star trek museum iowa

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TrekFest has great food.  From our Pancake breakfast, Youth organizations selling local products, and local beers at our beverage tent, come check out our great selection of food and drinks.

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Vendor sales - find great Star Trek memorabilia and other treasures.

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Trek for the School

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Official V3 schedule is posted 06/01/24.

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Register for our 1 Mile Fun Run or 5K and the proceeds benefit the Highland Elementary Support Organization. 

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Home » Roadside Attractions Blog » Iowa Tourist Attractions & Road Trip Stops » Voyage Home History Center in Riverside Iowa (Star Trek Museum)

Voyage Home History Center in Riverside Iowa (Star Trek Museum)

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The Voyage Home History Center in Riverside, Iowa is officially a museum showcasing the town’s history…and future history. But most people would just call it a Star Trek Museum.

So…why is there a Star Trek Museum in the middle of Iowa? Riverside, Iowa, where the center is located, is known as the “ future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk ,” a Star Trek legend who helms the USS Enterprise in books, TV shows, and movies.

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The Iowa town celebrates their self-proclaimed status with a Captain Kirk statue , a plaque , a museum, and an annual TrekFest celebration among a plethora of banners and signs that mark buildings and light poles around town. One bar even has a plaque commemorating where Captain Kirk will be conceived !

Come inside the Voyage Home History Center to check out homemade props, photo ops, and memorabilia that tie this town into the famed sci-fi franchise. You’ll find everything from Starfleet uniforms to packaged toys to autographed photos to spaceship replicas to a command station to a transporter to beam you up (Scotty)! Be sure to check out the Star Trek themed bathroom.

Also be sure to stop outside to see the USS Riverside NCC-1818, an unofficial scale model of a Starfleet starship designed after the Starship Enterprise used in the annual Trek Fest Parade.

Learn more about everything you can see at the Future Birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk in Riverside, Iowa .

Photos of the Voyage Home History Center (Star Trek Museum)

Photos of the USS Riverside NCC-1818 (an unofficial replica of the USS Enterprise)

Voyage Home History Center (Star Trek Museum)

Address: 361 W First St, Riverside, IA  Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm; Sunday 12pm – 4pm Cost: Free Admission Visit the museum’s website for up to date information

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Our Location

The voyage home museum, 361 east 1st street, riverside, ia 52327.

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Open in MARCH 2024

Mon - sat noon to 4 pm., closed all nat. holidays.

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The Voyage Home Museum

361 E. 1st Street, Suite 2, Riverside , Iowa 52327 USA

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“A star trek fan's mecca”

The museum chronicles the town's history and has an entire room devoted to Star Trek where you can learn about the town's ties with the Star Trek franchise. In the town square you will find the USS Riverside NCC-1818, a scale model of a starship designed after the Starship Enterprise. It is not an exact replica of Kirk's ship, due to licensing issues, but it's hard to ignore the similarities.

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Reviewed by Megan Bannister

• Road Warrior
• 135 Reviews
• 114 Helpful

The Voyage Home Museum is home to historical items about the town of Riverside, Iowa, but more importantly, collects any and all Star Trek paraphernalia (they also have a gift shop). Be sure to pose for a photo with the U.S.S. Riverside out front!

Reviewed by Jeff Irvine

My wife and I loved this place. There are relics and fun photo ops for Star Trek fans. We especially liked the transporter with sound effects. The admission was free and the souvenirs were reasonably priced. I highly recommend you take the half hour to see for yourself.

Reviewed by Anna Hider

• 1,414 Reviews
• 639 Helpful

I won’t lie, I came here for souvenirs. The souvenirs are awesome. But there’s some fun photo ops and a weird blend of Star Trek memorabilia and local history here that makes me happy. Check out the bathroom too!

Reviewed by gustavsouza

The staff were very friendly, if not exactly experts on the series. It's exactly as campy as you would expect it to be.

Reviewed by breid7718

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, asserts in his book The Making of Star Trek that the character of James Tiberius Kirk had been born in the state of Iowa. In March 1985, when the city of Riverside was looking for a theme for its annual town festival, the Riverside City Council decided their town was going to be the birthplace. So they put up a monument, started a festival and just claimed it. It's non-canon, but several references have since been made to it.

The marker is a nice marble affair that's situated in a little park behind a hair salon. You have to hike down an alley to find it. It's almost hidden. There's also a little museum that's heavy on the cheesy/homemade vibe, but with a lot of memorabilia. Heavy on the toys and books.

They also have their town history museum in the same place and are quick to herd you in there after seeing the Trek stuff. The town was also the unwitting stars of a Spike reality TV show in 2004 where Shatner came to town under the guise of filming a scifi movie. They took the joke in good spirits and made THAT memoribilia a part of their collection as well. I don't know if this town is just the most relaxed group of people in the world or if they'll pimp anything to bring a little commerce to town. Everyone in the town seems to send you on to the next business. The museum suggested the other museum, then the restaurant, who suggested the marker, etc.

Reviewed by Nicolas Jolochin

Although I was late, I could see through the windows that they had lots of interesting things!

Reviewed by rschwartz

I'm not a Star Trek fan but still thought it would be a fun stop. I felt very welcome there and there was tons of Star Trek stuff as well as Riverside historical things. The coolest thing about this place is the bathroom for sure. It's like your in a spaceship and makes for an out of this world bathroom experience. One of the coolest bathrooms I've been in. So if you need to go, I suggest here for a different bathroom break.

Reviewed by ChristinBell

We came out of our determined route to visit this place and we were not disappointed. We arived when the museum was scheduled to be open but was closed for some reason but they left phone numbers on the window for after hours tours. We were able to call and were quickly responded too and were let in. The museum is quaint and filled with very neat exibits, though it is quite small. The gift shop had very reasonable prices for the items that are sold there. Overall we were very happy with the service and hospitality of the Voyage Home Museum.

