Living History Farms

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Living History Farms is a museum in Urbandale, Iowa, USA. As its name implies, the museum follows the methodology of living history in depicting the lives of people living in on farms in the years of 1700, 1850 and 1900 engaging in various agricultural activities. The museum also features a town area mimicking a small town in Iowa in the year 1875.

Dr. William G. Murray, an agricultural economist from Iowa State University, and two-time gubernatorial candidate founded the organization, and it opened to the public in 1970.

The museum is divided by Interstate 35/80 and a tractor-drawn cart transports you from the Visitor Center to the west side of the museum. After visiting the 1700 Ioway Farm, 1850 Farm, 1900 Farm and Wallace Exhibit Center, visitors return to the east side of the interstate. The 1875 town of Walnut Hill features multiple structures, including the Martin and Ellen Flynn Home and barn, both original to the site.

The particular type of interpretation employed at Living History Farms is a mix of non-role playing first person and third person, so while the people visitors interact with in the museum may be dressed in the manner of the appropriate time period, but do not attempt to "act" as if they are truly the person they are interpreting (accents, etc.). The presenters often perform the work, and thus will say, "I baked this bread," or they address audiences with phrases such as "This is how a Print Shop would look in the year 1875." However, since the presenters do not role play, you can ask questions about modern issues, and receive a direct answer.

In 1999, attendance reached 110,092 museum visitors, with an additional 29,675 attending the Farms' non-museum activities (i.e., facility rentals).

Living History Farms was the site of Pope John Paul II's ecumenical service, mass and homily to an audience of nearly 400,000 on October 4, 1979.