Children's Museums

Living History Farms

Name: Living History Farms
Address: 11121 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322, Urbandale, IA, US
Telephone: (515) 278-5286
Rating: 4.5

★★★★☆ 4.5 (1104 reviews)

📍 11121 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322

📞 (515) 278-5286

🌐 www.lhf.org

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

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About Living History Farms

Outdoor agricultural-history museum. Iowa farming-history exhibits on a 500-acre site with an 1875 village & educational programs. The museum spans 500 acres and features four distinct historical time periods: 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1876 Town of Walnut Hill, and 1900 Horse-Powered Farm, allowing visitors to journey through 200 years of agricultural history. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,104 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Interactive outdoor history museum
Location: Urbandale, Iowa
Size: 500-acre open-air museum
History Span: 300 years of Midwestern rural heritage
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm

💡 Did You Know?

⭐The museum spans 500 acres and features four distinct historical time periods: 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1876 Town of Walnut Hill, and 1900 Horse-Powered Farm, allowing visitors to journey through 200 years of agricultural history
⭐Living History Farms uses on-site interpreters and historians who embody their time periods to deliver educational experiences, with review mentions highlighting staff expertise in bringing history to life through hands-on demonstrations like printing shop activities
⭐The attraction offers tractor cart rides to farms as a primary visitor experience, with the last cart departing at 2:30pm daily, making this a signature feature mentioned frequently in visitor reviews
⭐The museum offers specialized programming including Historic Skills Classes, Historic Dinners & Teas, Barnyard Readers Book Clubs, and Flynn Mansion Mysteries, providing immersive educational experiences beyond traditional exhibits

💬 What Visitors Say

💬Plan to arrive early and allocate at least a full day to experience all four historical periods (1700 Ioway Indian Farm through 1900 Horse-Powered Farm). Reviewers consistently mention they easily could have spent more time, so a half-day visit limits what you'll see.
💡Catch the last tractor cart ride to the farms before 2:30pm - this is essential for reaching the distant farm exhibits. Plan your visit timing around this cutoff to ensure you can access all locations.
💡Seek out interactive demonstrations with the knowledgeable interpreters and guides throughout the site (like the printing shop experience mentioned in reviews). These hands-on interactions where staff embody their historical roles are highlighted as the best part of the 'living history' experience.
🕐Visit during special events like Historic Dinners & Teas or Historic Skills Classes (rather than standard operating days) for a more immersive and lively experience with themed activities and entertainment.
💬Membership may offer good value given the recommendation to spend a full day or multiple visits to fully experience all four historical farms and the town of Walnut Hill.