This 500-acre open air museum in Urbandale, Iowa serves to educate visitors through exhibits and demonstrations about what the past 300 years of Iowa's agricultural history was like. Museum personnel recreate the daily routines of people living on farms in the years of 1700, 1850 and 1900. To do this the museum constructs authentic simulations of typical historical farm sites and a small town from these various time periods that illustrate major changes in agricultural technology, procedures and rural life. At no time do the guides performing these duties role play as if they are people from the bygone era they are depicting. This makes it easier for visitors to engage with the guides and ask them questions.
Explore what high Victorian dining was with an evening meal or an afternoon tea in the Flynn Mansion. You can also have a historic dinner at the 1875 Tangen Home and 1900 Farm, which begins with a horse-drawn wagon ride to the farm house, which features a wood-burning stove in the dining room and meat and potatoes styled meals. The Dahl Historic Dinners at Tangen feature family style meals in the dining room, followed by Victorian parlor games. Another special program lets photographers, artists, bird watchers, and early risers get the chance to experience the museum before it is open to the public. Space is limited and is available only to guests 18 and older. And for your entertainment, the museums’ Volunteer Dramatic group performs an old style medicine show throughout the season. This takes place just behind the Flynn Mansion. For the children, the museum offers such events as barnyard readings as well as spring, summer and winter day camp packages that let them spend several days living on a farm. After a day of enjoying an educational day on this time-travel acreage, Choice Hotels near Living History Farms let you call it a night with up-to-date accommodations. Book a room with us today.