51 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Iowa - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Iowa

High Trestle Trail Bridge

Half a mile long and 13 stories high, the bridge over the Des Moines River Valley lights up the wide night vista.

Villisca Axe Murder House

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

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.

Des Moines, Iowa

Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

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

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

There's nothing corny about the Duke.

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Enchanted Highway Sculptures	5 September 12, 2019	5146	September 12, 2019
Beaver Dam Pepper	3 July 3, 2019	2238	July 3, 2019
Hudson-Meng Bison Kill	4 May 19, 2019	1691	May 19, 2019
Windmill Island Gardens	2 August 7, 2019	2238	August 7, 2019
World's Largest Ball of Stamps	1 July 9, 2019	1611	July 9, 2019

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Stories About Iowa

A researcher on hands and knees surveys the rare flora and fauna on a "breathing hill" in the Upper Midwest's Driftless.

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

Nearly-lost collard green varieties are being preserved and propagated across the country.

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

This windmill was shipped in pieces from Nørre Snede, Denmark, and reassembled in 1976 by over 300 volunteers.

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 man in the Muscatine shell-soaking room, about 1915.

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

A bronze cast of the Army-owned Wankel's T. Rex, affectionately nicknamed "Big Mike," guards the Museum of the Rockies.

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

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