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Living History Farms, Urbandale, IA

Photo: Dennis Bratland, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

MuseumsFamily FavoriteHistory Buff

Living History Farms

11121 Hickman Rd · Urbandale, IA

Why you should go…

This 500-acre open-air museum covers 300 years of Midwestern farming through working sites. You visit a 1700 Ioway farm growing corn, beans and squash, an 1850 pioneer farm, and a 1900 farm where Percheron draft horses power the machinery. The 1876 Town of Walnut Hill has shops, homes, a schoolhouse and a Victorian residence. Interpreters in period clothing do the daily work and talk with you about it, and a tractor cart carries you out to the farms.

  • #living history museum
  • #historic farm
  • #open-air museum
  • #family activity

Good to know

General museums guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Check the special exhibition separately

    Touring shows usually carry their own ticket and their own opening hours, listed apart from general admission.

  • Look for the free window

    Many museums run community days, member evenings, or discounted late openings. It is worth a look before you pay full price.

  • Travel light through the door

    Large bags and backpacks often have to go to a coat check, and lines for it move slowly at opening.

  • Weekday mornings beat weekend afternoons

    School groups clear out by early afternoon midweek, while weekends stay busy from late morning on.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Living History Farms, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Date Night

    Pappajohn Sculpture Park

    Free

    Stroll 4.4 downtown acres of large outdoor sculpture, including Jaume Plensa's 27-foot figure made of letters.

    8.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Iowa State Capitol

    Free

    Tour a five-domed statehouse topped in 23-karat gold, with 29 kinds of marble and a law library ringed by four stories of balconies.

    9.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Adventureland

    $50+

    Ride seven roller coasters, including the 101-degree drop of the Monster, and cool off at the Adventure Bay water park.

    15 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Madison County

    Free

    Iowa county famous for its historic covered bridges, made famous by The Bridges of Madison County.

    23 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    History Buff

    John Wayne Birthplace & Museum

    Under $25

    The restored 1907 birth home and museum of actor John Wayne, with film memorabilia and archives.

    23 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Roseman Covered Bridge

    Free

    Walk through the 1883 covered bridge over the Middle River made famous by The Bridges of Madison County.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing