Looking for something different to take people to, this will do it. Lots of airplanes and aviation…read morememorabilia. Not ritzy or glamorous, just a museum that is attached to a very small local runway.

Beware of the organization which runs this facility, call first before driving there, because there…read moreare days when visitors are not welcome. These events are billed as a Fly-In but outsiders are not allowed, so your day will be wasted. It's a long trip out to this site, make sure you'll be allowed in. They might relent if you pay a very high membership/insurance/camping fee, which may total hundreds of dollars. Better to avoid the hassle and shakedown, go somewhere with a better visitor policy.

We spent about 2 hours exploring the grounds. There are multiple buildings you can walk in and…read moreexplore yourself with lots of informative plaques and actors scattered throughout a few to tell you more in depth information about daily life at the fort. Found out it's family run and we had the pleasure of interacting with the owner and his son, they were some of the actors! You could tell that ALL of the actors knew what they were talking about, we were blown away. They put so much thought and time into these exhibits and you can tell!

Our family (8 yr-old, mom and dad) had a great time visiting this museum. Full disclosure, it was…read moreconstructed in modern times (1980's I think) using historically accurate tools and techniques as a museum patterned after the original fort of the same name. There is about 90-minutes of activities here including several rooms with different themes like barracks, hospital, kitchen and an office from pioneer days. It's very well cared for, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and there is a small gift shop. In addition to the fort, you can see a Santa Fe / Burlington train engine, a fountain, and the Mississippi River all from the same parking lot. Pack a lunch, grab your camera and come check this place out - it's really fun.

Always a good thing! The museum preserves and displays historical memorabilia, photos, and stories…read morefrom Wapello County, Iowa. I appreciate the grand effort made by the society to preserve and share information. My grandparents lived in Wapello County their entire lives and I grew up spending summers at the farm. I would love to see the Military Room receive a renovation with greater emphasis on Wapello County veterans.

From the owner: The Iowa Heartland History Connection is a southeastern Iowa history museum with so much to offer!…read more- museum exhibits that rotate regularly with new things to see - view items from our own collection, from private collections, and other museums - dedicated kids room for learning and exploration - gift shop that features Iowa themed gifts and hand-made goods from local small businesses - rooms for rent for meetings, classes, lectures, presentations, and parties - a research library for National History Day research and genealogy - you can also ask a volunteer here to do research for you (for a fee)

This is a must see for any Disnerd! Occupying the town's old railroad station, the staff is…read morefriendly and enthusiastic. The displays are fascinating and amazing, almost as magical as the park themselves. Just outside there is a locomotive and caboose, and remnants from when the Mini Autopia had been placed there right next to the station. If you get a postcard and send it from the town's post office, you can request the stamp be canceled with a special Disney stamp instead! We drove 2 hours in each direction to visit and we were pleased.

If you're a Disney fan, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum is an absolute must-visit. It was such a…read moremagical and inspiring experience to see where Walt's imagination first took root. The museum is filled with fascinating artifacts and personal pieces of Disney history that made me appreciate his story even more. My favorite part was the incredible model of Disneyland--it was amazing to admire all the tiny details and see the park brought to life in miniature. I left feeling inspired, nostalgic, and even more grateful for the legacy Walt Disney created. This is a hidden gem that every Disney fan should experience at least once.

Gorgeous mansion in a section of Quincy where you see a few blocks of absolutely gorgeous mansion-…read moretype homes that are amazingly maintained! Beautiful woodwork and furnishings. Some docent provided information, as well as self guided tour .

Beautiful place! Some original furniture & clothing pieces, other period pieces donated from…read morenearby. Very nice place to stop and learn some local history.

Museum is cute and I got a good deal on Groupon for my whole family. We happen to visit during the…read moreTom Sawyer festival which may the experience more fun. It's not accessible for wheels due to all the stairs, and some of the spaces are small, where you get to walk into the rooms; but it was a good place to cool down in the heat and learn about history and Tom Sawyer. I toddler did walk into the windows, a couple times that separate the historic items from the walk spaces, but he is fine. I definitely recommend a stop for anyone in the area to learned about Mark Twain in that time.

A different and very interesting look at the life of Mark Twain…read moreWhile visiting Hannibal, we decided to visit the Mark Twain Museum located just down the street and south of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home. I would definitely recommend seeing both because, even though they cover much of the same history, they present the life of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, in very different ways. The Boyhood Home lets you actually walk through the places connected to his childhood while this museum, instead, uses a large number of well-done displays and interesting artifacts to tell the story of the different parts of his life. The exhibits take you from his early years and stories through his time working on Mississippi River steamboats and his travels overseas. They show many of these experiences eventually became part of his writing. There are some interesting and unique items on display that were important in his life, which helps make him seem like a real person rather than simply the famous author we know from his books. Be sure to go upstairs while you are there. There is some very nice artwork on the upper floor along with additional exhibits that would be easy to miss if you only looked around downstairs. We spent quite a bit of time going through the displays and found it to be an excellent companion to the Boyhood Home. Overall, it was well worth the visit and added considerably to our understanding of both Mark Twain and Hannibal. If you are interested in the author, his books, or American history, I would definitely recommend visiting both museums. After you're finished, I also highly recommend walking across the street to the chocolate shop for a treat. Enjoy!

Museum was closed when we were driving through but what was available outside was fun to see and…read moreread about the Doodlebug.

There really is something for everyone, especially people with a fascination for trains - that…read morecovers most of the population. My favorite car has always been the caboose, love the idea of looking out the back where you are and where you've been. The museum has limited hours during the week, join the volunteers for coffee 7:00-9:00am. Merle is available to schedule personal tours. The depot has been beautifully restored and the displays are thorough and very organized. Don't miss the stroll out back to the river - gorgeous view.

For the fans of art, history, architecture, or roadside attractions, this is a spot to stop for!…read moreThere's a museum ($5/person) that's full of information about the artist and the painting. The museum details the artwork and life of Grant Wood. There's learning activities for kids throughout, an opportunity to put costumes over your clothes as a photo opportunity in front of the house, and a neat little gift shop. I don't know if it's a place you visit more than once, but I'm so glad to have been! The $5 was worth it in my opinion and visiting in the spring was great as the have an extensive native plant garden that was in full bloom when we were there.

The American Gothic House and Museum in Eldon, Iowa was still a really cool stop even though I…read morearrived too late to tour the museum itself. Seeing the actual house from such an iconic painting in person was surprisingly special and instantly recognizable. It is one of those places where you feel the weight of art history just standing there, even without going inside. I loved being able to walk around the exterior, take photos, and appreciate how such a simple house became so famous. If you have better timing than I did, I'm sure it would be worth planning ahead to see the museum too.

Small but informative. Worth the stop. Limited hours, but the volunteer came in early for a large…read moregroup of us which was VERY much appreciated.

Next to a cemetery and in front of a retired gas station, this collection of older cars is…read moreinteresting and while I am glad I detoured here from Hannibal, I wouldn't recommend going out of your way. After owning and operating this station for over 40 years, Lyle Van Houten retired and instead of selling it, parked his small collection of historic cars out front. And in a slightly creepy manner, put mannequins inside them as if they were out for a drive. The "in situ" display of a couple out for a drive and the policeman looking for speeders is unique. Poke your nose against the glass of the station - the interior is full of trinkets and mementoes of the old days. The cars are starting to fade from the sun and weather damage. There isn't much else nearby. It is an easy stop off US-36 in northeast Missouri. [Review 19733 overall - 210 in Missouri - 705 of 2023.]