OTTUMWA, IOWA
Back Roads of Iowa Tours
Sample Multi-Day Hub & Spoke Itineraries
OTTUMWA, IOWA - LOCATION IS EVERYTHING!
Ottumwa Convention & Visitors Bureau
217 East Main Street
Ottumwa, Iowa 52501
Contact: Peggy Shaw
641-682-3465
Fax 641-682-3466
Email: peggys@ottumwaiowa.com
http://www.ottumwaiowa.com
Attractions
- Air Power Museum (10 miles west
of Ottumwa)
 Visit
the 20,000 square foot Antique Airpower Museum and
library on 30 acres of land adjoining the Antique
Airfield. The museum features a growing airplane
collection including WWII models. The Library is
one of the most
comprehensive aeronautical libraries in America
and houses many rare editions.
Open Mon-Fri 9-5, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5. Closed
All 31-Sept 4 and major holidays. Admission is free/donations.
To
learn more, please visit their website.
- Wapello County Historical Museum
Reservations required.
$2.00 Adults and $.50 Children under 12
- American Gothic House, Eldon (15 miles)
 Strike
an American gothic pose and take a photograph in front
of the small white house made famous by Iowan
Grant Wood, one of America's most beloved artists.
Props available; overalls and a pitch fork for photographs
in front of this famous house on the National Register
of Historic Places.
Photographer available to take pictures and transfer
photographs to t-shirts, mugs, doilies, Christmas ornaments
and more. Free delivery to your hotel before departure
(2 days minimum stay).
Tours
 John Deere Tour – Must be
16 or older, shoes required. Tours are at 10:00 am
and 1:00 pm. FREE. Reservations required for groups.- Indian Hills Community College
- Virtual Reality Lab - Centerville
- Bio Processing Center, Eddyville
- Advanced Technology Center, Ottumwa
- Culinary Arts Department, Ottumwa
- Aviation Maintenance and Pilot Training, Ottumwa
- Turf and Greenhouse Management Program, Iowa
State University
- Self Guided Walking Tour - Brochures available
for the downtown historic district and Ottumwa
Cemetery Arboretum
Antique Shopping
- Kelly Reed Antiques, Ottumwa -
Two floors of over 200 pieces of Oak, Walnut, and
Mahogany antique furniture, glassware, toys, lamps,
and craft work.
- Sandie's Antiques Mall, Ottumwa -
Featuring collectibles, glassware, toys, and lamps.
- Phil Taylor's Antiques, Ottumwa -
Featuring Mission style antiques, by appointment
only.
ALBIA, IOWA 23 Miles
 Victorian
Historic Town Square - 92 Buildings listed on National
register of Historic Places (1869-1910).
Step-on guide available.
Tours
- Walking tour of historic square; self guided walking
brochure available
- First Iowa State Bank - restored to its original
splendor, lavishly decorated in Victorian antiques.
Reservations
required. FREE
- Robert T Bates Apartment - (Albia's benefactor
who made the restoration of the First Iowa State
Bank possible)
Tour this turn of the century apartment left exactly
as when Robert Bates lived in it. Filled with priceless
antiques and collectibles from all over the world.
Reservations required.
Attractions
- Monroe County Historical Museum
Visit the wonderful museum filled with
historic artifacts from 19th century homes, farms,
and mines. Museum includes a coal mining exhibit.
Open Saturday and Sunday 1-4 pm. Special arrangements
for tour buses.
Dining
- Skean Block Restaurant - Listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, built in 1889, the
Skean Block
offers fine dining in turn of the century atmosphere.
Seasonal outside dining in the Victorian courtyard.
Antiques/Shopping
- Benton Avenue Antiques and Gifts
BLOOMFIELD, IOWA - 20 Miles
 *Davis
County largest Amish community
Step-on guide available
Amish Tours
The tour stops at furniture and quilt shops and a
general store. (Amish farmers pictured at right,
stores below)
 
Davis
County Historical Complex
Historical complex - Mormon cabin, church, livery
stable, doctor's house, school house.
 Downtown Square
- Walking tour brochure of downtown
- Tour of courthouse (pictured at right)
- Shopping and antique malls
Dining - Lunch/Dinner
- Weaver House B&B - Home of General James
Weaver, two-time
presidential candidate (45 people)
- Rancho Centinela
- Mexican food
- Lake Wapello Restaurant - Seasonal Memorial
Day - Labor Day
Antiques/Shopping
Memory Lane Antiques - large one story antique
mall
CENTERVILLE, IOWA - 43 Miles
One of the world's largest town squares - two blocks
long around the massive limestone Appanoose County
Courthouse that dates 1903. (*Croatian settlement)
Unique Shopping
 
Unique 10,000 square foot 1909 mansion with 32 rooms.
This turn of the century mansion is filled with a wide
variety of gifts, antiques, collectibles, original
artwork, prints, and much more. Touring the mansion
is worth the trip alone. The residence was featured
in a 1921 issue of "Country Homes" magazine. Pictured
above and at right.
- The Columns - Antiques & Collectibles - A gallery
of the special and unique. Pictured below.
 
