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.

The facility was officially opened to the public in 1951. Since then, more than one million visitors have viewed exhibits, attended demonstrations, and taken part in a wide variety of activities.