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The Star Trek Voyage Home Museum and Future Birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk

All you science fiction fans out there, this one’s for you: a special look at the Official Future Birthplace of the one and only Captain James Tiberius Kirk of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise fame! 

Yes, as a family of Star Trek fans (admittedly, some of us more so than others), we really did visit the small town of Riverside, Iowa, just for the opportunity to gaze upon the carved granite that marks this special spot. But first, we admired the bronze life-sized statue of the Captain in Railroad Park. 

Then we headed across the street, past the trailer-mounted USS Riverside (which looks remarkably but not quite legal-liability-enough like the USS Enterprise ) in the parking lot and into the modest Star Trek Voyage Home Museum on the main drag in town. Admission is free. Decidedly low-tech and low-budget but nonetheless entertaining, this place offers for your viewing pleasure a variety of cardboard cutouts of your favorite Star Trek characters as well as a “transporter” space for unique photo opps, plus a range of Star Trek models, props and memorabilia displays. Tip: be sure to visit the bathroom while you’re here for more Star Trek decor!

Obviously, after this free experience, we felt compelled to purchase some souvenirs from the gift counter in support of this endeavor: t-shirts, magnets, a pint glass, a koozie, and so on. It’s just gotta be done! Then, we followed the helpful signs down the street which point the way to the future birthplace monument that stands just about a third of a mile away, approximately a four-minute stroll. You can’t miss it!

And we made our way there very safely. Kudos to Riverside for embracing this bit of fame and notoriety and creatively incorporating Star Trek even into their pedestrian crosswalks!  

Then, behold, there it was: down a small alley, past a salon in a cute little yellow house, the monument to the future birthplace we’d so boldly been searching for:

But that’s not all! Between the museum and the monument, you have the opportunity to stop in at Murphy’s Bar & Grill, also on First Street, to admire the plaque that commemorates the future site of James T. Kirk’s  conception . Yes, you read that right. Back during our first visit in 2009 (OK, I admit it, we’ve been here a couple of times), this plaque – which reads: Captain James T.  Kirk Conceived At This Point June 22, 2227 – was mounted on the floor underneath a pool table (hence the really bad photo).

The pool table, sadly, was removed in 2014 and now the plaque is instead mounted on a wall in the back room. If you time your visit to Murphy’s just right, you might even get to drink some delectable Romulan ale while you gaze upon the plaque. 

Of all places, why Riverside, you may ask? Gene Roddenberry’s 1968 book mentioned only that Kirk would be born in a small town in Iowa. It just so happened that Riverside, with a current population of about 1027, was fortunate to have a Trekkie as a councilman back in 1985, and he proposed that Riverside declare itself the Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk. The motion passed unanimously and in 2009, Riverside was specifically mentioned as Kirk’s birthplace in the Star Trek reboot. Hence it became part of Star Trek canon. And so here we are. 

Since some of us ( ahem ) have paid good money to meet and snap a quick pic with William Shatner (and Nichelle Nichols, and Brent Spiner, and Michael Dorn, and Marina Sirtis) in real life at a variety of ComiCons, this visit to the future birthplace of the great Captain Kirk is just icing on the Trekkie cake. Oh, and that March 22 future birth date? That’s William Shatner’s birthday (except, of course, his birth year is 1931). 

So if you ever find yourself in Iowa, take that detour into Riverside and enjoy a journey into the future. And as always…. Live long and prosper!  

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Attractions

Local parks.

Riverside is very proud of its parks, which feature playground equipment, ballparks, lakes, shelters, and more. The  Parks and Recreation  page outlines the city's four parks.

Riverside, Iowa, is the future birthplace of Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk, and each summer, the city celebrates Trek Fest, held the last weekend in June. It's an annual celebration of all things Star Trek including costume contests, a fireworks show, a large parade and more.

• Trekfest Website

Voyage Home Museum

The Voyage Home History Center has collections on both the history of Riverside, Iowa, and the city's designation as the future birthplace of Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk. The gift shop includes t-shirts and Star Trek gifts. Call (319) 648-2226 to verify hours.

• Voyage Home Museum website

Riverside Casino and Golf Resort

The Riverside Casino and Golf Resort broke ground in the fall of 2005 and opened its doors in August 2006. The property contains a luxury hotel with an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a span, an events center, restaurant, casino, sportsbook, and golf course.

3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA 52327 ( Directions ) (319) 648-1234 Website

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Star Trek museum to be unveiled at Riverside

RIVERSIDE - May Day in Riverside will see the opening of a long-sought museum for a city where history has yet to happen. The Riverside History Center celebrates Riverside's status as the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk and the whole Star Trek universe as well as its more earthly roots. As a result, there are displays about the 24-year-old Trek Fest and the more recent Invasion Iowa, the Spike TV reality

Sep. 30, 2018 7:15 pm

RIVERSIDE - May Day in Riverside will see the opening of a long-sought museum for a city where history has yet to happen.

The Riverside History Center celebrates Riverside's status as the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk and the whole Star Trek universe as well as its more earthly roots.

As a result, there are displays about the 24-year-old Trek Fest and the more recent Invasion Iowa, the Spike TV reality show that finally brought Captain Kirk (William Shatner) "home" and the real Riverside history that started with the railroad in 1872.

The museum is the result of years of efforts by the Riverside Area Community Club (RACC), support from the city, itself, and a lot of individuals. It is housed in the former convenience store on Highway 22, directly across from Railroad Park.

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A trek to Riverside, Iowa is a must for all true Star Trek fans

By chad porto | jan 8, 2021.

A canceled wedding led me to Iowa at the end of November and to make sure the trip wasn’t a waste, I beamed down to Riverside to see Star Trek history.

