47 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.

Des Moines, Iowa

Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

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

Columbus Junction, Iowa

Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge

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

Riverside, Iowa

Captain James T. Kirk Future Birthplace

A place of great reverence for Trekkies everywhere, a hero's future birthplace.

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.

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.

See All 47 Things to Do in Iowa See All 47 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Iowa

Blue Moon Ice Cream

This cosmic-colored flavor is a Midwestern mystery.

Snickers Salad

Made of candy and Cool Whip, this “salad” is a mainstay at Midwestern potlucks.

Klub

This stick-to-your-ribs Scandinavian dumpling is a favorite at Midwestern fundraisers.

Green River Soda

After thriving during Prohibition, this soda fountain staple was immortalized in a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

See all 7 things to eat in Iowa See all 7 things to eat in Iowa

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Stories
About Iowa

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