If you're a John Wayne fan this is a must see. So much information and many artifacts. The staff…read morewas amazing! Jill, Frances and Noah could not Jane been more accommodating if they'd have wanted to be. I'm so glad my sisters stopped in on our way back to Texas on June 21. Take a look around town while in Winterset. You won't regret either.

This Museum was very nice filled with John Wayne memorabilia and artifacts. The John Wayne statue…read moreright outside the museum and birth house of John Wayne around the corner within a short walking distance. Great place to visit and take some pictures or video. There is a $20 ticket fee.

If you want to not only see how your ancestors live, but get close to experiencing it - go to a…read moreliving history museum. This one was fascinating. The best part was talking to the executive Director, and the docents. They had so much to tell me about that era, and how the people used to live then. They were a different breed of human. Exceptionally hardy. It will make you proud of your ancestors. We all come from strong stock. They endured unimaginably tough circumstances.

The Madison County Historical complex is a great treasure in Winterset. The museum itself has…read moregreat (and huge) exhibits and pieces of history from all throughout the county. We were so surprised when we visited and found a full basement of things to explore too! The museum building also has a library room where old records, stories, and other books can be read and reviewed. I could spend days in this room along. The property includes many other buildings including an old church, a one-room school, blacksmith shop, and train depot. There is a lot to explore and you could easily spend hours here without seeing everything. The staff and volunteers are always very friendly and willing to lend a helping hand whether you have a research question, or just want to look around. There are also many great events held here throughout the year including car shows, movie nights, a barn sale, and lectures. We've enjoyed many of these and are always looking forward to the next event.

This may not seem amazing, but that's because you haven't been here: Iowa Quilt Museum. The store…read morefront doesn't do it justice to the professionally curated museum (see the link to their website to see what I'm writing about: https://www.iowaquiltmuseum.org/). They have an incredible display of quilts. But their more than hanging blankets. Each quilt has a story, a meaning and a style of workmanship of its own. Coming from an active do-it-yourselfer perspective, I can really appreciate the planning and detailed construction that is required to build these masterpieces. There are hours and hours of mastery that goes into each quilt, there are truly amazing works of art. The staff here is knowledgeable and friendly. And if by chance the quilting bug bites, there is always Ben Franklin's a few doors away that help you get started.

The Iowa Quilt Museum is a wonderful addition to the Winterset community! The exhibit changes 4…read moretimes per year & always has a spectacular collection of quilts to view. Quilts are beautifully and elegantly displayed. Each quilt is accompanied by information around the date of creation, history, style, and stitching. I always learn a lot about quilting and history by reviewing these. It's been amazing to see some quilted that are more than a hundred years old and intricately hand-stitched and hand quilted. Upstairs is a bed-turning display of several more quilts & a volunteer will review these quilts with you & you may even get to participate in the turning! The museum is housed in the old J.C. Penney's building which has been beautifully restored. The lighting is fantastic for showing off the beauty of the quilts. There is a lobby area where a few gifts and souvenirs can be purchased. This museum can be enjoyed by all ages and genders & by anyone who can appreciate the hard work and artistic talents that go into each of these quilts.

I like to squeeze in a museum when I can in a city that is unfamiliar to me. This stop was truly on…read morea whim. My main reason for dropping by Des Moines was to see an Iowa Wild game. The following day, I had to leave the city and head back to Bloomington. I wanted to do a quick touristy visit somewhere. I did a search and found Jordan House Museum. Driving over here was enjoyable. The leaves were a gorgeous deep red in the area. I had no problem finding the museum. When you are pulling into the parking lot, you do not want to come in at full force. I didn't because I was checking the house out. The lot where you park your car is all gravel. When you walk up to the museum, it is thankfully cement. If you want a tour of the museum, you do need to book online. Even if you book online, it's based on demand. If there aren't enough folks who want to do the tour, it gets cancelled. I saw the cancellation sign on the door. Since I visited because I felt like it, I still learned a lot with the signs and information presented to me. I was not disappointed. I also like self-exploration, which may not be for everyone. Jordan House was built by James Cuttingham Jordan, who was an abolitionist. This house was a station on the Underground Railroad in Iowa. It ended up being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. James Jordan was a cattle farmer from Virginia. He settled in central Iowa in 1846. He was a businessman, organizing the State Bank of Des Moines. He helped bring the railroad to Des Moines. He ultimately ended up being a civic leader, and was elected to both the Iowa Senate and the Iowa House of Representatives. He helped move the state capital from Iowa City to Des Moines. I had no idea that Iowa City was once the state capital. Cool! There is a pathway to history in front of the main entrance of this house, where you can reserve a brick and have it dedicated to a special loved one. I spent a lot of time reading the messages on this pathway. It was highly enjoyable and moving on a Fall day. My favourite saying came from the Caruthers family: Be so awesome today that tomorrow is jealous!!! Three exclamation points. Love it! There was one other woman who had pulled into the lot next to my rental car. She did not do any self-exploration. She went to the main door, saw that the tour was cancelled, headed back to her vehicle, and left. The house is well-maintained on the outside. It has a veranda with a bunch of green chairs. The lawn was recently mowed. The small shrubs around the flags at the front were perfectly trimmed. I had a nice, off-the-cuff visit to this museum. I learned a lot and hope to do a tour inside the museum whenever I'm back in Des Moines for hopefully a longer visit. (458)

Great tour. Guide was very knowledgeable. Home has several of the original articles. We took our 3…read moreteenagers, 2 girls(12&14) and a boy (15), and they all enjoyed it. Not once did they get on their phone due to boredom.

