Sanford Museum and Planetarium

Located in Cherokee, Iowa, the Sanford Museum and Planetarium has exhibits and activities on a variety of subjects including: Archaeology, Art, Astronomy, Geology, History, Natural History, and Paleontology. 

The museum was made possible through a trust fund established by the late Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Sanford of Cherokee, in memory of their only son, Tiel.

It was their intention to create a charitable trust for historical, cultural and educational purposes that was to be free and open to the public.

Historic Collections are focused on the lives and culture of people in Northwestern Iowa. They include artifacts such as clothing, furniture, glassware, children’s toys, farm equipment, and much more.

Prehistoric Collections, that is archaeological collections are focused on the lives of people who settled in Northwestern Iowa prior to European contact. The collections represent cultures from the Paleo-Indian Period, through the Archaic and Woodland, and up to the Late Prehistoric Mill Creek, Oneota, Glenwood, and Great Oasis.