The Selfie WRLD in Iowa Is an Instagram Dream

The state of Iowa may be the coolest geotagged destination on Instagram.

In 2020, Des Moines, Iowa, became the home of Selfie WRLD, an interactive "selfie museum" where guests can walk through a variety of interactive installations and snap as many photos as they'd like to share on their feeds.

"I came across one of these selfie museums and it just clicked," Ashley Wilkerson, owner of Selfie WRLD, told the Des Moines Register about finding her inspiration in places like the Museum of Ice Cream and the Color Factory.

But Wilkerson also wants to make it clear that Selfie WRLD isn't just about reaching your arm up in the air to take a few low-res photos. Instead, she says it's a far more professional environment.

"A lot of people kind of get turned off by the word 'selfie.'... It's not just selfies, all of our stations have a (lighting fixture) that holds your phone," Wilkerson told the paper. "So yes, it's a selfie, but it's honestly like getting professional, styled photos with your phone."

While the Des Moines location was originally intended to be a temporary pop-up attraction, the museum proved so popular (even in the midst of the pandemic) that it is still standing — and there are now 28 more Selfie WRLD locations across the United States and one in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Want to visit? Guests can book one-hour sessions, two-hour sessions (the most popular option), or unlimited studio time, which affords all-day access to the museum. You can book your time slot online or test your luck with a walk-in. The studio is also available to rent out for parties or team building events.

Adults can visit for $20 to $35, depending on the session; kids ages 3 and under get in for free. And if you're really looking to level up, you can bring your DSLR camera at no extra charge.