2026 Excursions

Join us for a day trip to Cedar Rapids—an energetic manufacturing and business hub with a thriving arts and culture scene, located just 33 miles north of Iowa City. Our Cedar Rapids visit will feature:

• Grant Wood Studio & Visitor Center
  Enjoy a docent-led tour of the studio where Iowa’s iconic artist Grant Wood lived and worked. This intimate space offers an inspiring look into Wood’s daily life and creative process.
• Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
  Discover a rich collection of American art, including the world’s largest assemblage of works by Grant Wood. The museum’s strong holdings from the early 20th century provide a fascinating view of the era’s artistic landscape. Don’t miss the gift shop!
• Lunch at NewBo City Market
  Experience the lively New Bohemia District with lunch at NewBo City Market—a vibrant community space filled with one-of-a-kind local food vendors and shops. A lunch voucher will be provided so you can explore and sample whatever catches your eye.
• African American Museum of Iowa
  Explore Iowa’s African American heritage and history at this newly reopened museum. After a warm welcome from staff, journey through exhibitions highlighting the unique history of African American communities across the state. Rooted: Labor, Land, and Legacy, a temporary exhibition celebrating the role farming plays in Black resiliency and activism, will feature at the time of this visit.
• National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library: Savor sweet, traditional Czech koláče (pastries) and a cup of coffee before taking a self-guided tour through exhibitions at this Smithsonian Affiliate museum.
• Czech Village: With colorful murals, cafes, a brewery, vintage shops, boutiques, and a bookstore, Czech Village has something for everyone. Before venturing into this charming shopping district, stop by the museum’s orloj (astronomical clock), which features an elaborate show of figurines and music at the top of each hour.

Join us on a trip to Davenport, IA—one of Iowa and Illinois’ Quad Cities where the Mississippi River runs east to west. You’ll get a guided tour and eat lunch at the Figge Art Museum, get an inside look at the German American Heritage Center’s collections, and go on a curator-led tour of the Putnam Museum’s Vault.

• Figge Art Museum: Explore the Figge Art Museum’s exhibits via a guided tour and self-guided exploration in a beautiful glass building on the banks of the Mississippi. Then, enjoy a lunch catered by the Figge.
• Putnam Museum: Enjoy a curator-led tour of the Putnam Vault space, as well as time to explore the other main exhibits. The collection spans a broad range of categories, including natural sciences, regional history, anthropology, and archival materials.
• German American Heritage Center & Museum: Discover the rich history of the German immigrant experience through a behind-the-scenes tour of the German American Heritage Center’s collections. The German immigrant experience is an integral part of the history and fabric of life in Iowa. The German American Heritage Center was formed in 1994 to document and celebrate this heritage.

Grinnell is a is a creative community 60 miles west of Iowa City. It is home to Grinnell College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1846. Susan Baley, director of the Grinnell College Museum of Art, will be our host. Our visit to Grinnell will include:

• Grinnell College Museum of Art and Bucksbaum Center for the Arts – Gallery and collections storage space visit. With more than 5,000 works of art, the Grinnell College Museum of Art …
• Grinnell College Print and Drawing Study Room and Book Lab – Tour
  Explore the collection of over 3,000 photographs, drawings, printmaking, and works on paper.
• Grinnell College Humanities & Social Studies Center’s Global Kitchen – Visit and lunch
  The global kitchen explores the interdisciplinary study of food, celebrates the diversity of foodways, and engages in social justice and inclusion. Visitors will learn about the kitchen and enjoy a lunch in the Facility Lounge with remarks from Dean Ruth Feingold
• Downtown Spaces, the Stew Makerspace, and Grinnell Arts Center – Visit
  The Stew Makerspace contains a wood shop, animation studio, 3D printing equipment, ceramics studio, and more. The Grinnell Art Center offers a diverse portfolio of arts programming to community members of all ages and backgrounds
• Merchant’s National Bank – Visit
  Designed by Louis Sullivan, Merchant’s National Bank is one of eight Midwestern jewel-box designs referring to the simplicity of the brick structure. This bank features stained-glass windows, glass mosaic, Pink Tennessee marble floor, and more.
• Grinnell Historical Museum – Visit with Director Bethany Hewlett
  Through artifacts and photographs, the Grinnell Historical Museum tells the stories of Grinnell, Iowa. Director Bethany Hewlett will discuss her experience as director of the
  museum.