I took a solo (Star) trek to Riverside, IA over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to see a friend who was set to have a wedding. This was scheduled before the pandemic took shape. Obviously, the wedding was canceled, but as I already paid for the travel and lodging, I figured since I was taking the trip by myself, that to waste the large chunk of money would be ill-advised. So I started looking for touristy things to do outside, and wouldn’t you know that Iowa is home to not one, but two unique pieces of media?

The first is the actual field from the film Field of Dreams, which still stands to this day and even has a neat little souvenir shop. Even though it’s about two hours away, it was still a neat little experience, as it remains one of, if not my favorite, baseball movies of all time. It’s after all given me the line I repeat all the time, “What are you grinning at, you ghost?”

South of the Field of Dreams is the birthplace of James. T Kirk in Riverside, IA. This isn’t just a single monument like you may have seen, it’s actually a collection of several key points of interest around the small town. This was a place I just had to

explore for myself and what better time to do it than on my first trip to Iowa, at a time when no one would be around. So after doing my dutiful obligation to get myself tested, and purchasing an extra surplus of masks, just in case I lost a few, I drove nearly nine hours to Davenport, IA to begin my own personal trek.

I spent the first day at my hotel, ordering food for delivery, and settling up for the night. With little to do, I charged my camera, got directions, and did some work before nodding off, hoping to get an early enough jump on my day to hit both the Birthplace of Kirk, as well as the Field of Dreams. The total drive time would be about five-six hours depending on stops and such.

To get to Riverside, you’re going to be going through mostly rural freeways, which are actually less freeways and more just streets in the middle of nowhere with speed limits of around 60 miles an hour. After dodging and weaving through the long streets, with the occasional run-in with a small, several-block-long town, you’ll eventually hit Riverside. Most of the attractions come from the downtown part of the area. If you’re from a major city, the idea of “downtown” is a vastly different thing for you.

You’d be used to big bustling streets, with high buildings, and lots of traffic. In Riverside, the entirety of downtown is two blocks wide and less than a quarter-mile long. That’s not to say there isn’t something to do in the area, because there actually is and it’s all Star Trek themed.

The first stop for me was the Star Trek museum, which was open free to anyone, as long as you had a mask on. There was no one else in there but a kindly older lady who ran the museum. She gave me a brief history of the museum and encouraged me to look around at my leisure, while also pointing out that an adjoining second museum, about the town itself, was just next door and also free to explore.

The Star Trek museum isn’t huge, only one large room contains everything, but the things it contains are pieces of the show’s history, as well as signed autographs, celebrity photos with cast members, a makeshift captains’ chair for photo opts, numerous pieces of Star Trek memorabilia and even some real-life stuff from Star Trek donated to the museum. In less stressful and plague-filled times, it’s also home to a fanfest.

While the museum is free to enter, there are plenty of unique goodies there for purchase as well. From shirts that say “Live Fast Die Red” to numerous Starfleet and Star Trek patches, to things like collectible stamps that are out of circulation. Most of the merchandise found at this museum is also only sold at that museum, as some of the people of the town are the ones who make it. The stamps for instance came from the Riverside, IA post office, and a lot of the shirts and patches were created by one man in the town. So if you’re a collector this is a must-see stop for anyone looking to get interesting and unique pieces of Star Trek memorabilia. I myself spent more money here than in any other one location during my trip. If you’re afraid that this is all the town has to offer, you’d be

wrong. You get a complimentary guide-sheet to help you tour the area.

There are eight key locations on the sheet, including the Delta shield built entirely out of bikes and other metals, numerous banners of the original cast, and characters down the main street (Highway 22) of the city. Street signs featuring the classic Enterprise-A silhouette. Not to mention not one, but two monuments that feature a tribute to James Kirk.

The first is a statue of Kirk, which is just about the same height as the real William Shatner. Having worked many years in private security, handling meet and greets and such, I’ve stood next to Shatner, and he is by no means a tall man. The statue may not be exactly his height, but it isn’t that far off. Besides the statue, there is an actual monument, though you’ll have to take a little hike down the street (or drive) to get to it. Along the way, you’ll pass a crosswalk that has the Delta symbol inside of it, while also noticing the formerly mentioned banners that adorn the street poles. Down the way some, you’ll see Murphy’s Pub and Grille. While I stopped at all the unique attractions this town had to offer, this was one I purposely avoided. With COVID-19 still raging at the time, the fewer stops I made inside the better. The bar and grille have your typical options according to their digital menu , which claims cheesesteaks, Reubens, patty melts, and even lasagna.

I’ll just have to return to Riverside sometime in the next few years to really get a taste of the town. You’ll also notice as you walk by Murphy’s that their sign has the USS Enterprise-A on it.

Just beyond that, behind a small yellow building, is the James T. Kirk monument. It’s a moderately sized plaque, that has a bench facing it. It’s a modest experience but still one worth checking out.

All in all, if you’re taking a trip out to Riverside anytime soon to see the sights that it has to offer, best to wait until there’s a fanfest going on. Otherwise, that’s a long trip for not a lot. That said, if you planned a trip like me, that took advantage of other locations in the area as well, it’s an absolute must-add to anyone’s itinerary who’s going to see eastern Iowa. There are several casinos in the area, of course, the Field of Dreams field is only a couple of hours north, and the famed Bridges of Madison County are just a few hours west. That’s just a few more places you could hit, not to mention just 20 minutes north is the home of Iowa football with the Iowa Hawkeyes. If the season’s going on, you might try your luck getting tickets. Assuming when you go the whole Covid-19 situation has been mostly resolved.

