Visit Iowa Falls, Iowa - The Scenic City

When my wife and I moved to Iowa Falls, Iowa, we had our ten-month old son and ourselves. When we left nearly 23 years later, our son had graduated from college and was working in the Twin Cities. Our daughter, who was born in Iowa Falls, was ready for her senior year in high school. We have often talked about how great a place Iowa Falls was to raise our children.

The town has a population of about 5200 and is located an hour and a half northeast of Des Moines, along U. S. Highway 20. It has its own hospital as well as a clinic where out of town medical professionals make regular visits. The school system is solid. There is a community college, Ellsworth Community College. The basics are there, but there is more, and it is the "more" that makes Iowa Falls a great place to live and to visit.

To really enjoy Iowa Falls, arrive during the day, check into the Rivers Bend Bed and Breakfast (make reservations ahead of time) or one of the local motels, and spend the rest of the day getting acquainted with the town. Enjoy your night, have a good breakfast, and spend the rest of your time exploring as much of the town as you can cram into a full day. Rivers Bend, by the way, is poised high above the Iowa River and has a spectacular view of the river and the surrounding area.

Here are some of the attractions you can expect to see and explore on your visit to what local people refer to as "The Scenic City."

The Iowa River. Iowa Falls nestles along the Iowa River, a setting which becomes a site worth visiting in itself as fall turns the leaves into blazing colors. High cliffs at some points along the river add to the beauty of the setting.

The Swinging Bridge. Crossing the Iowa River is a swinging bridge (see accompanying photo). According to an Iowa Falls website, six acres of land were donated by E.S. Ellsworth in the late 1800s as a Baptist assembly ground. At one time a huge pavilion and dining hall hosted thousands of visitors. In the summer of 1902, over 200 tents were set up in the park. Chautauquas (events combining education, culture and entertainment) were held on the grounds until around 1918. In 1897, two men built the first swinging bridge to provide access to the Baptist Church located on the town square. The present bridge was built in 1909 and rebuilt several times. A painting of the bridge hangs in a local funeral home, transferred from a local fast food restaurant that was slated to be demolished. The Baptist assembly ground is now a public park (Assembly Park).

Peter Toth Indian Statue. Toth is nationally recognized for his Indian carvings using tree trunks. One is placed in Iowa Falls, just north of Washington Avenue, on the west side of the Iowa River. Stored for many years because of deterioration, the statue is now on display again.

International Art Exhibit. Pat Clark, a native of Iowa Falls, traveled widely during her career and collected art from around the world. She donated her collection to Ellsworth Community College in memory of her two brothers. There are more than 250 works in the collection. Clark's reason for donating the collection to Ellsworth was to help students see and appreciate the world and its diverse cultures. A website about the collection will give you more information.

The Scenic City Empress. The Empress is a boat that cruises the Iowa River. It has space for 44 people to enjoy a meal along with the scenery. The upper deck is open; the lower deck is enclosed.

The Round Barn. The barn, built in 1915 by the Slayton family, was used until the early 1960s. Round barns were built as symbols of wealth and were more efficient than the standard shaped barns. However, as farms became mechanized,it was impossible for tractors and other equipment to move inside. The barn was eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance. Money is being raised to restore the building.

Riverbend Rally. Riverbend Rally is the Scenic City's annual multi-day celebration of the Fourth of July holiday. For three or four days, the community celebrates with a variety of open houses, a parade, contests, food, and fireworks. See my Associated Content article about Riverbend Rally.

The Metropolitan Theater. Originally opened on December 27, 1899, the Metropolitan Theater (commonly called the Met), was known as one of the best playhouses in Iowa. Up until 1926, traveling roadshows performed at the Met, including John Phillip Sousa and his band. In its glory days, the Met had velvet covered chairs and several box seats. The Met was later converted into a movie theater, was closed for a time because of deterioration, and then remodeled into a modern two-screen theater. Except for spaces for advertising movies, the exterior remains much as it was when the Met was built. The building is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. A visitor to Iowa Falls could spend a couple of hours looking at the buildings in the Scenic City that have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are, in addition to places mentioned elsewhere in this article:

The Iowa Falls Post Office
St. Matthews-by-the-Bride Episcopal Church
The Carnegie Library-now the Iowa Falls Historical Society building
The Edgewood Historical Society
The Iowa Falls State Bank
The Masonic Temple
The Ellsworth and Jones Building
The Princess Café
The Old American Legion Building

Labor Day Car Show. This annual car show, held on the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend, attracts owners and fans from across the area. Prizes are awarded in different classes, and a burnout competition and a cruise are held on Sunday. Pictures of some of the previous shows can be found on the car show's website. The 2007 event was the group's 11th show.

Railroad Properties. The railroad used to be a vital part of the Iowa Falls economy. Restoration has been completed on an Illinois Central depot and the Mills Tower. The tower was built in 1901 to control crossings and junctions. It was used until 1992, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. An Illinois Central caboose is also part of the tower exhibit.

The Iowa Falls Historical Society Museum. The museum may be a good place to begin your exploration of Iowa Falls. It is located in the former Carnegie Ellsworth Library building, a beautiful building in itself.

I have touched only the highlights of the Scenic City. There is much more to see and do. For a compact look at some local and Iowa history, some international flavor, and some fun, visit Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Sources: Information about Iowa Falls and its attractions can be found on the following websites:

www.iafalls.com
www.iowafalls.org/
www.patclarkart.org/
www.associatedcontent.com/article/293943/doing_the_4th_of_july_right.html
www.sceniccitycarshow.com/