Sioux City, Iowa: Things to do
Sioux City IA offers a wide range of activities, such as parks and recreational trails. In the surrounding area, you can find golf courses and swimming pools.
Sergeant Floyd Monument honors the first white settler to die on the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. This park is the perfect place to relax on a sunny afternoon.
Orpheum Theatre
The Orpheum Theatre is a magnificent performing arts center in Sioux City, Iowa. Originally built in 1927 as a vaudeville and movie palace, it was renovated in 1999 with great care. The facility features stunning chandeliers and hand carved detailing inlaid into the walls.
This beautiful venue is home to some of the biggest music artists. Vivid Seats will help you find tickets for your favorite artists, whether you want front row or balcony seats.
If you’re planning to attend an event at the Orpheum Theatre, be sure to check its bag policy beforehand. Bag policies can change based on local guidelines and security needs.
Sioux City Art Center
The Art Center’s mission is to bring the excitement of visual arts to the community. The Art Center is located in a beautiful building with galleries, classrooms and a large permanent collection. The Art Center is located in downtown Sioux City and offers classes for people of all ages.
The museum’s collection includes one of Grant Wood’s Corn Room murals, which was papered over in the Martin Hotel ballroom in 1938 and restored by the Art Center in 1979. The Art Center is also home to a lecture hall with 131 seats, an Atrium Gift Gallery and the Junior League Hands On program. Gallery, and a progressively designed teaching studio.
Sioux City Public Museum
The Sioux City Public Museum features large, colorful exhibits on Sioux City history. Visitors can explore the museum’s collection of Native American artifacts, pioneer artifacts, historic transportation vehicles, agriculture, industry, and geology.
Children will love the “People & Places” section that features log cabins and tipis, while dinosaur fans can dig for fossils in the Big Dig. There’s also a rock room with a fun fluorescent collection and a rubber chip-based (no dust or mess) dino dig!
In a large room, the museum hosts temporary and travelling exhibits. Past themes have included a tribute to the Beatles, an exploration of Brazilian culture, and quilts.
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is a hands on educational facility that includes indoor and outdoor displays, meeting rooms and trails in the prairies and woods. The center also offers a range of nature-friendly programs for families.
Visitors can climb a tree fort, build a house in the Discovery Forest Nature Playscape or view a live bird of prey at the outdoor Raptor House. They can also explore the sandstone cliffs and sweeping prairie ridges on the park’s hiking trails.
Dianne Blankenship has been a passionate advocate for the protection of native prairies, wetlands and other natural habitats. She was instrumental in the development of the DPNC, serving on the capital campaign cabinet in 1989 and continues to volunteer for a variety of activities.
LaunchPAD Children’s Museum
LaunchPAD Children’s Museum is a one-of-a-kind interactive learning center and play space that fosters creativity and imagination. The museum is committed to making access to educational play and discovery accessible to everyone, regardless of economic status. This mission is supported by the generosity of donors.
Palmer Candy Shop
Palmer Candy, a niche chocolatier in Iowa, is best known for its Twin Bing candy bar. It’s a bumpy candy with fondant and cherry nougat fillings that are covered in milk chocolate. The company has a small national presence and enjoys a cult following among self-proclaimed candy fanatics.
In 1900 the Palmer family moved from their wholesale fruit operation into a four-story building designed for candy production. This new facility included a peanut roasting department, rebagging and candy making departments, business offices, and cold storage lockers.
Over time, the company expanded into other candy brands. It acquired a local nutmeat manufacturer and purchased La Fama candy.
Sioux City Historical Museum
Through a variety interactive displays, the museum’s colorful and large exhibits tell Sioux City’s story. The museum’s exhibits include Native American artifacts, pioneer history and historical transportation vehicles. In addition, there are sections dedicated to agricultural history and geology.
