8 Towns in Iowa With Rich History

The State of Iowa enjoys a vibrant tapestry of heritage and culture throughout the region, preserved by founding members of immigrant communities, which result in museum collections that show the pride and history of the early pioneers who settled in the area. It is also home to celebrated citizens whose contribution to their hometowns is commemorated within museum exhibits carefully curated to reflect a sense of community pride. Amidst a landscape that offers stunning variety and natural beauty, these eight Iowa towns are rich in history.

Bellevue

Bellevue, Iowa, is the place to visit for natural history enthusiasts. Home to The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, The Museum's primary focus highlights rivers and bodies of water in the region and how they have influenced wildlife as well as human innovation throughout the years. Hoping to inspire a sense of stewardship towards the country's water systems, the museum provides exhibits that showcase a collection of geological specimens and objects from the region's First Peoples to current times. Visitors can enjoy live exhibits as well, highlighting the natural habitats of the animals native to the region, including aviaries, marshlands, and bayou exhibits with live animals. 

The Bellevue State Park is also a desirable attraction for natural history lovers to visit while in Bellevue. Established in 1928, the Park features a variety of natural wonders that reveal evidence of subtropical seas and Pleistocene era glacial flow, as well as a variety of unique rock formations. 

Pella

Situated between the Des Moines and Skunk Rivers, Pella, Iowa, is a small town with a rich history that reflects its rigorous ties to the Netherlands. Founded by Dutch immigrants, Pella features attractions that showcase the workmanship and culture of its people. The Pella Historical Village features a general store, a log cabin, and a Vermeer Windmill, the largest of its kind in North America. The East Amsterdam School Museum is also located in the village, featuring a variety of artifacts that tell the story of the school’s history within a 150-year-old building. For history lovers who enjoy seeing old-world craftsmanship, a visit to the Scholte House Museum and Gardens is a must. Built in the mid-1800s, the house features all original woodwork and furnishings, highlighting the skills of the founding fathers. The house originally consisted of only several rooms, but it grew over time to meet the changing needs of the family. It now has 30 rooms and six staircases. Pella also features the Klokkenspel, featuring figurines in Dutch attire who perform to 147 musical bells, which are operated by computer.

Winterset

Winterset, Iowa, is home to Madison County’s Covered Bridge scenic byway, made famous by Clint Eastwood’s film Bridges of Madison County. The byway is 82 miles long and features all the covered bridges within Madison County, reflecting the historical charm of the region amidst a backdrop of rural countryside. Winterset celebrates several historical figures and features a town square that is listed as a National Historic District. The town’s Limestone Courthouse is the jewel in its architectural crown, and it features artwork that celebrates George Leslie Strut, a resident of Winterset who became known for his efforts in saving and preserving important artworks from Nazi confiscation during WWII. Winterset is also the birthplace of the iconic American actor John Wayne and home to the only museum in the world explicitly dedicated to preserving the history of his career.

Algona

Algona, Iowa, is an excellent choice for WWII history lovers to visit. It offers a glimpse into the more challenging aspects of the circumstances surrounding WWII as it is the location of the former base camp for prisoners of war, where German prisoners were held captive. At its peak, the camp housed 10,000 German prisoners from the years 1944 to 1946; it is now the location of the Camp Algona Prisoner of War Museum. The Museum consists of a collection of artifacts collected from POW family members and personnel, presented to visitors for the purpose of preserving the stories and history of Camp Algona as well as WWII veterans. There are a variety of exhibits on display at the Algona Camp Museum, such as the POW in America: The Camp Algona Experience as well as the Cultural Expression Behind Barbed Wire exhibit, plus several more.

Highlighting the region’s history in agriculture and motorsports, the Kossuth County Agriculture and Motorsports Museum, located in the town of Algona, features exhibits of tractors, racing cars, life-size trains, as well as many other motorized vehicles. It also features a Hall of Fame honoring Kossuth County racers who excelled at their sport.

