5 Museums in Council Bluffs That You Shouldn't Miss

July 27, 2021 Jacquiline Darosa

Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The city is the most populous in Southwest Iowa, and a principal city in the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area. It is located on the east bank of the Missouri River, across from Omaha, Nebraska. Council Bluffs was known, until at least 1853, as Kanesville. It was the historic starting point of the Mormon Trail. Kanesville is also the northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trails, since there was a steam powered boat to ferry their wagons, and cattle, across the Missouri River.
Restaurants in Council Bluffs

1. Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail and Museum

226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825 +1 712-323-2509 http://www.thehistoricalsociety.org/museums/squirrel-cage-jail.html
Excellent
53%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 131 reviews

Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail and Museum

Reviewed By loorr55 - Council Bluffs, United States

This is quite a unique place! Historical and yes it's haunted!!It's really cool around halloween time! The staff are very nice.

2. Union Pacific Railroad Museum

200 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825 +1 712-329-8307 http://www.uprrmuseum.org
Excellent
60%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 294 reviews

Union Pacific Railroad Museum

Our museum has chronicled more than 150 years of American railroad history through unique artifacts and immersive interactive games. Admission is free.

Reviewed By maschmit - Johns Creek, United States

A free museum located in the downtown Council Bluffs area. Must park along in the meters along the street, but was able to find those without too much trouble. Museum is great for kids with the interactive exhibits and great for adults with all of the information about the Union Pacific railroad.

3. Historic General Dodge House

605 S 3rd St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-6614 +1 712-322-2406 [email protected] http://Dodgehouse.org
Excellent
68%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 94 reviews

Historic General Dodge House

Built in 1869 on the frontier, no expense was spared on this sublime Second Empire Victorian home. The fourteen room, three story mansion stands on a high terrace overlooking the Missouri Valley, and displays such architectural features as parquet floors, mansard roof, cherry, walnut & butternut woodwork, and a number of "modern" conveniences quite unusual for the period: central heating and hot & cold running water. The house was designed by William Boyington, a famous Chicago architect. It has been painstakingly curated with period items, many of them original to the home and the Dodge family.

Reviewed By Lapolla

Our tour guide, Cindy, was an excellent source of information and enthusiasm as she guided us through the historic General Dodge House. General Dodge has history in both the civil war and the building of the railroads, and so a visit to the General Dodge House includes a broad range of history. Beautiful home - nicely presented - leisurely pace - several items in the home are original to the home. I am so glad we included this home tour on our recent visit to Omaha/Council Bluffs.

4. Western Historic Trails Center

3434 Richard Downing Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501-7962 +1 712-366-4900 http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/section1/iowacities/CouncilBluffs/WesternHistoricTrailsCenter
Excellent
28%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
23%
Poor
0%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 43 reviews

Western Historic Trails Center

5. RailsWest Railroad Museum & HO Model Display

1512 S Main St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-6578 +1 712-323-5182 http://www.thehistoricalsociety.org/museums/railswest.html
Excellent
36%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
13%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 39 reviews

RailsWest Railroad Museum & HO Model Display

RailsWest Depot Museum is housed in an old Rock Island Depot built in 1899. There are many displays which include full size train cars to walk through and an HO size model train.

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