Historic Home Tours

Explore historic architecture, domestic life, and all of the elements that made a house a home over the past 300 years with a guided group tour through one of our many historic buildings.

Details

• 1 hour program
• Ages 12+
• Must be requested 30 days in advance
• Schedules are based on availability
• Minimum of 10 and maximum of 25 people

Availability

To check availability or if you have questions, email groups@lhf.org or give us a call at (515) 278-5286 x123.

Victorian Domestic Spaces Tour

Victorian Americans planned their homes very differently than our modern open-concept spaces. Join Living History Farms staff for a guided tour of either the historic Italianate styled Flynn Mansion of Carpenter Gothic styled Tangen Home. Participants will meet at the Living History Farms Visitor Center. The group will then walk or will follow a staff car to the historic home. Discussion will focus on what Victorians felt was needed for a proper home design, architecture preferences, furnishing choices, and support systems. Participants should be able to walk a moderate distance over uneven ground to the Tangen House or be able to climb a staircase to the second floor of the Flynn Mansion.

Life in 1900: Farm and Home Tour

The turn of the 20th century is often considered a golden age for Iowa farmers. What did that mean for house comforts? For machinery and livestock care? Explore life for an Iowa farming family with a guided visit to the 1900 era horse-power farm at Living History Farms. Farm staff will lead guests through the house and barn yard, focusing discussion on the house styles, new inventions, livestock buildings, and practical work patterns used on a farm in 1900. Guests will also meet the livestock raised on a farm of that period. Participants will meet at the Murray Conference Center and then follow a staff car to the 1900 Farm.

Pioneer Life: Farm and Home Tour – Available May to October only

Iowa settlers in the 1840s and 1850s gave up the comforts of the east to make new lives for themselves in Iowa’s frontier lands. Discover the challenges and comforts of life in a log house with a guided visit to the 1850 Pioneer Farm at Living History Farms. Farm staff will lead guests through the log house and barn yard, focusing discussion on log construction, domestic routines, Iowa settlement patterns, and agricultural work. Guests will also meet the livestock raised on a farm of that period. Participants will meet at the Murray Conference Center and then car-pool to the 1850 parking area. Participants should be able to walk a moderate distance over uneven ground (approximately a two city blocks) and be able to stand for the duration of this mostly outdoor tour.

1700 Ioway Farm: Housing and Culture Tour – Available May to October only

The Ioway Native American peoples were some of Iowa’s first farmers. Explore the 1700 era Ioway Farm during this guided tour and discover the dwellings, foodways, and farming traditions of this complex prairie culture. Farm staff will lead guests through the lodges, cooking areas, hide processing areas and gardens of this farming site, introducing the Ioway culture and language. Participants will meet at the Murray Conference Center and then car-pool to the 1850 parking area. Participants should be able to walk a moderate distance over uneven ground and be able to stand for the duration of this outdoor tour.