As the weather begins to turn cooler here in central Iowa many families may start to look for indoor activities. And a local museum is a good place to start. From your local children’s museum to a renowned art center Des Moines is full of creative exhibits in science, art, history, culture, and imagination.
In general, most of the museums listed below are capping their capacity, and most sites require reservations, so book your visit soon to take advantage of the chance to wander the halls crowd-free. Don’t forget to pack your mask; you’ll have to wear them at all of the venues listed.
For even more ideas for things to do with your family, inside and out, this fall in central Iowa be sure to visit out our Fall Fun Guide and Events Calendar.
Here’s a list of museums and exhibits for Des Moines families:
Des Moines Art Center
The Art Center continues to offer FREE admission for all; however, tickets for entry are required so that proper social distancing within the galleries can be maintained. To ensure visitors are able to enter the museum at their desired time, it is recommended that tickets are reserved online in advance. Reservations can be made by clicking HERE.
In addition to their regular exhibits, they have two other exhibits currently on view. Black Stories (through January 17, 2021) presents the artwork by Black artists in the Art Center’s permanent collections and aims to connect and partner with the community in the process. The second exhibit, Landscapes in Watercolor (through January 3, 2021) is a selection of more than two dozen watercolors from the museum’s collections, created between 1885 and 1980.
Des Moines Children’s Museum
Kids can really embrace their creativity at the Des Moines Children’s Museum in Valley West Mall. They recently reopened and have added new exhibit items, spread exhibits further apart to allow space for social distancing, added hand sanitizer stations throughout the museum, and increased their cleaning and sanitizing. The Museum does require masks for visitors ages five and up and recommend but do not require them for ages two to four.
The are several exhibit areas for the kids to explore including, but not limited to a farm and home area, a construction site, fire truck and station, under the sea zone, pond and boat region, Lucky Cat Theatre and more. It’s more than enough to keep energetic toddlers busy for a couple of hours. 
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
Several new COVID related rules and guidelines have been implemented at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum. All visitors must wear a face mask. If you have an elevated temperature, you will not be allowed to enter the museum and guests must practice social distancing of at least six feet. They are also enforcing capacity limits of 25 people, so you must make reservations prior to your visit, but admission is still FREE.
The Museum has a number of exhibits that highlight Iowa citizen’s involvement in all wars, homeland defense and Iowa service. One exhibit of note is a virtual exhibit. The Iowa Gold Star Museum’s B-17 Virtual Exhibit shares the incredible story of WW II’s B-17 Bomber and the crew men that flew them. You can experience World War II history at your convenience from the leisure of your own home.
Iowa History Museum
Admission remains FREE, but all guests must wear masks to visit the State Historical Museum of Iowa. In addition to COVID-19 precautions, The State Historical Building is currently under renovation, but remains open to the public. Visitors may notice some temporary changes. If you’re planning a visit, please check the website for updates, as some entrances and portions of exhibits may close temporarily.
You can discover the stories of Iowa’s growth and development through exhibits displaying a rich collection of artifacts and documents at the Museum. The First in the Nation exhibit is particularly relevant right now. Watch a video about Iowa’s unique position as host of the first in the nation caucus. Learn about Iowa’s past presidential candidates and/or take a selfie with your favorite 2020 presidential candidate.
Science Center of Iowa
Last, but not least, the Science Center has been open on weekends for some time. They recently started opening on Thursdays, as well. COVID-19 precautions include timed ticketing, health screenings upon entry and to reduce the spread of germs, access to some exhibits has been restricted due to the “high-touch” nature of those experiences.
From now until January 10, 2021, you can visit SUE: The T. rex Experience. Step into the world of SUE the T. rex to uncover the mysteries about the life of this fearsome fossil. Come between two titans with full-scale casts of SUE and T. rex’s nemesis, Triceratops. Experience a unique multimedia show transporting you to the Cretaceous forest alongside SUE. Learn how the fossil was unearthed and how scientists continue to make discoveries about SUE, the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen ever discovered.
Have you visited a local museum or checked out a new exhibit recently? We’d love to hear about your experience!
Image source Zissoudisctrucker / CC BY-SA.
