Donate to Museum Collection

Our mission: Living History Farms is an interactive outdoor history museum, which educates and connects all peoples to the many stories of Midwestern rural heritage.

We are commonly asked what items the museum will accept.

Below are some guidelines that describe what items and artifacts the museum will accept.

Donations to the museum should pertain to rural life in the region of present-day Iowa from 1700 to the early 1900s.

What we are interested in:

• 18th to 20th century clothing and textiles
• 18th to 20th century artifacts
• 19th to 20th century furniture
• Functioning 19th to 20th century farm equipment
• Modern agricultural information and equipment
• Stories of diverse populations living in the region of present-day Iowa and their agricultural experiences from the 1700s to modern times as shown through oral histories, photos, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, and books
• Living History Farms related photos, brochures, recordings and other items (particularly those that relate to Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1979)

Generally, things the museum will not consider:

• Items outside of our collection focus
• Objects in very poor condition
• Items we do not have the proper storage to accommodate

If you have an item or items that you feel would be beneficial to the museum and our collection, we invite you to submit this form.

FAQs

Visit this page or download a printable PDF.

Please email us or call 515-278-5285 x130 if you have any further questions.