Johnston

Known for being the location of Camp Dodge, the headquarters for the United States National Guard, Johnston, Iowa, is also home to the Iowa Goldstar Military Museum. The Museum’s mandate is to preserve and highlight the stories and lives of war veterans and military heroes from 1846 to current times. Bringing stories of significant battles to life, as well as presenting a variety of military artifacts and military vehicles, the Goldstar Military Museum is a treasure trove of information regarding the country’s extensive United States military history.

Johnston also provides a glimpse into the farming life of its former residents at the Elijah Angell House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and reflects the original construction of its early settlers. The House features a museum on the upper floor where early New England era furnishings are on display. The property also features a Museum Barn, which is a post-and-beam replica of the original barn that once stood on the property. The first floor of the barn features historical artifacts significant to the region.

Villisca

At times, small towns that are bestowed with the reputation of having a rich history experience challenging situations. Villisca, Iowa, is one of those towns. Best known for the tragic story of an unsolved murder case, the town has become world-famous for a heinous crime involving an axe murderer and the untimely death of many unsuspecting victims at the Villisca Axe Murder House, but there is much more to Villisca than tragedy.

Villisca began as an agricultural center in the 1800s, which caused it to thrive as it was also a location where a passenger freight train stopped daily, and it became the social and religious hub of the State as a result. Villisca is the location of Iowa’s longest publicly funded armory, as well as Company I, which saw conflicts in the Vietnam War, the Korean War, WWI, and WWII. Villisca also represents the former territory of nomadic Native Americans due to its proximity to the converging Middle and West Nodaways Rivers, which flow at the South end of town.

Decorah

Steeped in its rich history of Norwegian heritage, Decorah, Iowa, is a hotspot for all things Norwegian. In the preservation of the history of this region, Decorah’s Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum offers the world’s most extensive collection of Norwegian-American artifacts, reflecting their lasting influence and cultural background. The museum also features a Folk Art school, a variety of art programs, and 12 historic buildings. The museum aims to highlight the Norwegian-American immigrants' background and experience upon arriving in America, and it showcases over 33,000 artifacts dating to 1877. In addition, the museum publishes Vesterheim Magazine and features some of the best contemporary examples of Norwegian Folk Art in the world as well.

Decorah is also where the Seed Savers Exchange and Heritage Farm are located. Here, you will find display gardens, hiking trails, and historic apple orchards. The farm features 890 acres of farmlands, rocky bluffs, rolling hills, and unspoiled lakes; it enjoys a harvest of over 1,000 seed varieties every year. The Historic Apple Orchard consists of hundreds of varieties of apple trees as well, preserving the agricultural history of the region through an environment that provides natural produce.  

Shenandoah

Shenandoah, Iowa, is the childhood home to the famous Everly Brothers, who became an instant hit with their song “Bye Bye, Love,” and it is the only place in the world where their history has been preserved from their early years. Next door to this location is the Shenandoah Historical Society Museum, which features even more exhibits about the history of the Everly Brothers as well as Shenandoah’s history of radio.

The Iowa Walk of Fame is also located in Shenandoah, featuring 142 tiled plaques amidst the town’s avenues, streets, and side streets, celebrating residents who have had a positive influence on the community in one way or another, making Shenandoah the only locale on the list to make a habit of celebrating its everyday citizens. In addition, The Veterans Memorial Museum calls Shenandoah home, offering a thorough view into the histories of the Civil and Vietnam wars as well as both World Wars, a must-see for military history enthusiasts.

Iowa's Historical Tapestry

Heritage, a pioneering spirit, and close-knit immigrant communities comprise much of Iowa. Each small town on this list welcomes visitors to embrace their unique cultures by learning about their origins and ways of life. Whether it’s the early history surrounding the POW Camp in Algona, the rich Dutch heritage of Pella, the Norwegian heritage of Decorah, or a celebration of Covered Bridges in Winterset, these small towns in Iowa offer a view into the past through mindful preservation of their unique history.