Grout Museum District
Established in 1932, the Grout Museum District is widely acknowledged as one of the cornerstones of culture in Northeast Iowa. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Grout Museum District includes five distinct properties - the Grout Museum of History & Science, the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, the Snowden House, the Rensselaer Russell House Museum and the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum.
The Grout Museum of History & Science was founded by Henry Whittemore Grout, a prominent Waterloo resident, financier and state legislator who loved to travel and collect reminders of the places he visited, sharing these finds with children in the community. By the time of his death, Grout had collected over 2,000 objects. His will established an endowment and named trustees to care for his collection, which was displayed for many years at the local YMCA.
The current building at 503 South Street was completed in 1956 and opened to the public as a not-for-profit museum. The Grout's many attractions have drawn visitors from all over the state of Iowa and surrounding states, and its educational programs involve students from Waterloo, Cedar Falls and surrounding areas.
The latest addition to the Grout Museum District includes the new Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. The official veterans museum of the state of Iowa, the museum honors the service and sacrifice of all Iowa veterans from the Civil War to present.
Grout Museum District Mission
The mission of the Grout Museum District is to provide a better understanding of our world by collecting, preserving and interpreting history and illustrating scientific principles. The Grout Museum collects, preserves and interprets cultural and natural history of the region; the Rensselaer Russell House Museum and the Snowden House preserve and interpret elements of the Victorian age; the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium provides exhibitions and programming that inspire the study of the sciences. And the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors the service and sacrifice of Iowa veterans from the Civil War to present.
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