The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums

The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums Together, the Old Capitol Museum and the Museum of Natural History form the Pentacrest Museums. Any unrelated messages or comments will be removed.

The content of this page is limited to messages or comments about the University of Iowa. For more than 150 years, Old Capitol has represented the pioneering spirit of Iowa and The University of Iowa. The last capitol of the Iowa territory, it served as Iowa's first state capitol from 1846 to 1857. When the state government moved to Des Moines in 1857, Old Capitol served as the University's first

building and the founding place of many departments. In 1976, Old Capitol became a National Historic Landmark and public museum. After fours years of recovery from a devastating fire in 2001 that destroyed the building's dome and cupola, Old Capitol Museum reopened in May 2006 as a vital cultural and educational resource for more than 30,000 visitors, researchers, and schoolchildren each year. The Old Capitol Museum houses a gift shop, an educational Discovery Center where kids can learn about early Iowans with computer inter-actives, the Hanson Family Humanities Gallery, and the Keyes' Gallery for Arts, Humanities, and Sciences. The galleries house changing exhibits year round that explore a wide variety of themes. Throughout the year, the Museum also hosts a variety of lectures, films, workshops, and other educational programs related to its rotating exhibits and Iowa history.

08/24/2026

Welcome back, Hawkeyes!

Your museums missed you šŸ«¶

08/16/2026

Rusty already found his way to Gavin Mercantile ā€¦find him here for a stamp toward your completed Whereā€™s Rusty card to win a prize!

Just about 2 weeks left for this summer fun sloth scavenger hunt by Iowa City Downtown District and UI Pentacrest Museums šŸ‘€ ā°

08/12/2026

Donā€™t even get us started with the egg shakers šŸ«Ø

Read on the Rug is back this Friday, August 14 at 10:30 a.m. Come soak up the last drops of your summer schedule with us! Bring your littles (all ages welcome) for some stories, songs, play, and yesā€¦THE scarves āœ…

Friendly reminder that applications are now open for the Pentacrest Museums Student Advisory Board (SAB). Museum events,...
08/10/2026

Friendly reminder that applications are now open for the Pentacrest Museums Student Advisory Board (SAB). Museum events, new besties, professional development, resume builder...SAB is the best. We have several spots open and are ready for you to join the board! https://pentacrestmuseums.uiowa.edu/uipm-student-advisory-board

08/08/2026

Welcome in!

We canā€™t wait for all the students to be back. For now, Audrey is telling all about how the ā€œother duties as assignedā€ in her job description have been enacted this summer (and itā€™s been fun!) šŸ¤©

Your museums are open 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Things currently pinned in the Pentacrest Museums Communications Department (aka Jessā€™ cubicle): inspo, memories, and no...
08/07/2026

Things currently pinned in the Pentacrest Museums Communications Department (aka Jessā€™ cubicle): inspo, memories, and nowā€¦a brand-new job listing šŸ“Œ

Students! Our Communications Assistant position is officially live on Handshake. Check it out šŸ‘€

August's Art & Write Night is TONIGHT! Make our museum your muse.Supplies, prompts, and inspo provided 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ...
08/07/2026

August's Art & Write Night is TONIGHT! Make our museum your muse.

Supplies, prompts, and inspo provided 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in Bird and Mammal Halls, 3rd Floor, Museum of Natural History, Macbride Hall. We'll share what we make toward the end of the evening. Maybe you'll make something you'd like to loan for display in our Community Art Gallery?

āš½ NEW EXHIBIT COMING SOONOpen September 9 - November 21, The Saturday Man: At the Edge of the Game features six decades ...
08/03/2026

āš½ NEW EXHIBIT COMING SOON

Open September 9 - November 21, The Saturday Man: At the Edge of the Game features six decades of photography by acclaimed photographer Peter Robinson, exploring how football (soccer) connects sport, identity, community, and culture around the world.

Instructors: Start planning your class visit now to KICK OFF your fall semester with a museum visit šŸ˜‰

Learn more about the exhibition and artist, explore curricular connections and teaching resources, and schedule your visit here: https://pentacrestmuseums.uiowa.edu/saturday-man

Nifty (thrifty) news, folks! Due to popular interest, our temporary exhibition, Thrift Style, has been extended through ...
07/31/2026

Nifty (thrifty) news, folks! Due to popular interest, our temporary exhibition, Thrift Style, has been extended through October 7, 2026 at the Old Capitol Museum.

Before "thrifting" became a trend, it was a necessity. Thrift Style explores how families during the Great Depression and World War II transformed everyday feed sacks into dresses, aprons, quilts, toys, and other household essentials. Through objects, the exhibition highlights remarkable creativity, resourcefulness, and one of America's earliest examples of upcycling which allowed homelife to drive economic buying power.

Admission is always free, making it the perfect opportunity to visit before the exhibition closes. Instructors can work with our staff to identify meaningful curricular connections and create engaging learning experiences in the gallery.

Learn more: https://pentacrestmuseums.uiowa.edu/thrift-style

1. Make and Mend for Victory Book, no. S-10; c. 1942; paper and ink; 16 x 9
2. Flour Sack for Eagle Milling Co, Edmond, OK; c. 1940; feed sack cotton; 11 x 7
3. Feed Sack; c. 1940; feed sack cotton; 37 1/2 x 22
4. Infant Bonnet; c. 1938; feed sack cotton, purchased organdy trim, rick rack; 7 3/4 x 8 3/4
5. Bag of Tricks for Home Sewing; 1945; paper and ink; 8 1/4 x 5 1/2

All objects displayed courtesy of Kansas State University Historic Costume and Textile Museum

Breadcrumb Home Thrift Style Old Capitol MuseumApril 6 - August 11, 2026Before ā€œthriftingā€ was a trend, it was a necessity.Thrift Style takes you back to a time when creativity mattered more than convenience and nothing went to waste. This exhibition explores how everyday feed sacks were transfo...

07/28/2026

New seating on the ground floor of Macbride Hall. Take a seat, Hawkeyes! Like this, this, this, this, thisā€¦

Address

21 N Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA
52242

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+13193353491

Website

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