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All United States Iowa

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iowa

62 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Iowa

Updated December 20, 2022

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Cities

Top Cities
Des Moines
Iowa City
Dubuque
Council Bluffs
Cedar Rapids
Ames
All Cities
  1. Ames
  2. Anamosa
  3. Britt
  4. Cedar Rapids
  5. Council Bluffs
  6. Des Moines
  7. Dubuque
  8. Dyersville
  9. Iowa City
Attractions
Food & Drink
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Leaderboards
Stories

Unusual Attractions in Iowa

Madrid, Iowa

High Trestle Trail Bridge

A half-mile long and three stories high, this bridge over the Des Moines River Valley mimics a descent into a mine shaft.

Villisca, Iowa

Villisca Axe Murder House

A number of gruesome unsolved murders have turned this simple home into a morbid tourist trap.

Ames, Iowa

Elwood, the World's Tallest Concrete Gnome

Beating out all other concrete competitors, this massive garden feature's pointy hat has earned it a world record.

Columbus Junction, Iowa

Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge

A warning to the weak-kneed: This narrow bridge does its swinging eight stories high.

Clear Lake, Iowa

The Day The Music Died Memorial

A giant pair of thick black glasses mark the tragic demise of a trio of rock and roll legends.

Des Moines, Iowa

Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

This zombie-themed restaurant stands out in the heart of corn country.

West Bend, Iowa

Father Paul Dobberstein's Grotto of the Redemption

A four story, football field-sized, nine-grotto creation made of shells, minerals, and rare stones.

Riverside, Iowa

Captain James T. Kirk Future Birthplace

A place of great reverence for Trekkies everywhere, a hero's future birthplace.
See All 62 Things To Do in Iowa

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Fong's Pizza

A popular pizza place that chose not to replace the original tenant's Chinese restaurant decor.

Sac City, Iowa

World's Largest Popcorn Ball

Eight feet in diameter and more than 24 feet around.

Des Moines, Iowa

World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

The headquarters of the prestigious World Food Prize celebrates the heroes in the fight against hunger, has no cafeteria.

Cascade, Iowa

The Menster Christmas Cookie Gravestone

A mother’s sweet tradition lives on with this unique memorial.
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

4 Pop-Culture Marvels in Iowa

Iowa is the pantry of America, giving over the vast majority of its land to agriculture and producing more corn and pork than any other state. But the state has also proven fertile ground for pop culture, as well. The landscape has inspired movies, films, songs, paintings, and novels while spawning movie royalty in the form of a certain Duke. Bask in the wonderful corniness of these four pop-culture touchstones in the Hawkeye State. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

View Itinerary

Explore Iowa

Museums And Collections 7
Roadside Attractions 6
Monuments 6
History 4
Railroads 4
Architectural Oddities 4
Plants 4
Art 4
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

Iowa Leaderboard

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Places Visited

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Recent Iowa Activity

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    wants to go to Fort Madison Bridge

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    wants to go to 'Sitting Man'

Stories About Iowa

Iowa’s Ancient Apex Predator Was the ‘T. rex’ of Its Day

The monstrous menace known as Whatcheeria hints that our distant ancestors may have been more like us than we thought.
by Gemma Tarlach
December 2, 2022

The Ice Age Persists in the Upper Midwest, Where the Hills Breathe

In the Driftless, a rare combination of geological quirks has preserved ancient ecosystems. But climate change is coming.
by Gemma Tarlach
May 20, 2021

The Farmers and Gardeners Saving the South's Signature Green

These seed savers are preserving and celebrating the enormous genetic diversity of collard greens.
by Debra Freeman
March 19, 2021

Iowa's 'Denmark on the Prairie' Creates Hygge Away From Home

The tiny town has imported a 19th-century windmill and starred in two Danish TV shows.
by Stacy Brooks
February 19, 2020

A Sift Through the Remnants of Iowa's Forgotten Fashion Scene

For decades, the Mississippi River town of Muscatine was the pearl-button capital of the world.
by Harrison Cook
September 11, 2019

Why Does the U.S. Army Own So Many Fossils?

Turns out massive flood control projects are a great way to find dinosaurs.
by Sabrina Imbler
August 7, 2019

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