There is so much to see here for the Laura Ingalls Wilder/Little House On The Prairie fans. A lot…read moreof history on the Ingalls and Wilders. One entire room dedicated to the TV show which was a must see in our house growing up! Lots of fun books, movies and other items in the gift shop for everyone

I had fun here, but this is definitely more a place for kids and family fun than a historic or…read moreeducational site. I don't know how much I'd really consider this a "museum" but there's enough to enjoy and keep everyone occupied and entertained. There are several displays that feature info from Laura's life, what life was like on the prairie for the settlers and even some memorabilia from the TV show Little House on the Prairie. There is also a gift shop inside. Outside are several buildings to explore like an old church and a school house. I enjoyed myself because I acted like a kid here. For adults, though, I'd say this is more of a 3 star experience even if you're a Laura Ingalls fan. But if you're with children or you're a kid at heart, you can have a good 4 star time here. Just be ready to dress up, pose and take lots of pictures.

This was a cool museum on campus at SDSU. I learned about soil from the displays. It is super…read moresmall. I went upstairs and put foam balls in toy auger thing that puts in a silo. But some kid must have put plastic eggs in it and jammed it. The worker fixed it. I bought a cool Bison soup bowl stoneware made by someone in SD. The lady working gave us good advice where to park for free before the game.

Very amazing museum about the agriculture of the state. I was not expecting anything awesome, but…read morethis museum surprised me. A lot of antique farming machinery, history of beer manufacturing in South Dakota and the history of Sheep production kept me riveted for hours. Even the bookstore was pretty amazing. Highly suggest visiting and I know I plan on returning someday.

South Dakota Art Museum (SDAM) is a great little place to visit if you're in Brookings. The museum…read moreis part of South Dakota State University. The art pieces inside are from various artists across the USA. They mix things up with various themes, currently the theme is focusing on women. Awesome! SDAM does have limited hours, but is free to visit. Donations accepted. There's also a cute little gift shop inside with lots of interesting trinkets and art pieces. Overall, I had a great time!

The Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum is located next to the Amusement Park and also contains an…read moreIowa Welcome Center and a Gift Shop. The Iowa Rock n' Roll museum and the Queen II Excursion Boat are also a short walk away for those who want to experience a historical Lakes "trifecta". And when I stopped by a few weeks ago, there was also a Victory motorcycle rally and exhibition in progress, which made this area the central place for a lot of interesting things see and do. The Museum itself contains historic memorabilia of the Iowa Great Lakes, which includes Spirit Lake, Big Spirit Lake, and both Okoboji Lakes. It has on display restored wooden boats, historical photographs, and other artifacts. Multimedia presentations have been developed to illustrate the nautical and ecological history of this area of Iowa. Premier exhibits include the Old Okoboji store, a resurrected wooden boat and hundreds of riveting photos of past lakes area vacationers. I'm now old enough to have seen some of these historical exhibits outside of the museum! And when I look at old Fun House pictures of the Sugar Bowl, I wonder how I escaped injury! The other interesting learning experience are the stories of all the water craft that sank on West Okoboji (e.g. #30 Boat), and those of which that are still down there. And every summer that I return, I learn something new.

First time came here on Sunday!! we looked around to find some info and the area events, then we…read morelook around the museum!! I recommend this place and friendly staff!!

These guys sell their "antiques" on ebay, but if you really want to see the breadth of all the neat…read morestuff that these guys have collected, take the short trip out of town and visit this place yourself. I have even found stuff from my Father's old gas station in Estherville. The older couple that owns the property are humble and friendly folks who are more than happy to show you around, give you a history of some of the pieces, and help you figure out how to ship it back home.

Will someone please contact me from this place. I have a Indian arrow quiver that was stolen from…read morethere. Its beauty is just like all the other artifacts in the museum. The art work is dead on as the other art work on all the other artafacts in the museum. A pair of moccasin slippers I never seen becouse my great grandmother wore them until there was nothing left. Shame on her. But the Quiver was passed down to me. I now have it and wanted 2 know if i can get in trouble for having it?? I am thinking about returning it 2 its place but i do not want 2 get in any trouble for it. I know none of the authentic artifacts are for sale . My Great Grandad broke into the museum like 60 years ago and took these two items. Thats how the story goes anyways. If someone contacts me i will include photos of the quiver. Call 319-241-4398

Visited the museum for the first time and it was amazing. My husband and I actually played with the…read moreamazing interactions alongside our girls and it was a great binding experience! The highlight was the giant T-Rex!

We came here on by our last day of vacation before returning home. It was definitely a highlight…read morefor us to visit this one especially. There were so many exhibits and loved the upstairs Asian culture exhibits on Japan, Korea, and China. The museum shop was tempting but ended up getting 2 color changing cups as souvenirs. The cafeteria at the front entrance was really nice. We loved the Thai shrimp noodle dish paired with tomato soup. Our son had a grilled cheese sandwich which he finished it. Children's museum reciprocal membership was recognized so saved 50% off admission.

This was a really cool find in Arnolds Park! It's a museum full of old currency (money) from the…read morelate 1800s and on. It features lots of old money from different Iowa towns and cities of course, but has currency and change from every state as well. The museum curator (who is from Wisconsin) is also incredibly knowledgeable and helpful as well. He was very friendly and honestly, made the museum experience for us an unforgettable one. Definitely check this out! And it's for the low, low price of FREE to experience as well, though a donation would be nice of course.

Money, Money, Money - Must Be Funny - In the Rich Man's World…read more... The Higgins Museum is a quirky place that I didn't expect to find in the middle of the Iowa Great Lakes Region. It's been on my list for a few years now, and during one of my Gayle-permitted "wandering" times, I decided to stop in and look around. And since my grandfather's bank failed during the Great Depression, this was another personal historical journey that I sometimes like to take. What's inside is the chance to view and enjoy the largest collection of National Bank Note issues on permanent exhibit anywhere in the country. The Higgins Museum opened in 1978, with its stated purpose being the acquisition, preservation and display of the National Bank Notes. There's also a few cool historical displays including a money making machine, a bank teller window and vault, and a bullet safe. Many people regard these notes as America's commemorative paper money. The Landing of Columbus, the embarkation of the Pilgrims, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and other great events of our history are illustrated on the notes of the first charter period. All of the notes honor the towns (including one for Estherville), the banks, and many thousands of individuals who played key roles in the development of our country and its resources.

This is fun for out of town guests to keep busy and interesting too. My family had a good…read moreexpereinece there and went out to lunch too. We found fun stuff to look at there.

The weather was terrible while visiting Sioux Falls... We were looking for a low cost activity to…read moreget us out of the house but also stay safe with COVID. House tours have always intrigued the nosy side of my personality :) A friend and I went here and really enjoyed it. There is a 25 min video they are offering that was informational (this is a recorded tour from when they weren't offering tours). We did get to enjoy the tour with a guide as well - it was very special getting to see the different rooms and hear the history of the home and the Pettigrews. There is also a museum addition that you go through at the end that is focused on the history of Sioux Falls and very informational. Overall I'd recommend this when you are in town. It was interesting.