Museum History
Sioux City Museum / About Us
1850s
A group of local citizens formed the Sioux City Lyceum to present and collect natural science specimens from around the region and beyond.
1880s
The organization continued to collect natural science items but also historical artifacts from Sioux City's past. This institution evolved into the Academy of Science and Letters when it became more historical in focus.
1938
The City of Sioux City established the Sioux City Public Museum incorporating the collections of the Academy into its displays in the old Carnegie Library at the corner of 6th and Jackson Streets.
1960
The Museum moved into the John Peirce Mansion after it was given to the City by the Junior League of Sioux City.
1997 - 2000
The Museum added the Sgt. Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center and Loren D. Callendar Gallery in 1997 and the Pearl Street Research Center in 2000.
2011
The Museum expanded into a downtown facility that also consolidated its collections from the Pearl Street Research Center.
The completion of the new $12.5 million museum facility represents an extensive public/private partnership that began in 2005. The City of Sioux City purchased the former JC Penney department store building for use as a new museum and appropriated $1.5 million for the project.
The museum occupies the first floor of the building — approximately 55,000 square feet of floor space, with about 10,000 square feet of two-story space as an atrium in the southwest corner of the building.
With a modern glass façade, orange terra cotta, and vertical marquee, the downtown Sioux City Public Museum at 607 4th Street features large, colorful exhibits, interactive displays, and much more.
