Jordan House Weekly Guided Tours

Masks are not required to tour the Jordan House Museum.  We encourage those who wish to wear a mask during a tour to do so.  All tours will be guided by a docent. Please arrive at the Jordan House Museum at the top of the hour (11am or 1pm)

*The tour will involve taking stairs to the basement and the second floor, as well as walking and standing for at least one hour. Please call us at 515.225.1286 with any questions.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have a group of 8 or more, please call to schedule a private tour so we can cater to your group’s needs. 

Public (not school or private tours) are offered Friday and Sunday (except on some holidays)

All visitors are strongly encouraged to pre-purchase a tour ticket. There may be walk-up availability, but this is not guaranteed. 

Friday tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours before the tour begins, and Sunday tour tickets must be purchased before 5pm the Friday before.

To reserve a ticket for 11am Friday, please click here.

To reserve a Friday 1pm tour ticket, please click here.

To reserve a Sunday 11am tour ticket, please click here.

To reserve a Sunday 1pm tour ticket, please click here.

Photography Policy

Photography for personal, noncommercial use is allowed in the Jordan House and Bennett School Museums. Personal use includes personal cameras, cell phones, tablets, and other non-commercial devices.  No recording of tours is permitted.

  • Visitors will be asked to stop taking photos if they cause a disruption of the museum experience for other visitors, staff, or students. 

Guided Tours with ASL Interpretation

American Sign Language interpretation is offered for group/private tours. Please give at least 2 weeks notice that an interpreter is requested. Schedule a tour by emailing info@wdmhs.org or calling 515.225.1286.

Guided public ASL tours are now being offered. Reserve your ticket for these tours online.

Field Trips, Private & Group Tours

School field trips, private & group tours can be scheduled Monday-Thursday or on a weekend, depending on availability of tour guides.  There is a $50 minimum for a private tour. ASL interpretation is available at no extra charge for private tours as well. To schedule a tour of the Jordan House or Bennett School museums, please call 515.225.1286 or email info@wdmhs.org

Funding for school field trips may be available through several sources:

Iowa History Center at Simpson College

Bravo Greater Des Moines’ Passport to Culture

*Please note- due to unfortunate circumstances, you may be asked to provide a non-refundable deposit to reserve your private tour date and time. 

Bennett School Museum Tours

If you would like to reserve a private tour of the Bennett School Museum, please call 515.225.1286

Events and Activities

West Des Moines Historical Society provides significant learning experiences at two historic sites for hundreds of visitors and school children each year. In addition to regular tours available at The Jordan House and Bennett School, we offer other community events. Please check our website and Facebook page for dates and additional information.