Iowa Off The Beaten Path

  Formations in Crystal Lake Cave
by Stephen-KarenConn
 
  • Formations in Crystal Lake Cave
      Formations in Crystal Lake Cave
    by Stephen-KarenConn
  • Monuments at Mt Pisgah
      Monuments at Mt Pisgah
    by mtncorg
  • Monument to LDS missionaries who died locally
      Monument to LDS missionaries who died...
    by mtncorg
  • Replica of pioneer dugout cabin
      Replica of pioneer dugout cabin
    by mtncorg
  • Monument to Henry A. Wallace at Lake Orient
      Monument to Henry A. Wallace at Lake...
    by mtncorg
 
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HENRY A. WALLACE MONUMENT - ORIENT

by mtncorg

If you visit Independence, then a visit to Truman’s Democratic rival, Henry A. Wallace’s hometown of Orient, Iowa, is giving equal time. Wallace - maybe one of Iowa's most famous politicians - was a scientifically-oriented liberal Democrat who became the Secretary of Agriculture under FDR in 1933 - his father had been also been a Secretary of Agriculture under Harding and Coolidge - serving until 1940 when he was elevated to the Vice Presidency over the protests of southern Democrats. FDR was forced by the same forces to drop Wallace in 1944 but made him his Secretary of Commerce. Wallace lasted until 1946 when differences over relations with the USSR with his VP successor Harry Truman got him fired. He would run against Truman as a Populist in 1948 but only gained minor support. He was very trusting of Stalin and had some of the people he mentioned that he would have elevated to high...

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ICARIANS REMEMBERED - CORNING

by mtncorg

French communalists relocated here after the closing of their community in Nauvoo, Illinois. They had a 46 year run as a commune here a few miles to the east of Corning, Iowa in the latter half of the 19th century. Nothing but a State historical roadside sign remains of their community, though plans are afoot to restore the community and a few artifacts are exhibited in the Adams County House of History in Corning - Corning is also the boyhood home of TV entertainer Johnny Carson and his home is also a museum that is open in the summer.

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MT PISGAH STATE PARK

by mtncorg

Established in May 1846 as a large semi-permanent camp of between 700 to 2000 people to serve as a second way station for Latter Day Saints migrants who were making their way across Iowa en route from Nauvoo, Illinois to what would eventually be their new home in Utah. It only took four days after it was decided to establish the camp for the pioneers to get over 1000 acres of land started on the way into agricultural production to supply the needed food to pioneering Mormon families. The camp was abandoned in 1852 after the main initial Mormon migrations were at an end. Today, you can reach the park via a series of dirt roads of US route 169 a few mile north of its junction with US route 34. The park consists of a couple of picnic tables and a rest room located high above fields along the upper reaches of the Grand River. A monument dating back to 1888 commemorates those 800 people who...

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LAMONI - THE REORGANIZATION COALESCES

by mtncorg

If you go to Utah or States neighboring around, you will find many communities where the majority of the population is Mormon of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) version. Lamoni is one of the few communities where the Reorganized Latter-Day Saints (RLDS)/Community of Christ is in preponderance. The idea of ‘gathering’ or coming together from their disparate communities was always strong within the different branches of the Mormon diaspora - there were very strong strains of millenarianism throughout 19th century Mormonism and the RLDS community was affected by these ideas as well. In the 1870’s, several RLDS church businessmen formed a joint stock company naming it the Order of Enoch in honor of earlier Mormon attempts at communal living in Kirtland, Ohio. They purchased over 3200 acres in the area and encouraged the ‘Reorganized Saints’ to migrate here. The town was platted in 1879 with the...

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When you get bored of Iowa....

by Jawnuta

If you have a car you can drive via scenic route to CHicago. It is a nice drive and you will be passing many qute towns on your way. Great history lesson too.Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities in US.

Kaleidoscopes, tye-dye and Byron’s bar

by ljtheraingirl

If you think Pomeroy, Iowa is a quiet town in the middle of the prairie with an activity level of- blink an eye and you will miss the town- THINK AGAIN!As a reporter and writer for an Iowa newspaper, my editor assigned me to write about the progress of Pomeroy, Iowa in 2007. My expectations were fairly low, and I was dragging my feet as my Mazda tires approached the edge of town. As a practitioner of Buddhism, I have realized that when my expectations are at their lowest, miraculous things tend to occur. I wasn’t entering a small town in Iowa; I was entering a colony of tye-dye imagination and art galore.