Great value for anyone interested in aviation. There is an impressive amount of information on…read moreIowans in aviation from the early days at the turn of the 20th century to the present. There is a hangar with a number of vintage aircraft and information around 'famous plane crashes' that have taken place in the state. There is an Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame and library in the back of the hangar with racks of books, reference materials, and videos for perusal or research. This is a very quiet and quaint operation - don't expect anything too grand...but you will find a great deal of information with 'Iowa nice' treatment at a bargain price.

This is definitely a worthwhile stop for those of you who are interested in aviation. A little bit…read moreoff the beaten path and probably not Visited or recognized as much as it should be. The people who have put this together have done an amazing job. Five dollars fee for children $10 fee for adults free for members. Take the time, it's a beautiful place And definitely a tribute to those who have helped create aviation history but also those who have worked so hard to become the aviators.

The covered bridges tour by Leslie was outstanding! She shared history, film stories and local…read morehappenings. A very kind person, a perfect blend of entertainment and information. Without Leslie, how would we have known the beavers confiscated the 'greenery props'?!? Many thanks for a job very well done.

From the owner: Whether it's by foot, boat, bike or car, at one of our six famous covered bridges, majestic parks,…read moreor quaint historic town square in Winterset, while shopping at our top-notch retail stores, sipping wine at one of our wineries, or learning a craft like quilting or fusing glass, there's plenty to engage your senses here in Madison County. And, yes, you can also get engaged (in the traditional sense) in the place that inspired The Bridges of Madison County, one of the greatest love stories of our time. The Madison County Chamber of Commerce is here to assist you with your visit. We specialize in creating custom itineraries and facilitating guided personal or group tours of our covered bridges. Contact us today to make your next trip one that will stay with you for years and years to come!

Great trip for a day with kids. Our group had four boys ranging from 2 to 7, and they all enjoyed…read moreit. There were about 5 different areas to play in focused on different themes: nature, physics, space, etc. There was a planetarium with regular shows. Nice for a sweltering hot day.

Nice, family friendly museum located in downtown Des Moines, but there are way too many screaming…read morekids running around. Why do people bring children under 8 to these types of places? It's not like they will even know or comprehend any of these things, much less be able to sit still during demonstrations or when viewing exhibits. It was nice to see that all science demonstrations and shows in the planetarium are included in your ticket price. If you check out a few of those, then it is well worth the admission even as an adult!

Want to learn more about this amazing state? Then plan your trip to take a tour of the exhibits at…read morethe Historical Building. Conveniently located near a free parking ramp and the State Capitol building (while you're at it, take a tour there too!). This building also hosts events. I have attended a roof top wedding reception and a day long symposium is the auditorium.

There are an excellent array of exhibits here! Ranging from early Iowa settler history, to civil…read morerights war, and everything in between until present day! It's free, and there's a good amount of info in short blurbs so it's all easy to read. There's interactive exhibits and it's all very clean. Definitely check this out to learn a lot about Iowa and US history in the context of Iowa. It's very kid friendly as well.

Be sure to check the days they are open. Right now they are closed on Mondays. I knew that, but I…read morethought I could walk around outside even though they were closed, but no, it is gated. I will just have to come back another warm day! For what I could see, it's going to be a beautiful year although it looks like some renovation has started outside. This is always a fun place to visit for a plant lover.

My only real gripe: not much for sale in terms of plants. You would think at a botanical center,…read morethere would be plants available for purchase. However, it's very peaceful and pleasant to walk around looking at the plants and watching the fish. It's so warm, as greenhouses are, which I find very comforting. There's not much to do besides just walk around. But still a pleasant place to visit. And a bonus: people with an EBT card can get in for free (up to 4 people). A good learning experience for lower income individuals and families.

This place is extremely beautiful. The biggest downside to here is the hours on their website are…read morenot accurate. I came here to visit the inside and the arrive to a locked door. On the door was a note saying they are only open 1 day a week. I was able to peak in the window and see all the beautiful architecture. I was also able to explore the outside grounds too. However it can be slightly frustrating if your website says it will be open but you're not actually open. Overall this place is not huge and is a walkable distance to several other things. So I recommend walk past it to see if it's open. If it's closed, visit somewhere else.

This place is absolutely stunning inside. So clean, well kept. It was our first time & we attended…read moreCandlelight The Beatles. The staff were so pleasant, & helpful. I got a small sprite for $1. They had cocktails available. The bathroom immaculate. I would definitely recommend checking this beautiful building out given the chance! The symphony played for an hour & did an amazing job. I heard there is a beautiful garden outside however we rushed to our cars because of the cold temps.