Sioux City is situated at the confluence of the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers, as well as the borders of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped here in July and August of 1804 to bury Sergeant Charles Floyd, whose grave is marked by a grand monument.
Sioux City was a major railroad hub in the early twentieth century, with the busiest stockyards in the country.
Sioux City, now one of the Midwest’s top metro areas, is the tri-state region’s urban center for shopping, culture, and entertainment.
The Sioux City Public Museum, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and the excellent Sioux City Art Center all offer free admission.
Things to Do in Sioux City
1. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
The Lewis and Clark journey passed through what is now Sioux City in the summer of 1804 while monitoring the new lands acquired by the Louisiana Purchase. This history is commemorated by a 20,000-square-foot cultural complex that opened in 2007.
Exhibits bring the expedition’s time in the area to life, including the untimely death of Sergeant Charles Floyd, the first U.S. soldier to die west of the Mississippi.
There’s also a lot of information about this historic journey, both before and after it arrived at the confluence of the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers.
Kids will enjoy the computers, flip books, stamping stations, and a brass-rubbing station, while the Keelboat Theater shows the 15-minute film “A Visit with William Clark.”
2. The Sioux City Arts Center
The Sioux City Art Center is housed in an award-winning modern building that opened in 1997 and houses a formidable collection that has grown since the 1930s.
While the collection focuses on artists from Iowa and the Midwest, it also includes work by national and international artists such as Salvador Dal, Dale Chihuly, Claes Oldenburg, Käthe Kollwitz, and Jun Kaneko.
Grant Wood’s Corn Room mural, commissioned for Sioux City’s Martin Hotel in 1927, is on display in a special room.
This work was covered up in the 1950s and rediscovered in 1979. The five galleries are constantly changing, and the center offers a variety of programs for young people to exercise their creative muscles.
3. Sioux City Public Museum
This local institution relocated to a sleek modern building downtown in 2011. The Sioux City Public Museum had previously been housed in the 23-room Peirce Mansion (1893), which it still manages alongside the Sergeant Floyd River Museum.
The HQ is a cutting-edge attraction, with numerous interactive displays such as the Time Machine and Innovation I-Wall informing you about the city in novel ways.
The opulent Corn Palace Theatre, which shows a 12-minute orientation film about the “Spirit of Sioux City,” is a good place to start.
The Big Dig recreates one of the area’s active fossil digs, and the Sioux City Stockyards recreate one of the country’s busiest stockyards, explaining their relationship with railroads.
4. Sergeant Floyd River Museum
The restored MV Sergeant Floyd towboat stands out in a dry dock next to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
She was built in 1932 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, for the United States Army Corps of Engineers to help manage the nation’s inland waterways, and she is one of only a few USACE vessels from that era that have survived to the present day.
On a self-guided tour, you can learn about Native American history and culture, fur trapping, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and Missouri River steamboats.
A facial reconstruction of Charles Floyd based on a plaster cast of his skull is one compelling exhibit. Inside is also a convenient Welcome Center for the tri-state area.
5. Railroad Museum
The railroads, which first arrived in 1868, played an important role in the development of Sioux City and the tri-state area in the late nineteenth century.
At its peak, eight railroads served Sioux City, making it the country’s tenth-largest railroad center in the 1920s and 1930s.
The Sioux City Railroad Museum is housed in what was once a massive engine terminal and repair shops built for Milwaukee Road in the 1910s. By WWII, the shops employed over 500 people, overhauling 35 steam locomotives and servicing 70 trains daily.
You can explore the museum’s 32 acres and see these old buildings as well as grand pieces of machinery like Steam Locomotive No. 1355 – “Ironhorse” (1909).
6. Sergeant Floyd Monument
Charles Floyd, a young member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is buried in Sioux City (1782-1804). He died on the upstream journey, most likely from appendicitis, and was buried near the future Sioux City.
He was the only member of the Corps of Discovery to perish on the voyage. His grave has twice been relocated east of the original site due to erosion, while the memorial’s solemn Kettle River sandstone obelisk was erected in 1901 and stands 100 feet tall.
The monument is located in a 23-acre riverside park just downstream from downtown Sioux City, with a spectacular view of the Missouri River valley.
7. LunchPad Children’s Museum
In downtown Sioux City, just across from Pearl Street Park, is an acclaimed children’s museum filled with cleverly designed interactive exhibits for children aged 6 months to 10 years.
