Southeast Iowa Tourism
Southeast Iowa Tourism on IowaBeautiful.com. Southeast Iowa Tourism - your Southeast Iowa Travel Guide to Vacations, Attractions and Events
Rand Park - Keokuk, Iowa
Rand Park - Keokuk, Iowa
This park overlooks the Mississippi River at one of the river’s most breathtaking points. Scenic Rand Park was formed in 1882 from former cow pastures. The park is named for George Rand, Keokuk’s mayor at the time. Rand Park is home to the Chief Keokuk Gravesite.
Phelps House Museum - Burlington, Iowa
The Phelps House Museum is located in an elegant 18th century home, featuring antique furnishings belonging to th the Phelps family. Since this structure housed the city’s first Protestant hospital, there is also a medical memories display.
Named to the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1982, Heritage Hill lines the northern sector of downtown Burlington. Convenient access to commercial and cultural activities made the Hill socially desirable during the status-conscious period of 1870-1900.
In its earlier years, Heritage Hill had a high concentration of German families, as evidenced by close proximity of three German-speaking churches. Nearly 160 structures reflect many architectural periods and styles, including Late Victorian Greek and Gothic Revivals, Italian Villa, Queen Anne and Georgian.
Open Saturday and Sunday, May through October.
Telephone 319-753-5880 or 319-753-2449
P.E.O. - Founding site for the international women’s organization
In Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Iowa Wesleyan College is the site where P.E.O., an international philanthropic organization for women was founded. This group has over 225,000 members. Two rooms have been set aside in the Old Main building on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan College where P.E.O. visitors and their guests can view the actual room where the first meeting was held and look at other early memorabilia of the organization.
Old Santa Fe Depot Historical Complex - Fort Madison, Iowa
Old Santa Fe Depot Historical Complex - Fort Madison, Iowa. Built in 1909, this mission revival style depot is the home of the North Lee County Historical Museum. The museum is on the National Historic Register.
Although the museum is prone to flooding when the Mississippi decides to bless the community with extra water, the museum personnel have become adept at saving the displays. New display cases have panels on the bottom that can be detached so water can flow underneath. Other artifacts, such as an old ticket counter, have been outfitted with wheels so they can be rolled to higher ground.
Old Fort Madison - Fort Madison, Iowa
Old Fort Madison - Fort Madison, Iowa
The Louisiana Territory opened up and Fort Madison was built. Today it is remembered with an accurate reconstruction of the first military fort on the upper Mississippi.
Discover military life on the rugged frontier of the Louisiana Territory. Learn the exciting heritage of Iowa before it was a state and of its involvement in the War of 1812.
Oakland Mills Nature Center - Mt. Pleasant, Iowa Area
The Oakland Mills Nature Center outside of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa offers classes on nature, a display of the plants, animals and bugs of the area. They also have some cabins at the park for guests, although they are pretty primative in design. If you are looking for all the comforts of home you will want to stay at the Brazelton Hotel, to stay in a hunting cabin the Oakland Mills cabins are for you!
A historic wagon bridge across the Skunk River has been converted to a pedestrian footbridge to provide visitors with a scenic overview of the area. Covered picnic areas are also located on the footbridge.
The Oakland Mills Dam was a hydroelectric plant built in the 1920’s. This plant provided electricity for the area for nearly 40 years before being abandoned. Now used as a fishing pier on the Skunk River, it is an area landmark. A viewing telescope has also been installed to view the wildlife found along the banks of the Skunk River.
The South Shore Area has a 24 site semi-modern campground (with electrical hook-ups) and 11 primitive sites, each with a view of the Skunk River. Facilities include a picnic shelter, rest rooms, a modern fish cleaning station, a trailer sanitation dump station and fishing accesses to the Skunk River.
The park area is on the river, there is camping available, a restaurant on the north side of the river which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a quaint place that seats about 40 so you will want to get there early.
The Waterworks Park is across the road to the west from the Center, there is swimming and camping available there along with the old mill from years ago.
This is a neat place to visit to get a taste of nature.
Contact: Henry County Conservation Department
2591 Nature Center Drive, Mt. Pleasant, IA.
Phone: 319/986-5067 Fax: 319/986-5469
Mosquito Park - Burlington, Iowa
Mosquito Park - Burlington, Iowa
Named for its size, Mosquito Park in Burlington, Iowa is located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River just north of downtown and boasts one of the most beautiful views in the area.
This park, which dates from the earliest days of the city, is located at the junction of North Third and Franklin Streets offering a spectacular view of the Mississippi River as it flows into the Burlington area.
Midwest Old Threshers Reunion - Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Description – The annual Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, held the five days ending Labor Day each year, provides opportunities for visitors to experience the rich agricultural heritage of the Midwest through interpretive historical exhibits, many demonstrations of machinery operation and crafts, tours, and educational programs. Held on a 180-acre site, visitors can tour on foot and by ground trains, electric trolleys, and a steam-propelled train.
Historical exhibits include operating steam and gas engines, antique tractors, antique cars and trucks, electric trolleys, a steam train, an 1894 steam carousel, a Log Village – where costumed interpreters help visitors experience as life as it was in the 1850s, horse-powered activities such as threshing and transportation of visitors, and memorabilia of early tent and repertoire theatre.
Midwest Old Threshers Heritage Museum - Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Midwest Old Threshers Heritage Museum - Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Description – The museum displays early farm machinery and equipment, including a large collection of Corliss stationary steam engines, steam traction engines and steam-powered threshing machines. Other features are interpretive exhibits dedicated to farm women, water, electricity, and antique farm implements which are displayed in and near a implement store.
Midwest Central Railroad And Midwest Electric Railway - Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Midwest Central Railroad And Midwest Electric Railway - Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Comprised of two groups of volunteers interested in the restoration and operation of the steam engine the collection of engines at Midwest Old Threshers (located in Mount Pleasant Iowa) is an excellent display of history. These two groups have preserved and operate two historic types of transportation. The Midwest Central Railroad has over 8 pieces of narrow gauge rolling stock on the grounds, some of them as old as 1891.
