Museums are an amazing place to look back into the history and prehistory of a region, through artifacts paying tribute to the people and events that have come before. But many people don’t know that usually, museums only have a fraction of their artifacts on display for the public. Most are secured in a vault, far away from prying eyes. For many of these artifacts, it’s because they’re too valuable or too fragile to put on display, while others are rotated in and out. This is the case for the State Historical Society of Iowa – but the Des Moines museum has done something different. This secret vault in Iowa is open to the public for special tours, and you can see this hidden part of the museum for yourself as part of a one-of-a-kind program.

When you think about vaults, a highly-secure metal door usually comes to mind. That's often the case for museum vaults - but not at one museum in Iowa.
Jonathunder/Wikipedia
The State Historical Society of Iowa has a massive building in Des Moines, and it's home to a museum filled with Iowa history - more than you might know.
Billwhittaker/Wikipedia
The main museum is a popular tourist attraction that always welcomes guests. Top exhibits include tributes to Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture and Iowa's aviation history.
State Historical Society of Iowa

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But many people don't know about the "Visible Vault" section of the museum, which stores thousands of other artifacts. This section is usually closed off, but now can be visited for a peek behind the scenes.
State Historical Society of Iowa
But that's not all - the vault is occasionally opened for special exhibits and organized tours. A recent John Deere exhibit attracted many school groups.
State Historical Society of Iowa/Facebook
Deeper in the museum vault, you'll find some of the state's oldest historic flags and documents dating back hundreds of years - along with art, artifacts, and even ancient stone tools from Iowa's earliest residents.
West Des Moines Historical Society/Facebook

Have you visited the Visible Vault in Des Moines? Let us know what you thought of this unique secret vault in Iowa in the comments section. If you want to learn more, make sure to visit the website and Facebook page of the Historical Society for more details. For another look into Iowa’s storied past, why not take this tour to an underground secret in Independence?

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State Historical Society Research Center, 600 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50319, USA