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The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is home to the world’s largest collection of works by Grant Wood. Other Iowa artists, Marvin Cone and Maurino Lasansky, also have a large number of their works on display at the museum. With 17 galleries, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art has more than 5,000 works of art on display. Art forms include sculptures, prints, crafts, and photographs. The museum is located at 410 Third Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids. Call 319-366-7503 for more information.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Granger House is the perfect place to explore area history and see how a typical middle class family lived in the late 1800's. This Italianate and the two-story carriage house, have been restored to their original appearance. Granger House and its carriage house are open daily for guided tours. Granger House is located at 970 Tenth Street in Marion. Call 319-377-6672 for additional information.
Visitors to the African American Historical Museum & Cultural Center of Iowa will find fascinating exhibits about African American history in Iowa and the United States. The new facility at 55 Twelfth Avenue SE opened in September 2003. The museum offers pictures, apparel, tools, crafts, African American art as well as a reference library. For more information, call 319-862-2101.
For a real taste of Iowa farm life, a trip to Balderston Farms is in order. Visitors experience a real life grain & livestock farm, interact with farm animals, view a slide show, and climb aboard gigantic farm machinery. Balderston Farm is located at 3978 Sutton Road in Central City. Call 319-241-1012 for more detailed information.
The Iowa Children’s Museum is a 28,000-square-foot educational playground for kids. The museum has five galleries that offer a wide variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits. Located at 1451 Coral Ridge Avenue in Coralville, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Call the Iowa Children’s Museum at 319-625-6255 for more information.
The Science Station is Cedar Rapids own science and technology museum. It opened in 1986 and is located in a historic brick building that was built in 1917 and served as a fire station for 68 years. The Science Station promotes science education with more than 130 hands-on, interactive exhibits. The newest addition to the Science Station is the IMAX Dome Theatre which is an incredible experience for visitors of all ages. The Science Station is located at 427 First Street SE. Call 319-363-IMAX for more information.
Ushers Ferry Historical Village offers a hands-on tour of a small Iowa town in the early 1900's. This open-air living history museum recreates turn of the century life with more than 30 exhibits and 30 buildings. Wash clothes or mow the lawn to get a true taste of pioneer life. Ushers Ferry Historical Village is located at 5925 Seminole Valley Trail in Cedar Rapids. For additional information call 319-286-5763.
The History Center is the perfect place to learn about Cedar Rapids and Linn County history. Its new facility at 615 First Avenue SE opened in 1999. There are more than 35,000 artifacts on display that help to preserve the heritage of Linn County. The History Center is open daily and can be reached by calling 319-362-1501.
The Iowa Masonic Library & Museum is said to be the most complete masonic library in the world. The museum was created in 1884, but its current building was constructed in 1955 at a cost of one million dollars. The impressive white marble structure holds more than 100,000 volumes of reference materials, masonic artifacts, colonial and Native American exhibits, and a room of priceless family heirlooms. The library and museum are open to the public Monday through Friday. The Iowa Masonic Library & Museum is located at 813 First Avenue SE. Call 319-365-1438 for additional information.
Visitors to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library can explore Czech and Slovak history and culture with the museum’s permanent and special exhibits. The newly constructed heritage center was dedicated in October 1996 by President Clinton, Czech Republic leader Vaclav Havel, and Slovakia’s Michal Kovac. The 22,000-square-foot facility examines their art, history, immigration, politics, and life. It is located in the historic Czech Village at 30 16th Avenue SW. Call 319-362-8500 for more details.
Located in the heart of Cedar Rapids, Brucemore is a 26-acre estate that has been a National Trust site since 1981. The Queen Anne style mansion was completed in 1886 and has 21 rooms. Visitors learn about Cedar Rapids history, immigrants, and the residents of the Brucemore through tours and exhibits. It is open daily to the public and is located at 2160 Linden Drive SE. Call 319-362-7375 for additional details.