Away from the Crowds in Iowa

Iowa is both the Hawkeye State and the Corn State. It is a Midwestern state bordering the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north.

Capella Magna is located in Waterloo. Graffiti artist Paco Rosic bought an abandoned warehouse in the city and recreated Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Then he turned the place into a restaurant.

Deborah Ice Cave State Preserve is located on the southern edge of the Barbara Barnhart Van Peenen Memorial Park, in the northern part of the city of Decorah.

It is known for the unusual deposits of ice that coat its walls and floor, usually well into summer.  Ice formation is caused as cold winter air sinks into the cave chamber, bringing the surrounding rock walls to temperatures well below freezing.

Devonian Fossil Gorge was revealed after the floods in 1993. It is near Iowa City. (pictured above) The gorge is actually a 375-million-year-old ocean floor with incredible fossils that are older than the dinosaurs. Brochures are available for a self-guided tour.

Dunning Springs is located in Decorah, Iowa. There is a 200-foot waterfall located just minutes from downtown. Visitors can walk to the waterfall. There is an amazing stone bridge and steps to climb to get a better view of the waterfalls. The park has a walking path and a scenic overlook.

The Fenelon Place Elevator, also called the Fourth Street Elevator, is a narrow-gauge funicular railway in Dubuque, Iowa. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. At the top are two observation decks with amazing views over downtown Dubuque. The US states of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin can be seen from the observation decks as well.

The High Trestle Trail is a half-mile, 130-foot-tall bridge that you can cross by walking, jogging, or biking. It is located near Madrid. The 41 steel “frames” over the bridge represent support cribs within a historic coal mine. 

After dark, the bridge comes alive as blue lights illuminate a section of the steel cribbing, which marks the location of the main river channel below.

Historic Squirrel Cage Jail was actually built with a three-story revolving 90,000-cell block.  The 90,000-pound, three-story cell block could be turned by one man with a hand crank. The jailer didn't walk to the cells; he brought them to him.  It was efficient and cost-effective—an entire jail could be controlled with just one man.

The jail was built in 1885 and was in continuous use until 1969.  It was acquired by the Council Bluffs Park Board in 1971 for preservation and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 by the United States Government. The Historical Society led an effort in 1977 to save the jail and today owns and operates the facility. 

The Masquoketa Caves are located in the Masquoketa Caves State Park. You can see enormous bluff towers throughout the park, and a six-mile trail system winds past geological formations and forests. Since the 1860s this has been a popular destination for hikes and picnics. The park also offers campgrounds for overnight stays.

Highlights of the park include the “Natural Bridge” standing 50 feet above Raccoon Creek and the 17-ton “Balanced Rock.”

Visitors can explore the “Dancehall Cave” and many others, such as Hernando’s Hideaway, Shinbone Cave, and Wye Cave. About 13 caves can be found in the park, some of which can be explored by walking, while others are better suited for serious spelunkers who are used to crawling in tight spaces.

If you have ever wondered about the life of hobos, visit the National Hobo Museum in Britt. The city is also home to the National Hobo Convention and the only Hobo Memorial in the world. Every year you can participate in the Hobo Days Festival, where a hobo king and queen are crowned.

Wildcat Den State Park is located in Muscatine County. The park features cliffs, rock formations, and several historic structures. Visitors can go hiking along the trails, and there is primitive camping.

The Pine Creek Gristmill, built in 1848

The Pine Mill Bridge

Both of these are on the National Register of Historic Places.