University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum Guide
Step Back in Time: Experience Iowa's Historic Capitol Building Guide
The University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum, located in the heart of the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, offers a captivating glimpse into Iowa's early history. This beautifully preserved building served as Iowa's state capitol from 1857 to 1894 and is a National Historic Landmark. More than just a building, it's a symbol of Iowa's growth and development, and a place where important decisions that shaped the state were made. The Old Capitol's history is intertwined with the story of Iowa itself. Construction began in 1840, and the building served as the territorial capitol before becoming the state capitol in 1857. During its time as the capitol, the Old Capitol witnessed significant events, including debates over slavery, the Civil War, and the expansion of education. After the capital moved to Des Moines in 1894, the building became part of the University of Iowa and has been carefully preserved as a museum ever since. Visitors can explore the beautifully restored legislative chambers, the governor's office, and the Supreme Court room, imagining the debates and decisions that took place within these walls. The museum offers guided tours that provide insights into the building's history and architecture. Special exhibits showcase artifacts and documents related to Iowa's early government and society. The Old Capitol Museum also hosts events and programs throughout the year, including lectures, concerts, and theatrical performances.
Transportation
The University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum is located on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. Several Iowa City Transit bus routes serve the University of Iowa campus. Check the Iowa City Transit website for route maps and schedules. Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 569, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 581, 582,