LaunchPad features a large red barn, a hog pen, a grain bin, a milking cow, and an agriculture zone where kids can learn about crops grown in the area and what life is like as a farmer.
Other areas, such as the Build Zone, Wind Zone, and the wonderful Water Table, introduce young minds to science and engineering concepts, while the Market and Cafe provide ample opportunity for roleplaying.
8. Woodbury County Courthouse
The Prairie School-style Woodbury County Courthouse, completed in 1918, is a magnificent sight in downtown Sioux City. This four-story brick building, dubbed the “Jewel of the Prairie,” is regarded as one of the county’s finest Prairie School structures.
George Grant Elmslie, his partner William Gray Purcell, and Sioux City architect William L. Steele designed the courthouse, which replaced an older courthouse from the 1870s.
On the street, look for Alfonso Iannelli’s sculptural elements above the doors and Elmslie’s intricate grillwork above the northern entrance.
The interior is adorned with marble, delicate metalwork, and murals, and if you’d like to take a tour, contact the Board of Supervisors’ office through the Woodbury County website.
9. Mid-America Museum of Aviation and Transportation
A museum guiding you through the modern history of aviation and surface transportation is located in a hangar at Sioux Gateway Airport.
There are 30,000 square feet of displays and exhibits, as well as a variety of preserved aircraft, including a Boeing 727-200 and a Huey helicopter from Vietnam.
An intact Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major, the largest-displacement piston engine mass-produced in the United States, is a memorable sight.
A fleet of motorcycles and historic cars, including a ’41 Cadillac Fleetwood “60” Special Sunroof Sedan ridden by President Truman in a parade in Omaha, and a road grader from 1913, are on display.
Sioux City was the site of the United Airlines Flight 232 disaster in 1989.
10. Palmer Candy Company
The Palmer Candy Company, which began as a wholesale grocer, has had a long presence in Sioux City, dating back to 1878. Palmer’s Old Tyme Candy Shoppe has information about this history as well as a large selection of treats.
This is in an elegant Art Deco-style building on the outskirts of downtown Sioux City, and it serves a delectable selection of snacks and confectionery such as sea salt caramels, gourmet truffles, roasted nuts, Swedish fish, and homemade brittle.
Look for classics such as the Twin Bing (cherry nougat coated in chocolate and chopped peanuts), which was first introduced in the 1920s. Inside, there’s also a small museum with vintage candy-making equipment and photos from the company’s early days.
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11. Cone Park
This park in the city’s south offers plenty of winter activities. The main attraction is a 700-foot tubing hill, but there’s also a skating rink, outdoor fire pit, day lodge for warming up, and a smaller “Bunny Hill” for younger thrill seekers.
A three-hour ticket grants unlimited access to the main hill and tubes are provided. Cone Park attracts walkers on its two-mile trail loop the rest of the year, and when it gets hot in summer, the ice rink transforms into a splash pad, which is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
12. Anderson Dance Pavillion
If there’s an outdoor show in Sioux City, chances are it’ll be at this elegant riverside venue surrounded by formal gardens.
The Anderson Dance Pavilion, easily identified by its Neoclassical colonnade, gave a new purpose to the riverfront when it opened in the early 1990s, and it has a great view of the water. It’s no surprise that this is a popular location for wedding photos.
Cinco de Mayo, Summertime Mardi Gras (early July), ArtSplash (late August), and a slew of music festivals and outdoor concerts are among the events held at this scenic location.
13. Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
While visiting scenic Stone State Park, be sure to stop by this free nature center hidden in the woods off Sioux River Road.
You can learn about the natural habitats of northwestern Iowa by visiting interactive wetland, woodland, and prairie exhibits.
There are also exhibits about the region’s rich natural history, as well as tanks and terrariums with live fish and reptiles.
The state park’s winged wonders are showcased in a special bird-viewing area, and the wildflower and butterfly gardens are a delight in late spring and summer.
A network of trails leads from the center of the park into the park’s woodland and to breathtaking views of the prairie.
14. Riverside Park
Riverside Park, located on the banks of the Sioux River, is a large park with courts for various games.
There are two tennis courts, six volleyball courts, a soccer field, and other amenities at the park. It also has a pool and pads for children, as well as a children’s play area.
This lovely park also includes several picnic areas with grills. It’s almost like an amusement park where everyone can have fun.
Add a visit to Riverside Park to your list of things to do in Sioux City, Iowa, for a good time.
