Exhibits

Our museum covers the story of American lumber from the Northern forests of Wisconsin and Minnesota to finished products such as houses and furniture. With multiple exhibits and collections, we tell stories of lumberjacks, raftsmen, the Clinton lumber barons, and entrepreneurs like E.H. Struve and George Curtis.

Our collections include 1900s wood finishing equipment, a variety of saws and tools used by lumberjacks, items from local sawmills, Curtis furniture, turn-of-the-century fire station equipment, and so much more!
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We also have highly interactive and engaging exhibits where you can learn with hands-on fun. Kids love to spend time in the logging camp and floating log rafts down the water table. Adults & families love the video game recreating the floating raft journey, the animatronic lumber barons, and the vintage equipment. Everyone learns when logs filled the river and lumber ruled the rails.  

Programs 

Check out our Facebook page or Events tab on this website to discover all the fun events we have throughout the year. We have a variety of programs for children and adults to enjoy. We typically do programming on weeknights between 3 pm and 5 pm or 5 pm and 7 pm.

Bring Your Tour Group!

We would love to see your group here at the Sawmill Museum! With advance notice we can give guided tours to your group as in depth as you would like. Please call us at 563-242-0343 or email [email protected] to book your group tour today!

• The museum has tour bus parking and can handle 50 adults with limited notice
• For a live sawing, we do require advanced notice.
• We have an eating space that can seat around 50 adults or can work with you to book a group meal at a local restaurant or the Curtis Mansion.
• $4 per person for groups over 15 people.
• Let us work with Visit Clinton, Iowa to book your entire tour or we are a perfect stop between Dubuque and Davenport or Chicago and Des Moines. 

Staying in Town for a While?

Clinton sits nestled along the bluffs of the Mississippi River. At a midway point between Des Moines and Chicago, we are the perfect place to stop for a day trip. Fun to visit year round, Clinton always has something to do whether is be cheering on our prospect league baseball team, watching live theatre, visiting our beautiful parks, visiting one of our many historical buildings, or taking a stroll along our levee with views of the mighty Mississippi.

Our staff is more than happy to answer your questions about Clinton and what you can do after your visit to the museum. We have lists of local restaurants and places to visit and activities to do while on your trip to Clinton.  

Head over to Visit Clinton's website to explore events, activities, and travel suggestions in Clinton.