Exhibitions
Upcoming, Current, and Past
Society of Animal Artists: Art and the Animal
Coming soon! Animals from around the world are depicted in a wide variety of art style, medium and technique in the exhibit “Society of Animal Artists: Art and the Animal.”
Iconic Views of Sioux City: 1886-1962
Iconic Views of Sioux City: 1886-1962 features 23 large format photographs of Sioux City scenes.
Día de los Muertos: Solo Recuerdos [Day of the Dead: Only Memories] Altar Display
Dia de los Muertos altars are an important tradition celebrated by Mexican people throughout the world. Altars created by Morningside University students, Irving Elementary School families and friends of the Museum are on display.
Sioux City Festivals and Celebrations 1887-2024
Photographs, souvenirs, and other memorabilia of local festivals are featured in the exhibit, “Sioux City Festivals and Celebrations 1887-2024” which is now on display at the Sioux City Public Museum.
Gypsy Soul: Remembering Sioux City’s Tommy Bolin
Photographs, stage clothing, instruments and other personal memorabilia of the local rock legend are showcased.
Sioux City History Projects
The 33rd annual exhibit showcases models and posters of local historic landmarks, people, and events created by 86 local fourth-grade students from 14 participating schools.
Sioux City and the Pacific War 1941-1945
A display of uniforms, equipment, and memorabilia from Sioux Cityans who served in the war with Japan between 1941 and 1945.
Indian Art of the Northern Plains
Late 19th and early 20th century artwork from the Ogallala Sioux, Yankton Sioux, Mandan, Wind River Shoshone, Shoshone, and Kiowa tribes are featured in Indian Art of the Northern Plains on display.
“Orgulloso hasta los huesos” (Proud to the Bone)
Dia de los Muertos altars are an important tradition celebrated by Mexican people throughout the world. Altars created by Morningside University students, Irving Elementary School families and friends of the Museum are on display.
Christmas Toys Through the Decades
A nostalgic look back at classic toys and games from the Museum’s collection.
Leaving and Waving
For 27 years, Deanna Dikeman took photographs as she waved goodbye and drove away from visiting her parents at their home in Sioux City, Iowa.
RAGBRAI: It All Started Here
As part of Sioux City’s commemoration of the annual bike ride’s 50th year, the exhibit features memorabilia such as t-shirts, signage, riding gear, and much more. An extensive slideshow contains images from all of Sioux City’s years as a host city.
New to You: Recent Artifact Donations
“New to You” features a selection of interesting artifacts donated to the museum over the past several years as well as a few items that have been in the collection a long time, but have not made it into an exhibit for one reason or another.
Sioux City History Projects
The 32nd annual exhibit showcases models and posters of local historic landmarks, people, and events created by local fourth-grade students.
Leeds High School 1939-1972
Marching band uniforms, school apparel, photographs, and memorabilia provide a look back at the neighborhood high school that helped forge a strong identity for the northeastern area of Sioux City.
Navajo Rugs 1910-1977
Rugs donated by a noted cultural anthropologist and honorary member of the Navajo tribe are among the textiles showcased. The Navajo styles represented are Ganado, Klagetoh, Crystal, Teec Nos Pos, Storm Pattern and Yei Pattern.
A Cast of Blues
A unique museum exhibit that encourages visitors to touch the artwork on display, “A Cast of Blues” features 15 resin-cast masks of blues legends created by artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson. Also included in the traveling exhibit are 15 color photographs of performers and of juke joints by acclaimed photographer Ken Murphy. A Program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance and The National Endowment for the Arts.
Meet the Beatles! A Fab Four Memorabilia Collection
A local Beatles fan’s donation of vintage collectibles is showcased alongside an overview of the Beatles’ history that chronicles their amazing musical legacy. The array of Beatles-themed memorabilia ranges from pinback buttons to clothing to school supplies.
Knoepfler Chevrolet: Celebrating 100 Years in Sioux City
A 1922 Chevy from Ryal Miller Chevrolet Company’s first year of operation is featured among the artifacts and photographs chronicling the history of Sioux City’s oldest family-owned dealership.
Quilts from Our Collection
The handiwork of generations of women is showcased in a display of quilts dating from the 1840s to the 1940s.
Vernon Tott Photographs: The Liberation of the Ahlem Concentration Camp
Powerful images taken by a Sioux City soldier during the liberation of a WWII concentration camp. Presented by the Sioux City Public Museum as part of Sioux City Tolerance Week.
Sioux City History Projects
The 31st annual exhibit showcases models and posters of local historic landmarks, people, and events created by local fourth-grade students.
A Century of Service: Mary J. Treglia Community House & Junior League of Sioux City 1921-2021
The histories of two of Sioux City’s longest-serving and most impactful organizations are intertwined. Founded in April 1921 by several of the same women, both organizations have evolved over the past century to meet the changing needs of the Sioux City community.
A Life In The Wild: T. D. Mangelsen
American nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen has been praised by many as a spiritual descendent of Ansel Adams, Eliot Porter and Edward Weston.
New to You: Recent Artifact Donations
An exhibit showcasing a diverse selection of artifacts from the Museum’s collection, most of which had not been previously displayed. In addition to a variety of Central High School artifacts, the exhibit featured a paper mache Easter Bunny from Davidson’s Department Store.