Sioux City Museum & Historical Association

Sioux City Museum & Historical Association Donations to the Sioux City Museum & Historical Association are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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The Sioux City Public Museum explores the region's history and culture, showcasing diverse permanent exhibits from prehistoric times to the modern era alongside exciting traveling exhibits, and fun, family oriented events and programming. The Sioux City Museum & Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that provides funding for exhibits and programming for the Sioux City Public Museum and its sites. Currently, the Association is more than 200 members strong.

Labor Day through the years: Though not an official national holiday until 1894, Labor Day was a state holiday in Iowa w...
09/07/2026

Labor Day through the years: Though not an official national holiday until 1894, Labor Day was a state holiday in Iowa with community celebrations even earlier. In this September 7, 1891 photograph, the United Association of Journeymen banner was carried during the parade by local union members. This 1891 "Sioux City Journal" clipping describes "How the toilers will spend their own peculiar holiday." Later, in 1930, this photograph taken from the Badgerow Building, looking west on Fourth St., gives a bird's-eye view of the Labor Day parade through downtown.

The Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center will be closed on Monday, September 7 in honor of Labor Day. The Sioux...
09/06/2026

The Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center will be closed on Monday, September 7 in honor of Labor Day. The Sioux City Public Museum is closed on Mondays.

On this day in Sioux City History: Members of Sioux City’s Sheet Metal Workers’ Union posed for this photo on Labor Day ...
09/06/2026

On this day in Sioux City History: Members of Sioux City’s Sheet Metal Workers’ Union posed for this photo on Labor Day in 1914. This view is facing north on Douglas Street toward the intersection with 6th Street. The sheet metal workers were affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Founded in 1886, the AFL represented craft unions (skilled workers) that emerged with the spread of the Industrial Revolution after the Civil War. Sioux City’s position as Iowa’s leading industrial center made craft unions major players in local politics during the early-20th century. Wallace M. Short used craft union support to win three consecutive terms as Sioux City’s mayor (1918-1924) despite fierce opposition from the business community.

On this day in Sioux City history: During the week of September 1-8, 1892, the Iowa National Guard held an encampment of...
09/05/2026

On this day in Sioux City history: During the week of September 1-8, 1892, the Iowa National Guard held an encampment of Company H and L of the Fourth Regiment of the ING. These encampments were training exercises for the guard, and the public was encouraged to come during visiting hours to watch them practice.

On this day in Sioux City history: Members of Sioux City’s Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America...
09/04/2026

On this day in Sioux City history: Members of Sioux City’s Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America No. 521 posed for this photo on Labor Day in 1916. They are sitting on the steps of what was then the Federal Building (City Hall today) at the northeast corner of 6th and Douglas Street. Since meatpacking was Sioux City’s most important industry, the beef butchers were leading figures in the local union movement.

Like all industrial centers, Sioux City has experienced its share of labor turmoil. A meat cutter’s strike at Sioux City’s packing plants in December 1921 turned violent and resulted in the shooting deaths of Deputy Lewis R. Jones, son of Sheriff William H. Jones, and striker Hessen Kaled. Fortunately, such tragedies have been rare occurrences in Sioux City, even if other strikes have included incidents of physical violence.

Craft unions (skilled workers) were the focus of the labor movement between the founding of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1886 and the 1930s. Unskilled workers were left unorganized until the onset of the Great Depression. Hoping to increase the purchasing power of individual workers, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called for the right of all workers to bargain collectively when he took office in 1933. His support led to the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935 and the subsequent creation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to represent unskilled workers.

On this day in Sioux City history: On September 3, 1903, Sioux City citizens gathered at Riverside Park to watch the Rin...
09/03/2026

On this day in Sioux City history: On September 3, 1903, Sioux City citizens gathered at Riverside Park to watch the Ringling Brothers' elephants bathe in the Big Sioux River.

On this day in Sioux City history: The groundbreaking for the rechanneling of the Floyd River was a cause for great fanf...
09/01/2026

On this day in Sioux City history: The groundbreaking for the rechanneling of the Floyd River was a cause for great fanfare on September 1, 1961. After several catastrophic floods throughout the years, the taming of the river was met with enthusiasm by many. However, the project also meant the displacement of the remaining residents in the areas known as the South and East Bottoms.

On this day in Sioux City history: An earthquake shocked Sioux Cityans attending an opening night concert on August 31, ...
08/31/2026

On this day in Sioux City history: An earthquake shocked Sioux Cityans attending an opening night concert on August 31, 1886. Tremors shook the Conservatory of Music hall in the Wilkins Block at 614-616 4th Street as this Sioux City Journal article recounts.

On this day in Sioux City history: On August 30, 2015, Reverend Floyd Brown delivered his final sermon at Mount Zion Mis...
08/30/2026

On this day in Sioux City history: On August 30, 2015, Reverend Floyd Brown delivered his final sermon at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Revered Brown was selected to pastor at Sioux City's Mount Zion in 1978, to a congregation of less than 35 members at the time. The church was originally organized in 1887, and the organization papers declared it as "the first Negro church in Sioux City."

Interested in the history of Sioux City's churches? Visit our YouTube channel for Tom Munson's History at High Noon: Sioux City Houses of Worship 1870-1940. Click here: https://youtu.be/2-_FGjMJrLo?si=dbYYDMlWOhCmeVUO

On this day in Sioux City history: Fifty years to the day that Korean War casualty Sgt. John R. Rice was denied burial i...
08/28/2026

On this day in Sioux City history: Fifty years to the day that Korean War casualty Sgt. John R. Rice was denied burial in a Sioux City cemetery, a memorial was held in his honor on August 28, 2001. The refusal of Memorial Park Cemetery officials to allow the burial of Rice due to his Native American heritage sparked national outrage in 1951. The parade and Rice's widow, Evelyn, are shown in these Sioux City Journal photographs from the 2001 event. For more about Sgt. Rice and the controversy surrounding the interruption of his burial 70 years ago today, visit SiouxCityHistory.org/notable-people/8-sergeantjohnrrice.

Address

607 4th Street
Sioux City, IA
51101

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(712) 279-6174

Website

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