Welcome to the Pentacrest Museums
The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums feature both permanent and changing exhibits, educational programming, historic research collections care, and special events at the Old Capitol Museum and the Museum of Natural History.
The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
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University of Iowa
Old Capitol Museum
MISSION
We serve to strengthen the vital role of both Museums in the educational, research, and engagement missions of the University, enhancing the campus-wide focus on cultural and environmental diversity.
What's new?
The Pentacrest is a proud new location for a new tree planting—a sapling propagated from the immense horse chestnut tree that grew in the courtyard behind the annex where Anne Frank and her family hid for 761 days during World War II. This living symbol of Anne’s spirit and humanitarian message is the 13th Anne Frank Sapling to be planted in the United States. Anne's tree is a stop on our Tree Tour and worth visiting next time you're here.
MAMMAL HALL film to debut to live museum audience, Saturday, January 15th, 2022.
PBS Special featuring Museum of Natural History: Greetings from Iowa!
PBS Special featuring Iowa City and The Old Capitol: Historic Buildings of Iowa
UI Pentacrest Museums Director of Research Collections honored with Skorton Award.
Museum Zebra gets x-ray in interdepartmental collaboration for conservation.
Sara Pinkham's A "Clucktion" of Vintage Chickens installation feature in My Collections.
UIPM upcoming events:
2026 Downtown Spring Gallery Walk
Join the UI Libraries, the Stanley Museum of Art, and the UI Museum of Natural History for the Iowa City Downtown District's Spring Gallery Walk! This annual free event invites everyone to take a self-guided tour of shops and galleries showcasing local art and exhibitions in downtown Iowa City.
Main Library Gallery: Visit Orchestrating Community: The Public Service of Iowa Conductor James Dixon to see photographs, letters, artifacts, and more from Special Collections and Archives and the Rita...
Art & Write Night
Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces.
Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists.
Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session and...