15. Fourth Street Historic District
Travel to the Fourth Street Historic District, a busy, comfortable, and historic district with a plethora of enjoyable activities to engage in and many wonderful flowers to see, is one of the best fun things to do in Sioux City.
Since the 1880s, the neighborhood has housed a large number of commercial buildings, one of the largest in Sioux City, making it one of the major attractions in town.
The charming district is well-known for a distinct architectural style known as the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which was popular in the 1800s.
The area boasts a concentration of about fifteen late-nineteenth-century buildings.
Iowa Streets and The Virginia buildings, dating from 1889 to 1915.
16. Trinity Heights
Trinity Heights is a large church with a peaceful atmosphere. It houses a 30-foot sculpture of Jesus’ holy heart, The Last Supper, the Carmel Mary, and numerous other stunning sculptures.
There is plenty of room to walk around and benches to sit and reflect on. The area is in a lovely setting, surrounded by many plants, birds, and even gardens.
It can assist you in re-energizing your spirit. They also have a morning mass and the chapels are open all hours.
Check out the store; they have a wide range of items that you can add to your collection or give as a gift to a family member or friend.
17. Mercy Field
Explore the beautiful, all-green Mercy field for the best outdoor experience and to watch exciting sporting events, a fantastic addition to your list of things to do in Sioux City.
Mercy Field is located in the famous Lewis & Clark Park and was officially opened in 1993, the same year as the Explorers.
Views from down the first base line, behind home plate at Lewis & Clark Park, views from the third baseline, views from the grandstand as seen from the left-field corner, and many more can be found on the field.
Enjoy the best baseball games in town at Mercy Field, which will also host the Sioux City Explorers (the independent American Association) for the 2017 season.
The field is one of Sioux City’s most famous top attractions; it has hosted a variety of popular spectators attracting sports competitions ranging from baseball to hockey to mini soccer, and it even exists to serve as a children’s playground.
18. The Chief War Eagle Monument
The Chief War Eagle Monument has evolved from a simple hill to a family retreat, a burial ground, and now a historical site.
This is the location of the very first white settlements. War Eagle represented his tribe while also collaborating with white Americans.
He is commemorated by the location of his burial. It provides a breathtaking view of the Sioux River merging with the Missouri River.
On a summer afternoon, the Chief War Eagle Monument is among the most wonderful spots to walk around in the sun.
19. Jolly Time Museum and Koated Kernel
Enjoy a wonderful day out at the lovely Jolly Time Museum and Koated Kernels.
The shop is an excellent addition to your Sioux City itinerary.
It is a place where future business owners can be inspired by the excellent history of the homegrown family business and how it continues to survive and dominate the food industry.
Beautiful exhibits include the iconic 100-year-old Jolly Time Pop Corn, Koated Kernels Popcorn Shop, and Jolly Time vintage packaging.
Visitors can participate in a variety of fun activities such as events, shows, competitions, personal artifacts from the company’s founders, and timeless celebrity endorsements.
20. Bacon Creek Park
Bacon Creek Park has a lake and a large area for activities like fishing, biking, hiking, and walking.
The park is incredibly large and densely forested. It’s a stunning landscape that will undoubtedly inspire you to show off your photography skills.
It also offers one of the best kayaking options. There is also a picnic area and a play area for children.
Bacon Creek Park is an excellent place to spend quality time with children, family members, or coworkers, and it should be on your list of things to do in Sioux City.
21. Orpheum Theatre
One of the best things to do in Sioux City is to go to the magnificent Orpheum Theatre and watch the latest blockbuster movies, live programs, and so on.
The Orpheum Theatre is owned by local businessman Arthur Sanford and was built in 1927 as part of the Orpheum Circuit, constructed by the famous Chicago firm of Rapp & Rapp.
The theatre is one of the largest in the city, with an estimated three-story large auditorium, 2,650 seats, preparatory rooms, a large number of guest rooms, and many other features.
Furthermore, the Orpheum Theatre is a lovely place to spend some time in Sioux City, with an amazing view of the stage from any chair of your choice and awe-inspiring settings and screenplay.
22. McCook Lake
McCook Lake is a lovely lake created by the Missouri River. The lake is U-shaped, making it one of the Oxbow lakes formed naturally.
The lake is large and deep, making it ideal for fishing and boating. Crappie, pike, bass, catfish, bluegill, walleye, and other fish can be found there.
The lake is in a secluded area encircled by trees, providing stunning views while fishing or boating.
