Sioux City and the surrounding towns have a thriving arts and culture scene I think travelers overlook. It surprises people, especially because many museums are free. Beyond the art and history found in the area, there are outdoor spots and trails that cost no money to visit.
Disclosure: Some places included in this post were visited during a hosted media trip by Explore Siouxland. All thoughts, opinions, and typos are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.
Free things for families
My top picks for families in Sioux City could’ve been included the museum section: Sioux City Public Museum, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, and Sioux City Art Center. The first two especially have an abundance of interactive exhibits throughout to engage kids.
Sioux City Public Museum explores centuries of history of the area through colorful displays, many with tactile exhibits kids will like touching. There is an introductory film that’s fairly short I’d recommend watching before entering the rest of the museum (even with kids). They do a good job of making it feel immersive.
In the case of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, games and interactives are featured in nearly every section of the museum. There are animatronics, as well, that tell different stories of the real-life people connected with the expedition.
Betty Strong Encounter Center is connected to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. If you walk between the two, you’ll find a cute kids area that’s good for pretend play.
The Sioux City Art Center has a space on the first floor dedicated to children, and it’s full of fun activities. Kids can build, play and create there. The rest of the museum is like a typical art museum (look, but don’t touch). There are temporary exhibit as well as permanent exhibit, most notably, the panels from Grant Wood’s Corn Room Mural located on the third floor.
- Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St., Sioux City, Iowa
- Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, 900 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, Iowa
- Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St., Sioux City, Iowa
No admission at these museums
The following museums are all free for visitors, though of course, donations are welcomed. Sioux City’s Welcome Center is located on a riverboat, and it’s an interesting one to visit since it’s also home to Sgt. Floyd Riverboat Museum. Explore the riverboat, and be sure to go to the top to get the captain’s view of the river (and blow the riverboat’s horn).
It’s located near Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center & Betty Strong Encounter Center, making it easy to stop at all three places.
While the river played a large role in Sioux City history, so did the railroad. Sioux City Railroad Museum explores that history. Its unique setting is at the former Sioux City Engine Terminal and Car Repair Shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway (better known as Milwaukee Road).
At the Sioux City Railroad Museum, you can walk through old train cars, see huge engines up close and even experience the somber “Holocaust Rails” exhibition. Other notable areas include the huge collection of miniature train sets (some in operation), as well as the mini train kids can take rides on.
Note: The Sioux City Railroad Museum is closed until further notice due to extensive flooding.
Mid America Museum on Aviation & Transportation started out as a museum for aviation, but has grown to cover other modes of transportation like classic cars. The museum is still an evolving work in progress, but exhibit highlights from my visit include the Bud Day exhibit and the crash of Flight 232 exhibits.
- Sgt. Floyd Riverboat Museum & Welcome Center, 1000 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, Iowa
- Sioux City Railroad Museum, 3400 Sioux River Road, Sioux City, Iowa
- Mid America Museum on Aviation & Transportation, 2600 Expedition Court, Sioux City, Iowa
Outdoor and free
For hikes, there’s no better place than Stone State Park. It’s a wooded park with 15 miles of trails. It’s worth visiting Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center located near the park. It’s managed by Woodbury County, and its displays are well done. It’s especially good for families since you’ll find interactive educational displays, as well as live reptiles and fish to see there.
War Eagle Park is home to a large statue of Wambdi Okicize, known as Chief War Eagle, a peaceful chief of the Yankton Sioux (in spite of the name he was known for). According to the Sioux City Public Museum, “because of his leadership among the tribes, the Indians and the whites learned to work together without having to resort to violence.”
The park is located on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River Valley. When I visited, I didn’t know this little tidbit: He’s buried on that bluff, as well as other members of his family.
Art Alley in downtown Sioux City is an unexpected gem. Art Alley is the result of the annual Alley Art Festival by Vangarde Arts, in which artists create murals of various sizes in alleys. Over the years, more than 140 murals have accumulated (and some refreshed or painted over). Find the murals around Fourth & Sixth and Pierce & Nebraska streets.
Keep in mind that the murals are in alleys. The festival, held in September annually, is the best time to visit since the roadways are cleaned and cleared for pedestrians.
- Stone State Park, 5001 Talbot Road, Sioux City, Iowa
- Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, 4500 Sioux River Road, Sioux City, Iowa
- Chief War Eagle Park, Grove Street and War Eagle Drive, Sioux City, Iowa
- Art Alley, between Fourth & Sixth and Pierce & Nebraska streets, Sioux City, Iowa
