Sioux City Public Museum facts for kids
The Sioux City Public Museum is a cool place to learn about the history and culture of Sioux City, Iowa. You can see awesome exhibits like a video about the city's past, old Native American tools, pioneer items, and cool vehicles. They also show how farming and industries grew, plus amazing rocks and fossils!
The museum also runs two other neat spots: the Sergeant Floyd River Museum, which is on a real towboat, and the historic Peirce Mansion.
| Established | 1960; 2011 in current location |
|---|---|
| Location | 607 4th Street , Sioux City, Iowa |
| Type | History |
Contents
Museum History: A Journey Through Time
The Early Years at Peirce Mansion
The Sioux City Public Museum first opened its doors in September 1960. For many years, it was located in the beautiful Peirce Mansion. This historic building was built way back in 1893. A group called the Junior League bought the mansion in 1959.
At the mansion, the museum focused on the history of Sioux City. It also had special exhibits about Native American groups. These included the Lakota people, Omaha people, and Winnebago people. The museum covered many interesting subjects. These included how people lived long ago, old discoveries, nature, science, and military history.
Moving to a New Downtown Home
In 2011, the museum moved to a brand new spot. Its new home is in downtown Sioux City. It's in a building that used to be a J. C. Penney store. This new location is much bigger and has lots of cool features.
The new museum has a theater where you can watch films. It also has classrooms for learning activities. There are many exhibition rooms to explore. This big project cost about $12.5 million to create. The museum now covers 10,000 square feet!
One fun new exhibit is all about the song "Sioux City Sue". This exhibit helps visitors learn about the song's history.
The Peirce Mansion Today
Even though the museum moved, it still owns the Peirce Mansion. The mansion is open to the public a few times a year. You can also rent it for special events. It's a great way to see a piece of Sioux City's past.
Fun Activities and Recognition
Student Landmark Models
Every year, students from the Sioux City Community School District get creative. They make models of famous local landmarks. The museum and the Historical Association judge these models. It's a fun way for students to learn about their city.
Museum's Collection Guidelines
The museum has a special process for managing its collections. This process helps them decide what items to keep or share. It's a six-step plan that is very well-known. In fact, it was even used as an example in a book about how museums are run!