Dining - Lunch/Dinner
** Deluxe lunch plate - 1/2 sandwich, salad,
cup of soup and drink for $5.49
* Regular dinner menu
PELLA, IOWA - 46 Miles
 *Dutch Community
Attractions
- Pella Historical Village & Museum - 20 Buildings,
ethnic museum complex of Pella's pioneer and Dutch
artifacts, the Vermeer Windmill and boyhood home
of Wyatt Earp is part of the village. $7 regular/$6
for
groups of 20 or more. Open year around Monday - Friday,
9-4pm, Open Saturday, April - December, closed on
Sunday
- Scholte House - Home of Pella's founder, Dominie
Scholte. Open 1:00-4:00 April through December -
$4.00 cover
charge.
Tours
- Pella Institute Courses & Scholte Gardens
 Dining - Lunch/Dinner
- Grand Cafe - Royal Amsterdam Hotel - Lunch buffet,
11:00-1:00, Monday - Friday, 11;00 - 2:00 Saturday,
$6.95 per person, $7.50 with drink. Private banquet
room for 25 to 135 people - No rental fee with lunch.
- Straw Town Inn and Restaurant - Large dining room
upstairs, downstairs rooms are broken up - Delft
room 30 people, Van Go 18, Zelstra 18, breakfast
room 22
people, main floor, restroom and main floor dining
(not wheel chair, handicap accessible). Offers special
menu with 3 entrees. **Excluding tulip time and Knoxville
National
- Tulip Tea Room - 1915 home, open Tuesday-Saturday,
9:00-5:00, 2 lunch seatings, 11:30 and 1:00. 5 entrees,
all entrees are $7.50 choice soup or salad, and appetizers,
choice of 4 homemade deserts, 3 apiece. $1.25, $2.25
beverages. 1:00 seating if ordering off menu. Not
handicap accessible, one restroom. Dining main floor,
gift shop,
restroom on second floor.
Antiques/Shopping
- Red Ribbon Antiques Mall - The Red Ribbon Antique
Mall is located in an 1850's home which housed the
Red Ribbon Cigar Company in the early 1900s. A Dutch-style
barn has been added to provide nearly 9000 square
feet of booth-type floor space on two levels. European
and
American art and pottery, brass, copper, primitives,
furniture, quilts, and tobacco-related items as
well as pell-related collectibles and more. Mon-Fri
9:00
- 5:30, Sat 9:00-5:00, Thursday summer hours to 8:30pm.
Villages of Van Buren
The villages of Van Buren consists of Birmingham,
Bentonsport, Bonaparte, Cantril, Douds, Farmington,
Keosauqua, and Stockport - all located in Van Buren
County.
*Step-on guides available
Unique Dining on the way or on the return
Red Barn Bistro - Red Barn
Bistro (pictured above) is located in the midst of
Amish/Mennonite country. A restored barn converted
into a restaurant. All you can eat buffet with ho made
salads, breads, and locally-grown meats. Rustic atmosphere
with period antiques, Lunch or Dinner for groups. Cost:
$8.50 lunch, $15.00 dinner. Reservations needed for
groups, bus parking.
Bentonsport
 Nestled along the scenic Des Moines River is the former
riverboat village of Bentonsport. Within the village,
you will find antique and craft shops, artists in
residence, as well as an 1846 Inn, once an overnight
stop for steamboat passengers. Most shops open daily;
10:00-5:00, April 1 - October 31, Weekends only in
November and December. Fudge Shop and Coffee, no restaurant,
public restrooms
Bonaparte
 Bonaparte
National Historic District www.bonaparte-iowa.com
Downtown Bonaparte is listed on the National Register
of Historic Places and has received national accreditation
for being the smallest Main Street community in the
United States. Recently receiving recognition as one
of 12 Distinctive Destinations in the nation, a prestigious
acknowledgment given by the National Trust of Historic
Preservation.
Tours
 Bonaparte
Pottery - Bonaparte Pottery established
in 1875 and operated through 1895, is privately owned
and is under restoration. Archeological diggings continues
and several original pieces and molds have been unearthed.
No electricity or heat. Open April 1 - November 1,
1.5 hour tour, $3 per person, reservations required,
bus
parking.
Shopping
- Specialty & Gift Stores
- Antique Stores
Dining
Bonaparte Retreat Restaurant
The restaurant is a refurbished
grist mill built in 1878. The Bonaparte Mills stands
as a
reminder
of
the
thriving riverboat era of the 1800's.
Typical lunch menu: Steak, potatoes and gravy, home
made bread, dessert and beverage $7.20
Open 11-1pm everyday, evenings 5-8pm except Sunday
night. Group reservations required.
CANTRIL
www.cantril.com
The village of Cantril was
founded in 1872 and is located in the heart of an Amish & Mennonite
community.
Attractions
-
 Wickfield
Farm Sales Pavilion -
4 story round barn built in 1918, by F. F.
Silver as a sales pavilion and rooming house. Currently
being
restored. Guided tours during special months
open houses or by appointment. Free will donation. Located
2.5
miles NE of Cantril. Reservations required
for
group tours
 KEOSAUQUA
www.keosauqua.com
Keosauqua is the county seat.
Attractions
- Van Buren County Courthouse
 -
Listed on the national Register of Historic Places
is the oldest Courthouse in the United States, built
in 1846. It was where the first legal death sentencing
and hanging in Iowa occurred. Free tours, Mon - Fri,
8-4:30 pm. Self Guided Tour - Auditor's office will
take a
tour at 3pm.
- Pearson House Museum - This stone and brick home
was built by Benjamin Franklin Pearson in 1845-1847.
It served as a station on the Underground
Railroad,
the dramatic escape route of
runaway slaves from the southern states. A hide-away
under the floor is reached through a trap door which
can be observed by visitors. Open Sunday's 1-4pm
May - Sept or by special appointment. Admission
fee.
 Twombly Museum - Built in 1875 by Voltaire Twombly,
the first Iowan to receive the Congressional Medal
of Honor. In 1905
it became the home to the Post Office and remained open
until 1960. It currently houses a variety of archeological
and historical objects from Van Buren County. Open
Saturdays, 10-2pm, May - September or by appointment.
Admission fee.
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