This massive railroad spike celebrates the 1939 premiere of the movie “Union Pacific.”

An obelisk commemorating Lincoln's role in connecting the coasts.

Elaborate hand-carved wooden clocks two brothers made in their spare time are on display at this handsome little museum.

Remnants of a quarry company town still stand on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River.

The highest point in Iowa, while not that impressive to mountain states, has earned its own monuments.

An unlikely Transcendental Meditation haven in the American Heartland built around the ancient Vedic principles of balance and harmony.

No one knows the origin of this small town’s unique name.

An Iowa town celebrates its heritage with the tallest working Dutch windmill in North America.

The oldest university museum west of the Mississippi retains its 19th century feel.

Two hula hoops appeared on the tree after a storm, and the collection kept growing.

This long unused shot tower on the Mississippi remains a point of pride for a small city in Iowa.

This simple home was the beginning of a long journey for the iconic Western film star.

The “American Gothic" artist's largest works hang in an Iowa State University library.

Eight feet in diameter and more than 24 feet around.

The notorious couple camped at this site after a bloody shootout with police.

The Iowa state contender for largest pan in the world oddly only comes in second or so.

This remote island in Iowa was abandoned after being devastated by flood.

A small burial plot formerly stranded in the middle of a road.

The remains of a bustling turn-of-the-century park built to showcase the wonders of electricity.

While there are no actual snakes in the history of this crooked road, there may be a number of dead horses.

An eclectic assortment of medieval architecture in a small Iowa town.

A hidden barn-sized rendition of Grant Wood's most famous, and most parodied, painting.

A pop-culture attraction outside of Dyersville, Iowa, hits a home run.

The world’s largest truck stop includes a barber shop, chiropractor, and a huge museum with antique trucks.