All in all, I loved my time in Riverside. If you’re an Iowa native or are relatively close to southern-Iowa, it’s a must-see for any Trek fan. Otherwise, be sure to plan a more encompassing and expansive trip to Iowa, and make it a must-see during your travels. It really is a beautiful place for such an iconic piece of Star Trek history to reside. Be sure to travel safe, spend some money to help the local economy, and be respectful and you’ll find yourself having one heck of a trip.

Whether you’re coming or going, remember to live long and prosper.

Next. Star Trek has passed 800 stories told over films and episodes. dark

10 great sites for a 'Star Trek' pilgrimage

Forget the beach. Star Trek fans can venture to the 23rd century for vacation this year. Cities and filming sites are playing up their ties to the science fiction series with tours, displays and festivals, says Dayton Ward, author of Hidden Universe Travel Guides: Star Trek: The Klingon Empire (Insight Editions, $19.99), an intergalactic handbook. And with a new series, Star Trek: Discovery , now running on CBS All Access, interest continues to grow. He shares some real-world spots for a “Trekcation” with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Riverside, Iowa You’ve got to hand it to the folks of Riverside. Although Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry said that leading character Capt. James T. Kirk was from Iowa, he never named a city. In 1985, the Riverside city council claimed the honor, passing a resolution declaring it to be the cocky commander’s hometown. And Star Trek writers eventually confirmed it, placing scenes in a Riverside of the future. Now the city has an historic marker and museum, and hosts an annual festival. trekfest.com

Star Trek: Original Series Set Tour Ticonderoga, N.Y. No need to beam yourself up to the USS Enterprise. Trekkie extraordinaire James Cawley used original blueprints to painstakingly recreate the original 1966 television studio set in upstate New York, complete with bridge, engine room and sick bay. “It’s jaw-dropping how accurate it is, with the same doors, panels and knobs,” Ward says. startrektour.com

Titan Missile Museum Tucson Even non-Trekkies will be fascinated by this site, which preserves an actual nuclear missile silo. The National Historic Landmark is the sole remaining intercontinental complex in the country. And it also happens to appear in scenes from the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact . titanmissilemuseum.org

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park Agua Dulce, Calif. There’s a reason this tilted rock formation in Los Angeles County looks familiar. “It shows up multiple times in the original show,” Ward says, most famously when Capt. Kirk fights an armor-clad reptile named the Gorn. “You can visit every day — unless it’s closed for filming.” parks.lacounty.gov

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Vulcan, Canada This tiny Canadian prairie town didn’t take its name from the logic-prone alien species. But it profits from the connection with an Enterprise monument and Vulcon, a Trek festival scheduled for July 22-23. “It’s the Star Trek version of Woodstock or Burning Man,” Ward says. The town also plays a starring role in a song and music video by indie band The Rural Alberta Advantage. vulcantourism.com

Valley of Fire State Park Nevada This stunning sandstone park near Las Vegas attracts mountain bikers, hikers and devotees of the 1994 Star Trek: Generations film, who recognize it as the alien planet Veridian III. Ward notes that another film, Galaxy Quest , a parody of Star Trek , was also filmed here. parks.nv.gov

Broken Bow, Okla. The pilot episode of the Star Trek: Enterprise television series takes its name from this southeast Oklahoma town best known for mountain parks and bass fishing. In an example of future history, this is where an alien ship is destined to crash in 2151. “That gets us involved with the Klingon empire for the first time,” Ward says. visitmccurtaincounty.com

Roswell, N.M. Seventy years ago, a tiny New Mexico town made global headlines when the U.S. military reported the crash of a flying saucer. Decades later, the television show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine claimed responsibility, showing how several of its time-traveling characters caused the scare. The city, now home to a UFO festival, museum and research center, doesn’t discount any theories. seeroswell.com

Naval Air Station Alameda, Calif. This Bay Area military base saw some serious action in the film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . It’s where characters Uhura and Chekov raided a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to steal radioactive isotopes to fix their starship. The decommissioned post, now undergoing redevelopment, has a small history museum outlining its World War II history. alamedanavalairmuseum.org

Bozeman, Mont. Mark your calendar for 2063, because this scenic college town will play a monumental role in global history. That’s when a Vulcan ship will arrive and humans and aliens will finally meet. At least that’s how the story plays out in Star Trek: First Contact , actually filmed in California and Arizona. But Ward’s undeterred. “Fifty years from now, maybe fans will gather and see what happens. If I’m still around, I’ll head up there.” bozemanchamber.com

Few People Know The Small Town Of Riverside, Iowa Is Home To The Largest Community Star Trek Festival In The World

Raymond Goldfield

Raymond Goldfield is a life-long New Jersey resident and an avid traveler and foodie who can be usually found on the Jersey Shore during the offseason or checking out the latest seasonal flavors at The Bent Spoon in Princeton. He has been working for Only In Your State for since early 2022, where he writes for New Jersey and Iowa and edits the Mid-Atlantic region. He can also be found writing about pop culture for GeekDad. When at home, he enjoys reading comic books and is part of The Rabbitt Stew podcast team. While New Jersey is his home base, he travels regularly and has visited Virginia, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, and Canada as well as all of NJ's border states. Ultimate travel goal? Visit all the best buffets in the United States.

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Star Trek is probably the most iconic sci-fi franchise of all time, giving us all a utopian vision of a future full of exploration and cooperation between different species and planets – but did you know it has a surprising tie to Iowa? The charming, roguish Captain James T. Kirk is a human who will be born right here in Iowa, in the small town of Riverside – his future birthplace. There’s even a monument to his future birth a couple hundred from now, so it only makes sense that Riverside is home to the biggest Star Trek festival in Iowa or anywhere else! Trek Fest isn’t a simple convention. Rather, every June, it takes over much of Riverside, filling it with events dedicated to the most popular characters and settings from the Star Trek universe.

