Grout Museum of History and Science

Unearth the treasures of the past and gaze into the future at the Grout Museum of History and Science - part of the Grout Museum District!

At this family friendly museum you'll be surrounded by history and astounded by what is yet to come as you explore the world through interactive displays and hands-on exhibits.

Have you ever wanted to use those imaginations to transport you back to the times of the pioneers? Perhaps you want to explore your ancestry, or just reach for the stars - literally!

The Engine of the Heartland exhibition explores the evolution of Waterloo from a small county town to a Midwest industrial center, showcasing a number of aspects from agriculture, food, power, transportation and more!

Kids can see what life was like around the time that Iowa became a state in 1846 in Pioneer Hall, with life-size scenes, a mural and kiosk telling the story of pioneer life.

Also at this Grout Museum is Heritage Hall, documenting the strengths of immigrants and emigrants, why they came to the region, their lives after war, and what customs and traditions they brought with them.

Don't miss the timeline of photographs and artifacts that paint a picture of the various stages of Waterloo since 1840!

The Grout Museum of History and Science has not only permanent exhibitions, but continually changing exhibitions that cover the history of the area, regional flora and fauna, plus the ONLY public planetarium in Northwest Iowa! Here you can enjoy weekly shows, and really have the chance to uncover things about our Solar System and Universe that you might never have thought possible!

A fascinating trip through the history books at the Grout Museum of History and Science - are you ready to go back in time and re-live history?