Iowa has a rich history, and that history is on display in many of its most unique museums. You can find specialized tributes to some really unique things in the Hawkeye State, including a museum filled with ornate clocks. But to take a look into Iowa’s own history, head to one museum in Perry, Iowa. The Forest Park Museum and Arboretum is a beautiful space filled with historic buildings, and inside you’ll find artifacts from Iowa’s pioneer days, as well as restorations and recreations of buildings well over a century old. It’s a great way to discover the hidden past of the Hawkeye State – and the best part is, this unique museum is completely free and open to the public. It’s located in a county park, and it is one of Iowa’s best-hidden gems.

Hidden in a laid-back county park, the Forest Park Museum and Arboretum is Perry's best-kept secret.
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This beautiful green space is home to a five-acre park with more than 100 species of trees and shrubs, mostly native.
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The park is also home to a collection of museum buildings and historic buildings, each containing fascinating remnants of the past.
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These include an 1860 log cabin and the Alton Schoolhouse - the last one-room schoolhouse in Dallas County.
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Inside these buildings, you'll get a unique look at the way some of the earliest non-native settlers in Iowa lived.
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The museum contains many artifacts dating directly back to the periods of the original buildings.
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These include an authentic conestoga wagon - the primary mode of transport for the American pioneer.
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The museum also holds dioramas and taxidermy of local fauna, illustrating the complex Iowa ecosystem.
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Have you visited the Forest Park Museum and Arboretum? Tell us your favorite attractions at this unique museum in Perry, Iowa in the comments section! While you’re in Perry, why not visit another historic location in the town, and check into the Hotel Pattee, which is built into an old train depot?

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Forest Park Museum and Arboretum, 14581 K Ave, Perry, IA 50220, USA