Grout Museum

The Grout Museum is a museum complex with five buildings that combine history, science, a planetarium, and veterans archives under one site. The complex also includes a historic Victorian house and offers a wide range of topics for visitors of all ages.

The institution was founded in 1934 when a collector shared his private collection with the community, laying the groundwork for today's center. The project grew over decades and eventually incorporated new focuses such as space exploration and veteran memorials.

The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum preserves stories from military service members across the region, showing how their personal histories are kept alive for future generations. The collection reflects the voices of people who served from different parts of the state.

The complex is centrally located in Waterloo and walkable, with the various buildings spread out in an easy-to-navigate layout. Visitors will find ample parking and clear pathways between the exhibition spaces.

The Rensselaer Russell House is a rare example of early Italianate architecture in the region and stands as one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in the county. The house reveals the lifestyle of wealthy families from the 1800s in a surprisingly intimate way.

Location: Iowa

Inception: October 1934

Website: https://groutmuseumdistrict.org

GPS coordinates: 42.49230,-92.34400

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:08