Museums galore

Written by Katie Mills Giorgio

Now that warmer weather has arrived and you’re itching to get out and about, consider making a visit to a local museum or two. There are plenty of options to choose from — with more than 15 museums between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids alone — and engaging museum experiences await visitors, especially active seniors, at each one.

Experience a Unique, Affordable Variety

Joe Jennison, executive director of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance, knows firsthand how lucky residents of Johnson and surrounding counties are when it comes to museum experiences. “I have the opportunity to speak with dozens of people (old and young) who are new to the area, and all are impressed with the high quality of museums based here,” he says. “For instance, we have the largest collection of Grant Wood art and craftwork in the world at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. We are also home to Iowa’s only National Trust Historic Site in Brucemore. We have the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Museum, one of 11 presidential museums in the country. And we also have one of the largest collections of African Art at the University of Iowa Museum of Art.”

Not only are museums plentiful, but also affordable, he adds. “Many of the museums in the area — including the University of Iowa Museum of Art, Old Capitol and the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History — are always free,” Jennison says. “Other museums offer free days or nights, and still others are very reasonable with admissions as low as $4, making these museums always affordable to anyone on fixed income.”

Get a Blast from the Past

Local museums offer seniors the opportunity to reflect on the past. The Johnson County Historical Society operates a museum in Coralville, as well as three historic sites — the 1876 Coralville Schoolhouse, the Johnson County Poor Farm & Asylum, and Plum Grove. “All of our sites offer a wonderful first-hand glimpse into life in Johnson County over 100 years ago,” says Shaner Magalhães, executive director of the historical society. “Not surprisingly,” he adds, “the sites and the museum are especially popular with senior citizens — both because that demographic is generally more interested in history, but also because we try to approach exhibits and programming in a way that participants can see a personal connection, and therefore be even more engaged.”

The Antique Car Museum of Iowa also can provide a trip down memory lane — no pun intended. “We are currently showcasing 72 automobiles dating from 1899 to present day, as well as a replica of an early 20th century Skelly gas station,” says executive director Amy Hoyt. “Our museum is an excellent spot for senior citizens to visit because the majority of our cars date back to the World War II era and earlier and are a kind of a ‘blast from the past’ for many of our guests.”

Feel Like a Kid Again

Museum experiences for seniors also can be found in unlikely places. Fran Jensen, director of development and marketing at the Iowa Children’s Museum, says grandparents bring their grandchildren to the Iowa Children’s Museum all the time. The museum’s Grandparents Membership is “a great way for grandparents to interact with their grandchildren,” she says. The membership — good for free admission for one year for two grandparents and all grandchildren ages 18 and younger — is $100 and worth the investment whether you have grandchildren in town or ones that come to visit throughout the year. Jensen says they also celebrate Grandparents’ Day in September with free admission for all grandparents.

Get Involved

Many area museums offer ways for seniors to volunteer their time as well, giving a new perspective to the museum experience. The UI Museum of Art relies heavily on volunteers, also known as docents, to lead tours of the museum throughout the year. And according to Dale Fisher, director of education, you don’t have to have an art background to do so.

“It’s an interesting thing to have the docent not be an artist or art historian, but rather someone who just has an interest, who says I think art is worth studying, looking at and being engaged by.” He adds that it does take a commitment though, as they, like many museums, require a volunteer training course. At the UI Museum of Art. that means 38 training session per year and giving at least 12 tours. “They really prepare and get to know our collection and various teaching methods,” Fisher says.

Add to a Collection

At some area museums there also is the opportunity to make a unique connection to the organization by donating items to the permanent collection. The Johnson County Historical Society, for instance, accepts photographs, dairies, letters, tools, advertising memorabilia and posters for its collection.

“A key factor related to our acceptance of possible donations is that the items have some clear connection to Johnson County,” says Magalhães. “Additionally, we are especially interested in materials that have specific ‘stories’ related to them. We are glad to talk to anyone about possible donations, but we simply can’t accept everything due to both space constraints and also mission-driven considerations.”

From memories of days gone by to leading tours for school children, the abundance of museums in the area offers a unique variety of ways for seniors to experience and enjoy the arts and culture of Johnson County and beyond.