Plan a Visit to the Museum

Information about directions, maps, parking, scheduling tours, handicapped access, and more to help you get the most out of your visit

The Museum is located in Macbride Hall in the center of the University of Iowa campus, in Iowa City, IA. From far away you'll be able to see the gleaming gold dome of the Old Capitol Museum, located next door. The animal sculptures above the first floor windows of Macbride Hall, north east of the Old Capitol, are proof you have found the Museum.

Regional Map

We recommend parking in one of the downtown ramps. The Old Capitol Mall, two blocks south of the Museum, offers plenty of parking space. Plan to shop in the Mall, or down town and most merchants can validate your parking stamp.

Guided tours are available seven days /week, with a reservation, through any gallery of the Museum. Normal tour times begin at 10:15 a.m., 11:00, 11:45, 12:45 p.m., 1:30, 2:15 and 3:00. Schedules are flexible, however, with advance notice. All tours are free. Contact the Museum or call 335-0480 to make reservations.

The Museum is accessible through a door located on the east side of Macbride Hall, adjacent to the stairs leading up to our main entrance. An elevator provides access to all Museum galleries. Please note: classes in the auditorium periodically block access to the William and Eleanor Hagebeck Hall of Birds on the third floor, at which time stairs provide the only means of entrance or egress. If this is a critical issue, please contact the Museum or call 335-0480 and the staff can inform you about the schedule of auditorium classes.

Free written guides are available in the Iowa Hall lobby in French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese (traditional and simplified).

Visitors will find a small gift shop in the lobby of Iowa Hall offering a variety of books, rocks & minerals, tee shirts, rubber animals and other items. Proceeds are used to pay the wages of student staff-members and fund educational outreach efforts.

The main desk in the Iowa Hall gallery is manned throughout the day. It is located just inside the front door on the east side of Macbride Hall. The staff there can also supply a map to the building and various exhibits and answer any questions.