibit temporary exhibitions; mainly regional artists of all media and styles and Coe students. Tours and lecture available.

Des Moines Art Center

Des Moines, Iowa

Art

The Art Center focuses on 19th & 20th century art. It features traveling exhibitions, studio classes, a restaurant, and museum shop. The building was designed by Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pie and Richard Meier.

Figge Art Museum

Davenport, Iowa

Art

Our museum truly brings people and art together. We offer workshops, classes, lectures, films, and of course art in our permanent collection, including our renowned Haitian collection. We also bring numerous world-class exhibitions to our museum. Most of all, we strive to be an arts center for the community.

Grant Wood Gallery

Anamosa, Iowa

Art

View a continuing exhibit of Grant Wood prints and photos of the original Grant Wood Art Colony in Stone City. Original murals on exhibit by Grant Wood from the old Chieftain Hotel in Council Bluffs. Gift Shop includes Grant Wood prints, books and memorabilia.

Iowa Arts Council

Des Moines, Iowa

Art

N/A

Art, History, Historic House, Specialized

Strike your own American Gothic pose in front of the house that inspired Iowa artist Grant Wood to begin his most famous painting. Costumes and pitch fork are provided by the American Gothic House Center!

Art on Campus

Ames, Iowa

Art

Displays of public art throughout the Iowa State University campus.

Blanden Art Museum

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Art, Children's, Culture, Historic House

The neoclassical building, which is on the national Register of Historic Places, is located in the interesting Oak Hill District of Fort Dodge. Along with with beauty and historical significance of the museum, the Blanden maintains a high standard of exhibition quality and dynamic spirit of community outreach in the visual arts. The museum is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to engage the community and foster creativity.

Carter House Museum

Elkader, Iowa

Art

House museum with annex

Charles H. MacNider Museum

Mason City, Iowa

Art

Features a fine collection of 19th & 20th century American art, including the "Bil Baird World of Puppets", changing exhibitions and a full range of public programs, classes and events.

Art

Galleries and other spaces located in the Stewart Memorial Library to house important art works and several large collections: the Marvin Cone Collection, the Conger Metcalf Collection and the Grant Wood Collection.

Dubuque Museum of Art

Dubuque, Iowa

Art

The new Dubuque Museum of Art opened in July, 1999, and provides rotating exhibitions and exhibits related to its permanent collection.

Art, Culture, General, History, Library

A growing ethnic museum focusing on the German-American in the Midwest. Located in an historic immigrant hotel, this museum explores German American immigration to the United States on the impact these individuals and their descendents had on regional development.

Hoyt Sherman Place

Des Moines, Iowa

Art, Historic House

1877 mansion with art galleries and a 1925, 1400 seat, theatre.

Art, Culture, Library

Small regional arts center and sculpture garden featuring temporary exhibits and a permanent collection.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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