Iowa’s four national historic sites offer diverse journeys through the nation’s past, from ancient Native history at Effigy Mounds National Monument, to cross-country expeditions at the Lewis & Clark and Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trails, to the life of the nation’s 31st president at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.
While Iowa
may not be known for National Parks or Historic Sites in the same way as California
or Washington, D.C.
, the sites it does have help illustrate just how rich and vast this nation’s story really is. Super app
and car insurance
broker Jerry
has compiled this guide to help you discover what Iowa National Parks and National Historic Sites have to offer, from where to go to when you should plan your visit.RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Location: Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Hours of operation: Sunrise to sunset, year-round.
What makes the Effigy Mounds National Monument special
Located in the picturesque Upper Mississippi River Valley, these mounds were built by the Woodland people roughly 1000 years ago. The prehistoric piles of earth form the shapes of animals or other symbols, most commonly birds and bears, and there are many theories as to their purpose or meaning.
This expansive site is home to more than 200 Native American mounds.
Effigy Mounds National Monument is recognized as a Native American Sacred Site.
What to do at the Effigy Mounds National Monument
You won’t want to do much more than marvel at the mounds and ponder their meaning, but some activities can enhance your visit.
Hike the trails: This is a must if you want to experience the site in full, as some mounds are only accessible by a three- or four-mile hike.
Guided tours: During the summer months, park rangers offer interpretive tours of the mounds, inclusive of a two-mile trek.
Spear throwing demo: Watch as an ancient atlatl soars through the air in this spear-throwing demonstration, offered at varying times
during the summer. Become a Junior Ranger: Your kiddo can be sworn in as a junior ranger
and receive a sweet badge and certificate for their efforts. All it takes is completing an educational activity booklet, available at the visitor center.
When to visit the Effigy Mounds National Monument
You’ll want to avoid snow or heavy rain, which could obscure the mounds and make hiking unpleasant. May is the rainiest month, and January is the coldest, but most times of the year are fairly mild and pleasant.
Pro Tip As this is a sacred place, leave all artifacts as your find them and do not disturb the mounds or the nature that surrounds them.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Location: West Branch, Iowa
Hours of operation: Grounds are open 24 hours, year-round. Buildings and visitor center are open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm daily (closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day).
Admission price: Entrance to National Historic Site is free. Entrance to Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is $10.00 for adults, with discounts available
What makes Herbert Hoover National Historic Site special
America’s 31st president, Herbert Hoover (or Bertie, as he was known back then), was born and raised in this 14-foot by 20-foot cottage until he left Iowa at 11 years old, shortly after his parents’ death.
Herbert Hoover’s son bought back this property in 1935 and Herbert and his family turned the land back into a recreation of Hoover’s childhood life.
Herbert and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover still reside here: their graves are located on a hillside at the site.
What to do at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
There are several buildings on the property to help figuratively transport you back to Herbert Hoover’s boyhood.
Birthplace Cottage: Young Herbert grew up in this modest two-room cottage with his parents and two siblings. It’s now decorated with antique furniture reminiscent of the period.
Blacksmith shop: This is a replica blacksmith shop, similar to the one Herbert Hoover’s father, Jesse, owned and operated until his death in 1880.
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum: Opened on Herbert’s 88th birthday, this is the place
to come if you want to know all there is to know about the 1929 to 1933 presidency. Note there is an entrance fee of $10.00. Tallgrass prairie: This 81-acre reconstructed prairie shows what Iowa’s landscape looked like when Herbert was but a twinkle in his parents’ eyes. Enjoy the short hiking trails and imagine what Iowa looked like 200 years ago.
When to visit Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Visiting in the fall presents the least risk of thunderstorms, snow, or unpleasant temperatures. If you like it hot, the summer should be bearable with highs around 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The winter will bring fewer crowds, but it will also bring cold winds that could make you say “I-o-wa-nt to go home now.”
MORE: Iowa road conditions
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Location: Along Iowa’s western border
What makes Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail special
You may be a little late to discovering uncharted landscapes in what is now America, but you can still pretend by following the path of the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition route. This legendary trail runs along nearly the entire western border of Iowa.
