Sioux City Public Museum

The Sioux City Public Museum preserves and shares the heritage of Sioux City through a variety of exhibitions, educational programs and events.

The history of the Sioux City Public Museum goes back to the earliest days of Sioux City's history. During the 1850s a group of local citizens formed the Sioux City Lyceum to present and collect natural science specimens from around the region and beyond. This institution evolved into the Academy of Science and Letters during the 1880s when it became more historical in focus. The organization continued to collect natural science items but also historical artifacts from Sioux City's past.

In 1938, the City of Sioux City established the Sioux City Public Museum incorporating the collections of the Academy into its displays in the old Carnegie Library at the corner of 6th and Jackson Streets. In 1960, the Museum moved into the John Peirce Mansion after it was given to the City by the Junior League of Sioux City. The Museum added the Sgt. Floyd Welcome Center and Loren D. Callendar Gallery in 1997 and the Pearl Street Research Center in 2000.

After nearly 50 years in the John Peirce Mansion, the Sioux City Public Museum moved out of the historic 2901 Jackson Street home in early 2011. Preservation work began immediately to restore the Victorian-era mansion to its former glory.

Since opening a new downtown site in April 2011, the Sioux City Public Museum has become known as one of the premier cultural destinations in Siouxland and beyond.

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