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Are you excited for Trek Fest in Riverside? Let us know all about your plans for this massive Star Trek festival in Iowa in 2023 in the comments section! You can learn more on the official Trek Fest website and Facebook page . For another unique festival in Iowa, check out the Hawkeye State’s biggest paranormal event .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Trek Fest brings fans together in Captain Kirk's future birthplace, featuring Chase Masterson and Voyage Home Museum

by Nick Weig

RIVERSIDE, Iowa — A big crowd converged on the riverside for the 38th edition of Trek Fest. The festival, held in the future birthplace of Star Trek Captain James T. Kirk, was a celebration of all things Star Trek.

Iowa’s News Now and the Road Warrior took part in today’s parade, handing out backpacks and candy to everyone along the route. Later, many took in the live music, Trek merchandise tents, and of course toured the Voyage Home Museum. The museum features an incredible collection of Star Trek movie and TV memorabilia.

The special guest of honor was Chase Masterson, who played Leeta on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. When asked what it was like to come to a small town festival instead of a big city convention, Masterson said, “This convention is so sweet. I’ve loved every minute of it. I love small town America. I love the sweetness and the genuineness of the people here. I love the parade. You guys do it up, and I’ve been wanting to come here for a long time. I’m really happy and honored to be a guest, and it’s wonderful to see the energy and all these people celebrating these stories.”

WATCH NICK'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHASE MASTERSON BELOW:

RoadsideAmerica.com Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Attraction:

Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk

Riverside, Iowa

James T. Kirk, captain of the Starship Enterprise, will be born in Riverside, Iowa, on March 22, 2228.

Steve Miller, a Riverside councilman, knew this before anyone else. Steve was a Trekkie, and he read in Gene Roddenberry's book, Making of Star Trek (1968) that Kirk would be born in a small town in Iowa. The book didn't name the town. Miller thought, "Why not Riverside?" At the next council meeting (March 25, 1985) Miller proposed that Riverside declare itself the Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk. The motion passed unanimously.

Riverside quickly altered its town slogan from "Where the best begins" to "Where the Trek begins," and changed its annual summer festival from River Fest to Trek Fest. Miller jabbed a stick into the ground behind the town barber shop (he owned the property) and declared that it was the future birth spot. An engraved monument was eventually placed on the spot for present (and future) fans. Later, a bench was added for contemplation along with a Shuttlecraft-shaped donation box for upkeep.

Miller's inspiration became official Star Trek canon in May 2009, when Riverside was identified as Kirk's hometown in the Star Trek reboot movie. The entire town was invited to a special secret preview screening of the film, a day before its official release. It wasn't screened in Riverside, but in Iowa City, which was the nearest town with a movie theater.

In June 2021 the monument was moved a block east, next to city hall, but apparently still close enough to qualify as the birth spot in a small town. And who knows? Depending how much plate tectonics shift in 200+ years, it may be the correct spot after all.

Star Trek fans, as finicky stewards of series factoids, sometimes wonder why the March 22, 2228 date on the Riverside monument differs from the March 22, 2233 date usually accepted as Kirk's birthday. The answer is that the 2233 date wasn't promoted until eight years later -- 1993 -- with the publication of the book, The Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future . Take your pick which to believe, but both agree that March 22 is the day, which also happens to be William Shatner's real birthday.

Also see: Captain Kirk Conceived Here

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The 30 specialty museums in Iowa everyone should visit at least once

Posted: June 29, 2024 | Last updated: June 29, 2024

Highest-rated specialty museums in Iowa, according to Tripadvisor

The Ashmolean Museum , founded in 1683 at the University of Oxford, stands as the first public museum in the world. The gallery was started when its founder, Elias Ashmole, in 1677 donated his private collection to the university. Much of that original collection is still on display, including a crystal ball, several kidney stones, and preserved, exotic animals.

By creating the museum, Ashmole sought to do what all museum curators have worked for since: to create a space where people could be inspired and educated by artifacts and art from the world around them. Specialty museums are particularly focused, diving deep into highly specific subject matters, from seashells to ventriloquism .

Stacker compiled a list of the highest specialty museums in Iowa on Tripadvisor . Keep reading to see what unique museums are in your own home state.

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#30. Music Man Square

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (164 reviews) - Address: 308 S Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA 50401-3913 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. The Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (33 reviews) - Address: 2600 Expedition Ct, Sioux City, IA 51111-1108 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Antique Car Museum of Iowa

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (54 reviews) - Address: 200 District Blvd, Coralville, IA 52241-2241 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (45 reviews) - Address: 4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109-1657 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. RailsWest Railroad Museum & HO Model Display

- Rating: 3.5 / 5 (39 reviews) - Address: 1512 S Main St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-6578 - Read more on Tripadvisor

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#25. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (34 reviews) - Address: 1000 N Lincoln St, Knoxville, IA 50138-1465 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (65 reviews) - Address: not available - Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Airpower Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (9 reviews) - Address: 22001 Bluegrass Rd, Ottumwa, IA 52501-8569 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Star Trek Voyage Home Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (25 reviews) - Address: 361 E 1st St, Riverside, IA 52327-9674 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Midwest Old Threshers

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (37 reviews) - Address: 405 E Thresher Rd, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641-2584 - Read more on Tripadvisor

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#20. National Farm Toy Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (90 reviews) - Address: 1110 16th Avenue Ct SE, Dyersville, IA 52040-2374 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Bix Beiderbecke Museum & Archive

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (6 reviews) - Address: 129 N Main St Red Stone Building, Corner of Main and Second Streets, Davenport, IA 52801-1808 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. National Pearl Button Museum

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (58 reviews) - Address: 117 W 2nd St, Muscatine, IA 52761-3714 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. National Motorcycle Museum

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (166 reviews) - Address: 102 Chamber Dr, Anamosa, IA 52205-2113 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. African American Museum of Iowa