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Amana

by Toughluck

Six towns that have retained their rual charm and a proud history. Amana is located north of I-80 and offers a look into 19th Century America. The town of Amana is only a few blocks long, but you'll find museums, great restaurants and wonderful shops of American products.

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Silos & Smokestakes Nat'l Heritage Area

by Toughluck

The entire northeast corner of Iowa is the a unique area of agriculture in the U.S. I've been through it hundreds, okay a couple dozen, times. In January, it can be bleak and dark. In August it'll roast your socks off. In spring, it's blustery and damp. Come autumn and it's sunny and cool. Each season, each road, offers a new experience. Here, as a Heritage Area, you can find unique places to stop and visit.No other region in the United States shares our rich agricultural legacy. From dairy farms and museums to vineyards and tractor assembly tours, there are practically endless agricultural adventures awaiting individual travelers as well as families.'VT's guide to the Heritage Area:WaterlooCedar RapidsDubuqueAmanaAmesCedar FallsDavenportDettendorfDecorah

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Pine Creek Grist Mill

by deecat

Click to see the school house and the bridgeOn the way to Muscatine, we went to Wilcat Den State Park to see The Pine Creek Grist Mill and the Melpine SchoolhouseAfter an "interesting" ride on back roads, we finally arrived. It was toward the end of the school year; thus, lots of classes of grade school children were on field trips here. We "tagged" along and listed to the tour guides.Note: I will have much more about this whole complex on my up-coming Muscatine pages.The mill was built on Pine Creek by Benjamin Nye in 1848 [it was the third mill he had built on this location because he kept outgrowing them]. They have some of the original machinery from the 1848 mill as well as newer machinery from 1927 that was added to increase production. 1927 was also the year that the State of Iowa purchased the mill from the Missel family. At that time, it became part of Wilcat Den State Park.In...

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St. Donatus Catholic Church and Cemetery

by deecat

St. Donatus Catholic Church began in 1848 in a log church, and the second church was completed in 1851, but the current church was built in 1858. Its interior burned in 1907, but the exterior was not. Thus, restoration was done. This church is much as it was over 125 years ago. The Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation is also known as "Our Lady of Luxembourg who is patroness of Luxembourg. In the church, you will find her statue. There is also a St. Donatus Rectory with 14 room. It was first built in 1857 and once used as a church, a rectory, and a school room.Behind the church is a cemetery with beautiful and unusual tombstones. It's such a beautiful location for a cemetery. Jill and I roamed around looking at all the tombstones and checking the names and the dates.

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Unique Places in Iowa

Top 3 Hotels in Iowa

Fairfield Inn & Suites Des Moines Airport  Des Moines

 1 Review and 36 Opinions  I have been to Des Moines several times for business over the past few years. The distance from... 

 Hotels in Des Moines

Marriott Cedar Rapids  Cedar Rapids

 1 Review and 49 Opinions  A wonderful marriott with great service in a nice location north of town. The pool and work out room... 

 Hotels in Cedar Rapids

Sheraton Iowa City Hotel  Iowa City

 2 Reviews and 107 Opinions  my family stayed during Jazz festival..we were tickled to be staying at a Sheraton for the first... 

 Hotels in Iowa City

765 Hotels in Iowa
 
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Reviews and photos of Iowa attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Iowa sightseeing.

Experience Iowa
Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Iowa
  1. Des Moines Off The Beaten Path
  2. Cedar Rapids Off The Beaten Path
  3. Dubuque Off The Beaten Path
  4. Iowa City Off The Beaten Path
  5. Sioux City Off The Beaten Path
  6. Waterloo Off The Beaten Path
  7. Muscatine Off The Beaten Path
  8. Pella Off The Beaten Path
  9. Council Bluffs Off The Beaten Path
  10. Ames Off The Beaten Path
  11. Burlington Off The Beaten Path
  12. Clear Lake Off The Beaten Path
  13. Bellevue Off The Beaten Path
  14. Lamoni Off The Beaten Path
  15. Dyersville Off The Beaten Path
  16. Malvern Off The Beaten Path
  17. West Bend Off The Beaten Path
  18. Boone Off The Beaten Path
  19. Linn Grove Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Iowa

 

Questions and Answers

oreo82 profile photo

Q:  Hi I am thinking of visiting a friend who resides in Iowa and to visit the surrounding cities. What would be a suggested... 

bocmaxima profile photo

A: You should figure out which cities you'd like to visit first. Iowa is actually pretty well-located as far as surrounding cities, so you have some choices. My list would... 

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