Johnson County Museum & Kidscape

The Johnson County Museum, located inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, is continually recognized for excellence in exhibitions, programming and publications by national, regional and state organizations.

Explore the signature exhibition, ‘Becoming Johnson County’, to gain a deeper understanding of the county’s history. The 1950s All-Electric House, the centerpiece of the exhibit, exemplifies the American Dream many hoped to find in Johnson County.

The changing exhibit space features special exhibits throughout the year. The kids can enjoy a fun hands-on learning experience at KidScape.

KidScape is an interactive exhibit where kids learn about history through immersive play. Explore accessible environments from Johnson County’s past, including a covered wagon and homestead, the City Market, an early 1900’s classroom, and a replica of the first trolley car on William Strang’s Interurban Railway. Young visitors can also care for sick patients at the hospital, cook up burgers at Huey’s Diner, and build a house (with oversized foam blocks!) for a new suburban family. Everyone is welcome in KidScape, but it is best enjoyed by kids ages 1-8.

The museum has four free days a year and participates in the Blue Star Museum program, in which active members of the military and their families can show their military ID for free admission (runs from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day).