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (31 reviews) - Address: 55 12th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-2202 - Read more on Tripadvisor

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#15. Sioux City Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (37 reviews) - Address: 3400 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Iowa 80 Trucking Museum

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (511 reviews) - Address: 505 Sterling Drive I-80 Exit 284, Walcott, IA 52773 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (77 reviews) - Address: 100 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1767 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (98 reviews) - Address: 503 South St, Waterloo, IA 50701-1517 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Vesterheim

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (204 reviews) - Address: 520 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101-1734 - Read more on Tripadvisor

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#10. John Wayne Birthplace & Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (448 reviews) - Address: 205 S. John Wayne Drive, Winterset, IA 50273-1904 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Sioux City Public Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (150 reviews) - Address: 607 4th St, Sioux City, IA 51101-1634 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail and Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (131 reviews) - Address: 226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (95 reviews) - Address: 243 W Broadway St, Okoboji, IA 51331-7779 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Okoboji Classic Cars

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (91 reviews) - Address: 810 Jeppeson Rd Intersection OF Hwy 86 & Jeppeson Road, Okoboji, IA 51351-1236 - Read more on Tripadvisor

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#5. John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (175 reviews) - Address: 500 Westfield Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50701 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Buffalo Bill Museum

- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (311 reviews) - Address: 199 N Front St, Le Claire, IA 52753-7713 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Union Pacific Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (294 reviews) - Address: 200 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0825 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (346 reviews) - Address: 1400 Inspiration Pl SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-5918 - Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,568 reviews) - Address: 350 E 3rd St Port of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 52001-2302 - Read more on Tripadvisor

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Star Trek Original Series Set Tour

Review Highlights

“ My wife, who is not even a Star Trek fan (I watched a few episodes with her before the trip) had the time of her life. ” in 9 reviews

“ On our way out, James Cawley was in the lobby, his hair in full Elvis mode. ” in 4 reviews

“ The owner did an excellent job making me feel like I was walking through the decks of the USS Enterprise ! ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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112 Montcalm St

Ticonderoga, NY 12883

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Officially licensed by CBS to conduct Star Trek Original Series Set Tour! A recreation to take the Star Trek Fan back to Desilu Stage 9 as it was 1966-1969. Besides the sets being recreated eaxctly as they existed, there are numerous props, a display of Moviola camera dolly, a Mitchell 35MM sound camera with lens period lights and light stands with the sets being lighted during the tours using a blend of lighting including the signature color light and shadow splashes. You are essentially on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701. …

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Overall rating

Can't believe that I haven't reviewed this place yet. Visited in 2019 for the Treksgiving event and it was a dream come true walking into a perfect replica of the Star Trek set on a tour led by none other than Captain Kirk himself. William Shatner was a kind and warm host despite an intensive travel schedule and so incredible to see an icon in-person. I also really admire the owner James for turning a dream into reality and he's also an Elvis impersonator which adds to the coolness. He was a fantastic host of the Thanksgiving event. I kept the special signed postcard on my fridge all these years and it still brings a smile to my face everyday. Hope to be back one day soon! LLAP!

A must for any Star Trek fan. A faithful reproduction of the original set made to exact specifications. The guided tour lasts about an hour. They tell you up front not to touch anything. You can take as many pictures as you want but no video. You can pretend to flick switches (don't touch them) and by varying your camera angle, it will look like you are. The last stop is the bridge, and if you followed the rules, you will get to take a picture in the Captain's chair.

See all photos from Gregory C. for Star Trek Original Series Set Tour

This is a Mecca for any hard core Star Trek fan. The sets are rebuilt meticulously to spec. Although there is a gift shop, you come here to see the sets and get a tour from either the owner, who supervises and works on all the builds, or on a special weekend with a cast member. I was lucky enough to be able to spend an hour and a half with William Shatner on the bridge with 10 other people. The surrounding town is charming and Lake George isn't too far. I would pair any trip here with a trip to Lake George or maybe Vermont, which isn't too far away. There is a great little retro diner nearby that you shouldn't miss.

My dad and I just came back from going to Trekonderoga! I bought us tickets for Father's Day/his birthday, and he loved the whole experience. Getting to see Jonathan Frakes and John de Lancie was definitely a highlight, and he was super impressed by the set tour. As someone who personally wasn't super familiar with the show, I still had a great time and thought the experience was great for newbies to the show as well. Our tour guide, Ashley, was super informative and friendly and gave plenty of time for my dad and the group to get the pictures they wanted. The attention to detail throughout was seriously impressive. My dad is already talking about how much he wants to come back when The Next Gen set is complete, so we will be back!

We were just driving through and spotted the museum. Immediately got tickets, and within ten minutes were on a guided tour of the museum. About an hour long, informative, fun, and entertaining. The lighting and sets are so realistic, it felt like we were on the Enterprise itself. Got two Tribbles at the gift shop, which our dog Tilda is delighted with. A strong two thumbs up, and Spock live long and prosper

Our tour guide. Down to the boots

An outstanding experience and a must-do for any Star Trek fan. The sets are an amazingly accurate recreation of the original sets from the 1960s. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and shared many fascinating insights into how the original series was created and filmed. I particularly enjoyed learning how props were created from everyday objects and recycled from one episode (and even one series) to another. When we walked onto the bridge, I really felt that I was not in a studio but on the starship Enterprise.

Here's an interesting fact. Did you know the original set was destroyed and that the owner inherited the blueprints, used screenshots and stills from the original series to make sure everything was correct! There's so much to learn about and see - but don't touch!! As a Trekker I was blow away by the details. One thing was how much the cast, crew and set designers had to use their imaginations. Just as the viewers did because what we thought of as technology didn't even exist!!! Mind blown!!!

