Northwest Iowa Tourism
Northwest Iowa Tourism on IowaBeautiful.com. Northwest Iowa Tourism - your Iowa Travel Guide to Vacations, Attractions and Events
French Museum - Peterson, Iowa
French Museum - Peterson, IowaFrench Museum - Peterson, Iowa contains the life-long collections of 95 year old Doris French. There are over 200 dolls which she has dressed in the times they were made.
This is a beautifully kept museum that contains something of interest for all people. There are rare antique furniture including wicker baby buggies and dual-purpose high chairs, toys, one of a kind dishes, tankards, tea sets, cruets, demonstration stoves, lamps, quilts, and much more.
Phone: City Hall in Peterson for information - (712) 295-6401
Peterson, Iowa 51047
Trinity Heights - Sioux City, Iowa
Trinity Heights - Sioux City, Iowa
If you are interested in an artistic interpretation of Christian history you really must pay a visit to Trinity Heights in Sioux City, Iowa. There are 30 spectacular artworks which are complimented by a true-to-life carving of the Last Supper and statues of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and of the Immaculate Heart of Jesus, 30 feet and 33 feet tall respectively.
House Of Dolls - Emmetsburg, Iowa
House Of Dolls - Emmetsburg, Iowa
In a building near the Iowa Welcome Center, in Emmertsburg, Iowa, visitors can look at a collection of over 10,000 dolls dating from 1865 to the present. This is a private collection that has been featured in national magazines and on television. In the same building is a shop that sells handmade porcelain dolls and a “dolly hospital.”
Parker House Museum - Spencer, Iowa
Parker House Museum - Spencer, Iowa
The Parker Historical Society of Clay County has collected and preserved memorabilia of the county. Its museum is located in a 1916 arts and craft period, mission-style home located in the downtown area not far from the Little Sioux River. Visitors will find here and in the adjacent Duroc Building vintage clothing, numerous antiques, and agricultural tools.
Fort Defiance State Park - Esterville, Iowa
Fort Defiance State Park - Esterville, Iowa 191 acres of state forest for camping, picnicing and enjoyment.
A lodge constructed in the style of an old army outpost is an excellent place for group gatherings such as reunions and wedding receptions. An open air shelter is available for first come first serve.
Fort Defiance State Park has 16 campsites. The camping area is non-modern. No flush toilets or showers are present. However, electrical hookups are available at eight sites. All camping permits are obtained through self-registration at the campground.
Several trails take you around the park and through the hills and woodlands that make up Fort Defiance. Equestrian use is allowed on three of the trails. During winter months the park is a popular place for snowmobiling and cross country skiing.
Fort Defiance State Park’s 191 acres of rugged woodland provide a beautiful contrast to the gently rolling surrounding farmlands. The park’s trails, picnic areas and scenic overlooks provide a great place to relax. Its lush cover of vegetation includes hawthorn, plum, locust and many species of the state tree - the oak. In the spring, the slopes are speckled with trillium, bloodroot, hepatica and violets. A small prairie with native grasses and flowers, including the endangered prairie bush clover, thrives on a secluded knoll.
Estherville is one mile northeast on Highway 9. The Iowa Great Lakes Region is 12 miles west.
Hours: Park Hours 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Contact Information
c/o Gull Point State Park
1500 Harpen Street
Milford, IA 51351
ph. 712/337-3211
Jim’s History Barn - Peterson, Iowa
Jim’s History Barn - Peterson, Iowa Visit this vintage barn with an enormous collection of memorabilia from our country’s wars and local artifacts.
You will have the opportunity to see everything from vintage tools, toys, and clothing to Indian artifacts and even a human skeleton!
Little House on the Prairie - Emmetsburg, Iowa
Little House on the Prairie - Emmetsburg, Iowa
Everyone remembers the life depicted on the television show "Little House on the Prairie." The joys and the trials encountered by the Ingalls family and their friends. This replica, built by hand by Mr. Argabright, can bring back those feelings of joy and simplicity and occasional hardship that all became involved in while watching the television show.
Visit this exact replica of the Little House on the Prairie as seen in the TV series.
Horseshoe Bend Park - Milford, Iowa
Horseshoe Bend Park - Milford, Iowa
This 180-acre recreational area and park is open all year round. It is bisected by the Little Sioux River and contains lowland and upland forests, meadows, and marshes. Scattered around are three shelter houses usable in spring, summer, and fall. offers an extensive trail system winding through river valley and upland forests, meadows, marshes, and oxbow ponds.
J. A. Kirchner House - Peterson, Iowa
J. A. Kirchner House - Peterson, Iowa
This Italiante-style, two-story home was built in 1875 in Peterson, Iowa. Visitors will notice as they tour the house walnut woodwork, a winding stairway, and beautifully restored cupboards in the pantry. The home has been furnished with period furniture. Also displayed are some of the tools used when the house was constructed.
The Orange City Century Home - Orange City, Iowa
The Orange City Century Home - Orange City, Iowa
This beautiful Victorian home was built by the first mayor of Orange City in 1900. The furnishings are from that period, and include a homemade pump organ. On the grounds around the home are trees and plants that have been growing there since the house was constructed.
