Monday, June 28, 2021

The Pentacrest Museums are now offering free, public tours every Saturday. Both tours (one at the Old Capitol Museum and one at the Museum of Natural History), will start promptly at 2pm, hosting the first 10 guests who sign up at the respective front desks that day. Available tour spots are on a first-come, first-served basis, and each tour will run approximately 30 minutes.

UIPM Visitor Services Coordinator Elizabeth Fouts calls these Highlights Tours, "Our student Gallery Guides will take guests on a brief tour of either the Old Capitol Museum or Iowa Hall in the Museum of Natural History, highlighting some of their favorite artifacts and history each week." Fouts explains that no two tours will be exactly the same, rather, these tours give guests an opportunity to interact with the Gallery Guides and exhibitions in a new, engaging way.

The Pentacrest Museums Director Liz Crooks is pleased to see students interacting at the Museums in résumé-building opportunities. “Our students are always building new skills to prepare them for a variety of careers following graduation," Crooks said, "These tours are a perfect example. Access to practiced social, communication, and leadership skills, paired with the chance to interact on behalf of beloved Museums and their rich historic and scientific collections with a sense of pride and ownership, is yet another way we find our students shining brightest."

Guests who have a larger group, wish for a complete tour experience, or have a different day/time preference should review the Museums' new Group Visits & Tours webpage, where new in-person and virtual tour experience offerings become available to the general public this Fall, and many offerings are currently available for UI Instructors/classes and other educational groups now.


Pentacrest Museums Highlights Tours:

  • Every Saturday, 2pm
  • Old Capitol Museum OR Museum of Natural History
  • Sign up the day of, before 2pm, at the front desks
  • 10 guests per tour
  • First come, first serve
  • Free