See all photos from Philena A. for Star Trek Original Series Set Tour

I was there for one of the celebrity events. In this case, William Shatner was visiting. For $1,500 you could eat in the same room with him. For $500 you could sit in a folding chair on the enterprise bridge with 30 other people and have a group chat of his choosing. For $160 you can get a picture taken of him in the captain's chair while you stand in the background. Regarding the special event, there is a lot of waiting to be done. The line for the photo, the line for the bridge chat, and the worst was probably when it was time to pick up your photo from a table in the high school cafeteria. Five hundred other people are also trying to pick up their picture and there is no one in the hallway to tell them what line to be in or even where to go. So the high school cafeteria was clogged due to all those waiting for an autograph. I just needed the photo, not the autograph, so I found my way around the cafe to a different door and just grabbed the photo. Many others were stuck, unknowingly, in the hallway, in the autograph line. I tried to tell a staff member that they ought to let the hallway people know that they shouldn't all be in the autograph line, but they didn't seem to understand. So I told the crowd and saved a few couples from angry rides home. The staff is otherwise wonderful, especially Marybeth, who must put in some very, very long days. But some of the wait lines could have been better handled and logistics communicated. Aside from the special event, the set tour itself is great. The set itself is crazy detailed and faithful to the original. The people are knowledgeable and the experience was terrific. I don't think I would spend so much money on the special event again, as I didn't get to chat with Mr. Shatner or even come within 10 feet of him. But the rest of the experience was a lot of fun.

Absolutely out of this world! Everything is laid out faithfully to the blueprints from the sets on stage 9 at the old Desilu studios. The incredibly accurate sets also feature dramatic colorful lighting effects as well as authentic sounds that that are appropriate to each particular area of the ship. Truly a labor of love by it's owner/founder, James Cawley. He is also currently working on a recreation of ST Next Generation sets, so it will be even more reason to visit. Bravo to Cawley and his band of elves (or Elvis'. :-) for creating all these wonderful sets and authentic props for us to enjoy. So worth the trip up to Ticonderoga and especially in the fall, when the trees start peak color. Kirk out...

See all photos from Richard C. for Star Trek Original Series Set Tour

If you are a fan of the original Star Trek series then you owe it to yourself to make the pilgrimage to Ticonderoga and this museum. It has an excellent little collection of original Star Trek memorabilia as well as an original set. After you're done have lunch at the House of Pizza across the street.

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Travel | travel: i climbed the ‘stairway to heaven’ next to a star wars film set in ireland, the weeklong 'hiking & island hopping: cork & kerry' trek traverses stunning emerald isle landscapes.

A magnificent otherworld awaited. Fantastically flanked by oodles of adorable, clownish puffins lining my path, I’d soon climb Skellig Michael’s perilous 618-step “stairway to heaven” to explore 1,400-year-old stone beehive huts of long-departed hermit monks. Those austere, solitude-obsessed Celtic Christians must’ve spun in their nearby graves when Luke Skywalker squatted in their divine refuge and a sizable Star Wars’ film crew clambered up the sacred UNESCO site. Skellig Michael became planet Ahch-To in “Episode VII: The Force Awakens” and “Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.”

Just getting to this wind-flogged, storm-lashed outpost is extremely difficult. Each year, for only a seasonal few months, a limited number of 12-seat boats can sail the eight miles to Skellig Michael, but excursions are often canceled because of nasty gusts and choppy swells that make landings too dangerous. Call it luck of the Irish: On an unusually clear May day, after passengers received explicit instructions about how to puke overboard (thankfully not needed), skipper John O’ Shea shuttled us across on a one-hour journey, his sharp-eyed Watson and border collie Luna hilariously going dolphin bonkers almost the whole way.

When I laid foot on Skellig Michael, a safety officer scarily warned visitors that tourists have plunged to their deaths and been injured on the steep, cliffside, monk-hewn rough steps that have no handrailing; she suggested if you freak out, turn back and slide down on your rear. I very, very carefully trudged 600 feet up to the goosebump-eliciting monastery, its six conical dwellings, church, two oratories, cemetery and rainwater cisterns all spectacularly trapped in the medieval past. About 12 monks and an abbot lived in the religious sanctuary at any given period over six centuries; atop this precipice they felt closer to God. However, despite their chanting psalms, praying and singing hymns, demons lurked. Axe-wielding Vikings occasionally pillaged the settlement, once kidnapping an abbot for ransom; he died of starvation.

I got here thanks to being on an exceptional weeklong trip, “Hiking & Island Hopping: Cork & Kerry,” with adventure operator Wilderness Ireland ( wildernessireland.com ). Five years ago, I did a colorful trekking tour with sister company Wilderness Scotland, and fancied a similar one frolicking among Ireland’s four-leaf clovers. We hiked through staggeringly gorgeous Emerald Isle landscapes several hours a day but there was much more — a visit with a beloved blind goat farmer, a haunted abbey, toe-tapping pubs, a “Sleeping Giant,” and an evacuated island of storytellers, to name a few highlights.

Let me give a major shout-out to our great-humored, knowledgable Irish guide (and Elvis fan), 52-year-old Declan Faulkner. He drove us eight Americans a total of 550 miles in a mini-van on the twisting, iconic Wild Atlantic Way and enthusiastically led us into the glistening green, wildflower-sprouting, sheep-replete, wave-crashing coastal yonder. The camaraderie among fellow travelers, all initially strangers to me, was “craic” (good fun) even before we lifted pints of Guinness in Crayola-bright, Irish-speaking villages.

History ran rampant. On day one, Declan made an impromptu stop at a cemetery in Skibbereen where 9,000 local victims of the mid-1800s Irish potato famine are buried in a mass grave. All week, we’d see countless dry-stone “famine walls” that were work projects created to give the unemployed income during the hunger catastrophe that killed one million souls.