If you walked the whole trail, you’d clock 4,900 miles and have made it through sixteen states, from Pennsylvania
to Oregon
. The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail is the longest of America’s 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails.
What to do along Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
This “trail” is more a route you can follow versus a physical path to hike, so here are some significant stops you might want to make along Iowa’s section of the trail.
Lewis & Clark State Park: Stop to swim or boat on the sandy beach at Blue Lake or even camp overnight. This stop just outside of Onawa is also home to a reproduction of Lewis and Clark’s keelboat, housed in the Visitors Center
. The Center is open from mid-April through September. Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center: If you’re hot on Lewis and Clark’s trail but still don’t know much about the expedition, this center works hard to bring the story to life. We’re talking animatronic figures! It’s free to enter
from Tuesday to Sunday and is housed in a lovely park, perfect for a picnic by the Missouri River. Lake Manawa State Park: A great spot to hike or canoe, you can rent a paddleboard or boat. If you’ve got kids, they’re sure to enjoy the huge accessible Dream Playground. While you’re in Council Bluffs, stop by the Lewis and Clark Monument and observation deck on Monument Road. Entry costs $6.00.
When to visit Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
The best time to visit the trail depends on what activities you plan for along the way. If you’d like to stop at outdoor parks and hike where you can, the fall is the most pleasant time to visit as it’s most likely to be mild, dry, and less busy than summer.
However, some sites and centers along the way only operate in the spring and summer months, so check websites before you head out.
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
Location: Spans Nauvoo, Illinois to Council Bluffs
, Iowa, continuing west across America. What makes Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail special
This 1,300-mile route traces the path taken by a large group of Mormons between Illinois
and Utah
. Crossing Iowa was the first leg of their journey, and you can try to trace the path they once traveled by wagon and foot. Mormons were forced out of some of their earliest settlements due to religious conflicts. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints planned this exodus after their jailed leader, Joseph Smith, and his brother were killed by a mob.
Between 1846 and 1868, more than 14,000 Mormons journeyed across America to join their new leader and help build a new settlement.
There are still some trail ruts visible throughout Iowa.
What to do along Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
Driving or hiking this trail provides plenty of incredible stops, from quick glimpses into the Mormon journey, to expansive parks to explore. Here is a small sampling of what to do along the way.
Mormon Trail Park: Walk the trails through this prairie, which appears much as it would have to the Mormons on their journey. You can picnic, boat, fish, and even camp
in this 170-acre park outside of Bridgewater. Garden Grove Historic Site: You can still see outlines of cabin walls visible in the grass, and there is a nearby pioneer cemetery. This area of Garden Grove was a Mormon way station that was abandoned in 1851.
Montrose: Linger Longer Park offers a lovely view across the river to Nauvoo, Illinois, the starting point of the expedition, and includes a pavilion with some Mormon Trail exhibits. The traveling Mormons initially took shelter at Riverfront Park on Chestnut Street and set up camp at nearby Sugar Creek.
Mount Pisgah Historic Site: Visit a reconstructed log cabin, pioneer cemetery, and historical markers dating back to a Mormon village circa 1846. You can even see some traces of wagon roads in this part of Thayer.
When to visit Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
This trail is part autoroute, park hike, and park off-limits due to privately owned land or development. Depending on the types of stops you want to make along the way, the summer or fall is likely to be the most pleasant time to visit as the skies will be clearest and visitor centers or museums are most likely to be open.
Pro Tip Poison Ivy is prevalent at many stops along the Mormon Pioneer Trail, so take extra precaution when hiking and wear long pants and socks.
How to prepare to visit Iowa’s national historical sites
Iowa’s national sites are low-key affairs you can visit easily or spontaneously without worrying about encountering anything too perilous. That said, before you set out on your quest for knowledge, consider these tips from car super app
Jerry
: If you’re hitting up other national hotspots on a road trip, the America the Beautiful nationwide pass
might help you save some cash and make visiting National Parks in Iowa a breeze. When you’re driving from site to site, you’ll want to know your car’s maintenance
is in top form and that you’ve topped up your gas sufficiently. Update your car insurance so you know you’re protected before you set out on any road trip.
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