Known for the Iowa Great Lakes (Lake Okoboji and Spirit Lake), the Northwest region of Iowa offers many appealing and entertaining attractions for the entire family. Best of all, many of the attractions are free!
The DeBoer Grocery Museum and Little House Museum in Ashton features a historic main street grocery and a three room 1882 home. Open Sundays from 2:00-4:00pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
At the Battle Hill Museum of Natural History in Battle Creek, displays of rocks, fossils and shells, 600 full body wildlife mounts and rhinoceros, giraffe & elephant skeletons are among the more than 4000 specimens on display in this natural history museum. The museum is open the first Sunday in June, July, & August; on July 4, and by appointment.
The Sanford Museum and Planetarium in Cherokee is open year round, except holidays. Hours are 9:00am-5:00pm Monday through Friday; and 12:00-5:00pm on weekends. The planetarium is the first in the state and features programs on the night sky on the last Sunday of each month. The museum features exhibits on the history of Northwest Iowa.
The Humboldt County Historical Museum in Dakota City is a collection of buildings from the 1800’s, including a farmhouse, schoolhouse, jail, blacksmith shop, doctor’s office and church. Also on display are antique farm machinery, a fire truck and vintage cars. The museum is open 10:00am-4:00pm Monday & Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday; and 1:30-4:30pm Sundays, June through September.
The town of George features the George Bicentennial Museum, open from 2:00-4:00pm Sundays, June through August; and 9:00am-4:00pm on July 4. On display are pioneer tools, military uniforms, household items, musical instruments, and local history artifacts.
Calliope Village in Hawarden is a collection of fourteen restored buildings that re-create Sioux County’s first county seat. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day 1:00-4:00pm weekends only; and during Big Sioux River Days. Hawarden is also home to the restored 1900 home known at Historical House. Historical House is open from 1:00-4:00pm Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The Central School Museum in Lake City is a restored 1884 schoolhouse. Open daily from 9:30-11:30am.
The Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars features Civil War and 1940’s era buildings and artifacts. Open 1:00-5:00pm Tuesday through Sunday.
The city of Okoboji is the site for many of Northwest Iowa’s free attractions. The Okoboji Spirit Center, which is the Welcome Center for Iowa’s Great Lakes Region, is open from 9:00am-7:00pm Daily Memorial Day through Labor Day; and 9:00am-5:00pm Monday through Friday from September through May.
The Abbie Gardner State Historic Site in Okoboji is open 12:00-4:00pm Monday through Friday and 9:00am-4:00pm weekends, Memorial Day through October 1. This is the site of the Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857, when 38 pioneers were killed by the Sioux Indians. The site includes the original log cabin, an interpretive center, burial site, and monument. A self-guided tour of the grounds is available year-round during daylight hours.
Other sites in Okoboji include the Clark Museum of Area History, feature photographs and memorabilia of the Iowa lakes region; the Higgins Museum on national US banking, featuring bank notes from 1863-1935 and thousands of turn-of-the-century Iowa photo postcards; and the Lakes Art Center, with exhibits from local, regional and national artists.
This is only part of the free things available in Northwest Iowa. Look for my article “More Free Things To Do In Northwest Iowa” for a listing of the remaining free attractions in the region.
Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer
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