Another morning, we walked around the charming, harbor hamlet of Baltimore, a still-standing 13th-century castle witness to the horrific “Sack of Baltimore.” A sign memorialized the night In June 1631 when 230 armed North African Barbary pirates attacked the sleeping town, torching homes and snatching terrified residents from their beds. An estimated 154 men, women and children were captured, chained, and loaded onto ships to become Algerian slaves.

From Baltimore, our smooth-cruising ferry —  briefly surrounded by giant open-mouthed basking sharks —  delivered us to tiny Cape Clear, Ireland’s most southerly inhabited island (pop.110). Inside a cement shed, cheery 75-year-old Ed Harper held a blue pail and milked black-and-white goat Morag, who wanted to eat my iPhone. Ed, a former sociology teacher in England, has been blind since early childhood. He founded his Cleire Goat Farm 45 years ago and currently has 26 cud-chewers roaming 27 verdant acres. His favorite, big-bodied Captain Nibbles, appears to be the boss.

“Goats want everything that people want: food, sex and status,” Ed told me with a hearty laugh and a tug on his snowy beard.

The farm sells six flavors of goat ice cream, including lavender (“I think it tastes like soap,” Ed chuckled), along with actual goat soap, burgers and sausages. I met personable Nibbles and curious herd members perched atop a rocky outcrop in the grassy fields; a young goat gnawed the red laces of my hiking boots.

Done milking, Ed sat outside on a bench and rambunctiously sang folk tunes (“there was Brown, upside down, mopping up the whisky on the floor…”). He was pure joy. And then off we hiked into Cape Clear’s fairytale hinterlands, pausing to devour our backpack-carried sandwiches atop a breathtaking, sheer bluff teetering over the expansive Atlantic. Behind us rose a crumbling Napoleonic War-era signal tower along with a lighthouse abandoned in 1854 after it was obscured in the fog, causing a ship disaster that killed 92 passengers.

On other jaunts, we’d trek on tranquil, aptly-named Sheep’s Head peninsula, stroll the enormous, palatial Killarney National Park estate of Muckross House that Queen Victoria stayed in, and amble to the eerie, 15th-century Muckross Abbey, where a man’s ghost has supposedly been seen chewing a corpse’s flesh in the tangled graveyard. Real-life “Dracula” author Bram Stoker used to hang around the grounds too.

This entire trip was also a bird bonanza. Some 8,000 puffins each spring inundate Skellig Michael to breed and nest, and scads of them stared at us unfazed with silly orange-beaked faces. In 2015, when  “The Last Jedi” filmed on the island, there were so many puffins in the background that CGI artists had to turn them into intergalactic “porgs.” The monks would navigate the treacherous staircase every day to fish, but they also ate the eggs and meat of seabirds, including those cute puffins. Before we arrived at Skelling Michael, our boat floated around smaller, human-uninhabitable Little Skellig island, a colony of 70,000 gannets crowding every ledge.

Another hike brought us to a second “Last Jedi” location, the stunning Dunmore Head promontory on the Dingle Peninsula. This is where Luke Skywalker kept his X-Wing fighter, milked a gigantic  sea cow and drank its green milk. Across from Dunmore Head, you can see the deserted, mythical Blasket Islands; one is dubbed the “Sleeping Giant” and appears to be an immense body in repose. We had planned to trek about Great Blasket island, but bad weather scrapped our boat ride.

Instead, we visited the intriguing Blasket Centre museum, which recounts how Great Blasket had to be permanently evacuated in 1953 because violent seas often thwarted medical care and other services for the 22 remaining and mostly aging residents. At one time, up to 175 people lived in the enclave that had no store, no doctor, no priest, no running water or electricity and a Morse code radio so unreliable that islanders set bonfires to alert the mainland they were in distress. Displayed artifacts, such as girls’ smocks, pipes, a domino set, and letters told of a tight, hardscrabble community that loved to fiddle and dance the four-hand reel. Great Blasket was also home to several Irish authors, including superb storyteller Peig Sayers who wrote her stirring memoirs about surviving on the island for 40 years.

From the Centre, I hiked along the tip of Dingle Peninsula until I ran into a dilapidated stone schoolhouse affixed with a plaque stating it was the 19th-century Kirrary National School. Hollywood again. The faux school was part of a set built for the 1970 Oscar-winning romantic epic, “Ryan’s Daughter.”

For sure, I hit a pot of gold on this adventure in counties Cork and Kerry. “It’s the people, the friendliness, the scenery, the ruggedness of the coastline and the mountains — and the peacefulness of it all,” Declan said. (That peace was temporarily interrupted when Declan played Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” in the van and we all loudly crooned along.)  And even though I didn’t glimpse sought-after leprechauns, I did see a yellow road sign designating their “crossing” at the panoramic Ladies View lookout.

We spent our final two nights in the lively town of Dingle, known for quirky and music-permeating pubs. Our group toasted in legendary Dick Mack’s, an 1899-founded pub-haberdashery where a craftsman now fashions leather belts at the booze-serving bar counter. (The motto is “Step Up and Get Waisted.”) Along Main Street, inside vintage pub-hardware shop Foxy John’s, patrons can sip a smooth whisky and buy DIY items, such as tools, vehicle anti-freeze and rat bait. (I guess their slogan could be “Step Up and Get Hammered.”)

Our trip ended way too soon when Declan dropped us off at the Limerick train station. On my locomotive-powered voyage back to Dublin, I sat next to Kevin Clancy, an elderly gent from Limerick who enjoyed how awed I was by his country. “You know what’s so special about Ireland?” he asked in his thick brogue. “You don’t have to go anywhere to see the beautiful scenery. In fact, you can always reach out and touch it.”

I knowingly smiled  — and touched the shamrock in my pocket.

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