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Visit Iowa’s Historic Sites This Summer
With the price of gas currently hovering around the $2 per gallon mark, why travel
beyond Iowa’s borders when there is so much to see and do right here? The
State Historical Society of Iowa owns and operates eight historic sites, all of
which will open for the season on Memorial Day weekend. It’s Iowa history…unleaded.
Be sure to visit these sites if you’re looking for a great vacation without the great vacation expense (admission is free at all our sites):
American Gothic House, Eldon: No, you can’t go inside, but it doesn’t matter because the outside is what made this house famous in the painting by Grant Wood. Strike your own pose and create your own take on this American classic.
Blood Run National Historic Landmark, Lyon County: Occupied from 900 A.D. to about 1720 by the Oneota culture and later the Prairie Sioux, this site was a major intertribal and ceremonial center. Surveys have identified burial mounds and village sites. Call 712-472-2217 for information.
Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop, Haverhill: German immigrant Matthew Edel was a skilled blacksmith and inventor who operated this shop from 1883 to 1940. The shop remains just has he left it, providing visitors an authentic glimpse into the life and times of an early 20th century Iowa artisan. Call 515-752-6664 for directions and hours.
Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin, Arnolds Park: 13-year-old Abbie Gardner was an eyewitness to one of the few violent conflicts between European-American settlers and American Indians in Iowa (what became known as the 1857 Spirit Lake Massacre). The cabin has been restored to resemble its approximate appearance at the time of the event. Call 712-332-7248 for directions and hours.
Plum Grove Historic Site, Iowa City: This is the home of Iowa’s first Territorial Governor, Robert Lucas, and his wife, Friendly Lucas. The seven-room Greek Revival house was constructed of local red brick, and its interiors reflect the 1844-1853 time period in which the Lucases inhabited the home. Call 319-351-5738 for hours and information.
Montauk Historic Site, Clermont: Another governor’s home, this time belonging to William Larrabee, Iowa’s 12th governor, and his wife, Anna. The home is an 1874 vintage brick with all its original furnishings. Call 319-423-7173 for hours and information.
Toolesboro Indian Mounds, Toolesboro: A great spot for the archaeologist (or future archaeologist) in the family is the Toolesboro Indian Mounds, located in eastern Iowa. The Hopewellian mounds at Toolesboro are among the best-preserved and most accessible remnants of an ancient culture flourishing from around 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. Call 319-523-8381 for hours and information.
Western Historic Trails Center, Council Bluffs: A must-see
on your summer adventure tour is located right along the Missouri River in Council
Bluffs. Western Historic Trails Center offers the opportunity to walk or see the
routes of the early travelers on the Oregon, Mormon and California Trails, as
well as the Lewis and Clark Trail. Year-round programming and events provide something
for everyone. Call 712-366-4900 for more information.
