The Old Capitol Museum is proud to offer tours to our campus and community. Use this page to explore our offerings and schedule a visit.
Types of Tours:
Self-guided Tours
All guests are welcome to embark on a self-guided tour by roaming our galleries and using the informational history panels throughout during open hours. The self-guided tour focuses on the restored and rejuvenated building examining its' role in state legislative and then University history.
In-person Guided Tours
Our in-person, Docent-led tours focus on the restored and rejuvenated building, featuring history of our national historic landmark which served as Iowa's first state capitol from 1846-1857 and the University of Iowa's founding building. Our knowledgeable staff lead you on a journey through time.
Guided Virtual Tours
We've virtually adapted our galleries to offer our Docent-led tour in a whole new way. This option covers the same material as our in-person tour, features live space web interaction with a Docent, and creates access all from the comfort of your own home or classroom. Let us bring history to you.
Which tour is right for you?
K-12 Students
Make our museums part of your school year. We invite K-12 schools to reserve a visit to one or both of our museums.
K-12 school groups can explore exhibits and collections in the following ways:
- Self-Guided Visit: Schedule an independent, self-paced exploration.
- Tour Length: self-determined
- Cost: No charge; museum admission is always free
- Available Galleries: Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Thank you for scheduling your visit if you are a self-guided group of more than 10. We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
- In-person Guided Tour: Take a museum adventure with one of our gallery guides. This experience is conversational and interactive.
- The sizes of groups we are able to accommodate are dependent upon staffing. Our Visitor Services Coordinator will work with you to best meet your needs.
- Groups larger than 10 will be split into smaller groups to provide the best visit experience
- Chaperones: Preschool groups require 1 adult for every 5 children; K-12 groups require 1 adult for every 10-12 students
- Tour Length: 45 minutes
- Cost: Educational tours for K-12 students are free of charge
- Available Galleries: Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
Guided Virtual Visit: Take an interactive field trip with a gallery guide right from the comfort of your classroom.
- We are able to accommodate groups of up to 200 at a time
- Larger groups may be split into multiple groups to provide the best experience
- Tour Length: 45 minutes
- Cost: Educational tours for K-12 students are free of charge
- Available Galleries: Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
Note: camps, daycare centers, after-school programs, and community organizations please see "General Public" option below
College Instructors and Students
Expand your college classroom with a visit to one of our galleries or collections spaces. Lead your own lecture or choose from guided tours; we're here to collaborate and support.
College groups can explore exhibits and collections in the following ways:
- Self-Guided Visit: Schedule independent, self-paced exploration.
- Instructors often reserve gallery spaces to lead their own lecture, letting our exhibits illustrate their teaching goals & objectives.
- Cost: No charge; museum admission is free and educational gallery reservations for instructor-led presentations are free of charge
- Available Galleries: Any in Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Thank you for scheduling your visit if you are a group of more than 10. We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
- In-person Guided Tour: Take a museum adventure with one of our gallery guides. This experience is conversational and interactive. Our standard tour can be tailored to best meet the goals objectives of your curriculum.
- The sizes of groups we are able to accommodate are dependent upon staffing. Our Visitor Services Coordinator will work with you to best meet your needs.
- Groups larger than 10 may be split into smaller groups to provide the best visit experience.
- Tour Length: ~45 minutes
- Cost: Educational tours for college classes are free of charge
- Available Galleries: Any in Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
- Guided Virtual Visit: Take an interactive field trip with a gallery guide right from the comfort of your classroom. Our standard tour can be tailored to best meet the goals and objectives of your curriculum.
- We are able to accommodate groups of up to 200 at a time
- Larger groups may be split into multiple groups
- Tour Length: 45 minutes
- Cost: Educational tours for college students are free of charge
- Available Galleries: Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
General Public
Public visitors are individuals or groups including camps, daycare centers, after-school programs, and community organizations. We invite you to reserve a visit to one or both of our museums.
Public groups can explore exhibits and collections in the following ways:
- In-person Guided Tour: Take a museum adventure with one of our Gallery Guides. This experience is conversational and interactive.
- Cost: $20 per every 10 people
- The sizes of groups we are able to accommodate are dependent upon staffing. Our Visitor Services Coordinator will work with you to best meet your needs.
- Groups larger than 10 may be split into smaller groups to provide the best visit experience.
- Chaperones: Preschool groups require 1 adult for every 5 children; K-12 groups require 1 adult for every 10-12 students
- Available Galleries: Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
- Guided Virtual Visit: Take an interactive field trip with a Gallery Guide right from the comfort of your home.
- Cost: $20 per group tour
- The sizes of groups we are able to accommodate are dependent upon staffing. Our Visitor Services Coordinator will work with you to best meet your needs.
- Larger groups may be split into multiple groups
- Tour Length: 45 minutes
- Available Galleries: Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
- Self-Guided Visit: Enjoy an independent, self-paced exploration.
- Cost: No charge; museum admission is always free
- Tour Length: self-determined
- Available Galleries: Old Capitol Museum
- Reservations: Thank you for scheduling your visit if you are a group of more than 10. We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
