You may have visited some of the biggest Midwest museums, but here are three small Midwest museums that are just as impressive. You don’t want to miss these on your RV travels!
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum – Pepin, Wisconsin
You may have enjoyed reading her books as a child. I know I did! Visiting this museum dedicated to Laura Ingalls Wilder will bring her Little House books to life. The three-acre site where the museum sits is the beginning of the Laura Ingalls Wilder History Highway, which stretches across other states, as well. Once at the museum, you’ll see historically accurate vignettes within a replica of the Wilder Wayside cabin, school, and more. Many artifacts, tools, and household items used during the Wilder family’s stay in Wisconsin are featured and help to paint a picture of what life was like for young Laura.
Open May 1 through the end of October, daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is quite reasonable, with K-high school set at $4; adults at $10; and a special family rate of $25. Find more info on the website here.
Campbell House Museum – St. Louis, Missouri
The Campbell House Museum is a living time capsule featuring the opulent Victorian architecture of the 1800s. Built in 1851, the Campbell House was the residence of renowned fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family. Located in the city of St. Louis, the Campbell House Museum contains many of Campbell’s original furniture, clothing, letters, paintings, carriages, and more. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into the past as you view each elaborately furnished room in the mansion. Tour guides will provide insights into the Campbell family’s history as well as the historical significance of St. Louis during the 1800s. You can request a personal one-hour tour with free admission for children under 12 and $10 for adults. Find more info on their website.
International Quilt Museum – Lincoln, Nebraska
If you are a quilter or simply enjoy snuggling under one, you’ll love the International Quilt Museum. Nestled in the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, the International Quilt Museum has become a global hub for quilt enthusiasts, historians, and art lovers alike. Established in 1997, the museum has an impressive collection of more than 7,000 quilts spanning centuries and cultures. From traditional patterns passed down through generations to contemporary masterpieces, the museum showcases the diverse ways in which quilting has been embraced across continents. The International Quilt Museum carefully curates exhibitions that delve into the stories behind the quilts, allowing visitors to connect with the past in a tangible way. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. Admission tickets for adults is $8; seniors (65+) $6; children (5-18) $4; and under 5 are free. Click here to plan your visit.
Can you recommend a small Midwest museum? Please tell me about it in the comments below—I love museums!
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Is Kansas a part of the Midwest? If so I recommend the Santa Fe Trail Center in Larned. Great little museum with inside and outside exhibits and very friendly docents.
You missed the best one in Lincoln, NE. It is the Museum of American Speed. Find it at http://www.MuseumofAmericanSpeed.com. Over 300,000 square feet, more than 400 cars, 900 engines, and literally millions of other items. Speedway Motors is next door, the Museum is also a Harvest Host Member, and there is plenty of RV parking. (I am one of some 65 volunteers and tour guides). The place is awesome!
I agree! I especially enjoyed seeing the Darryl Starbird customs from my youth. If you’re a motor head like me you may want to take 2 days there.
Stearns County museum in St. Cloud, MN. Many interesting things, including a local automobile manufacturer and his company town for affordable housing for his employees. People are still living in those houses today.
The house and museum in Eldon, Iowa for the iconic American Gothic painting.
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 No, sorry, not one. We have rarely traveled in the Midwest. I can give you the name of a few in Chattanooga if you decide to visit here again, or to write a story about here. Meanwhile, safe travels! 🙂
I love finding places like these to stop and see. Another stop for perhaps a future article is the International SPAM museum in Austin, MN. Whenever I mention this to friends I get the “a SPAM museum, why??”, but it is a very unique, well done museum that’s a fun stop right on I-90 just SW of Rochester. Every trip I plan, I check Atlas Obscura looking for interesting stops just like this.
Pioneer Village in Minden NE, great place to spend a couple of days with RV camping on site