People can also take a walk around the lake and connect with the natural environment.
McCook Lake is a great attraction for nature lovers and should be on your list of things to do in Sioux City, Iowa.
23. Stone State Park
Stone State Park, as the name suggests, is Iowa’s state park, and a visit here should be added to your list of activities to do in Sioux City.
The park, which is near the Sioux River and the Dorothy Peacaut Nature Center, has many interesting characteristics, including a picnic area with tables and grills.
The park is also ideal for hiking, as it has several well-connected trails as well as several camping options.
While visiting the park, you may see deer, red foxes, turkeys, butterflies, coyotes, and other wild animals.
The park is densely forested, giving the impression that you are in the middle of the forest.
Bring a camera to capture the breathtaking views that this park has to offer.
24. Southern Hills Mall
The Southern Hills Mall, which houses a significant number of local businesses, offers the best shopping experience; going to visit the mall is one of the most enjoyable stuff to do in Sioux City.
The well-equipped Southern Hills Souther is located in Sioux City’s Morningside neighborhood, which serves as a shopping destination for western Iowa, northeastern Nebraska, and southeastern South Dakota.
After a day of shopping, dine at the Iron Hill Bar & Grill and watch a movie at the AMC Theatres, which is located within the mall and has plenty of parking for car owners.
Bath & Body Works, Scheels All Sports & JCPenney, Victoria’s Secret, Buckle, and many more are among the mall’s approximately 100 favorite specialty retailers.
Southern Hills Mall has everything a person needs for daily life, including clothing stores, beauty salons, outdoor events, restaurants, and much more.
25. Crystal Cove Park
Crystal Cove Park is on the outskirts of Sioux City. It features a lake, which, despite being shallow, is home to a wide variety of fish.
The park offers fishing, boating, hiking, and biking on several trails in the area.
There is a path that circles the lake, as well as benches for resting. The lake also has a disc golf course, which is an 18-hole golf course suitable for golfers of all skill levels.
Crystal Cove Park is also home to a wide range of birds and other animals. It provides one of the most soothing places to unwind in Sioux.
26. Grandview Park
Take in a real view of the magnificent city from Grandview Park’s highest points and encounter the lovely nature of the place, a perfect and outstanding addition to your list of the best nice activities to do in Sioux City.
Grandview Park is located in the heart of the city hills, occupying approximately
Grandview Park covers 32 acres and is bounded to the south by 24th Street, to the west by McDonald Street, to the east by Douglas Street, and to the north by Stone Park Boulevard.
The park’s one-of-a-kind design is a testament to hard work, with colored paintings and street art covering it, making it one of the city’s best canvases for street art tournaments.
Since 1908, the park has been open to the public to explore and enjoy the colorful views, create creative paintings, learn professional artwork, and do many other activities.
Furthermore, Grandview Park is a great place to enjoy your vacation with family, friends, coworkers, or even a sports team and enjoy a fantastic outdoor experience.
27. Chris Larsen Park
Get out of downtown Sioux City and head to Chris Larsen Park for a picnic with your family or friends. There are several playgrounds in the park, including one for disabled children.
Christopher Larsen City Park is an open-air park with biking and walking trails that is ideal for a picnic or a stroll.
If you visit the park during the winter, there is a good chance that it will be flooded. Summertime is a better time to visit the park.
There are also three playgrounds for children in the park. A portion of the property also houses the Flight 232 Memorial, where over a hundred people died when an airplane crashed.
28. Oscar Carl Vineyard
Do you want a lovely place to unwind while in Sioux City?
Why not visit Oscar Carl Vineyard?
You wouldn’t decide to come here until you know what this amazing place has in store for visitors!
This area of Sioux City is a wonderful place for visitors to come and enjoy some delicious wine.
So, take care of yourself. Make plans to visit this wonderful location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular Sioux City 4-Star hotels?
There are many popular 4-Star hotels in Sioux City to choose from, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City is a popular 4-Star hotel.
What is the neighborhood like around Sioux City Park?
Sioux City Park is in a neighborhood of San Bartolome de Tirajana known for its bar scene and diverse dining options. If you’re looking for a convenient place to stay, look no further than the 118 hotels and other accommodations within a mile.
Which four-star hotels in Sioux City have the highest user ratings?
When visiting Sioux City for the first time, many visitors struggle to find a 4-Star hotel to stay in. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City is a popular 4-Star hotel with high ratings on Trip.com, making it a good choice for your trip.
