The word ‘Iowa’ comes from the ancient American Indian tribe that used to live here. This area was prohibitive to white settlers until around 1830.

Eventually a Black Hawk War took place and ended after two years and then lots of land selling and purchasing took place.

In 1836 when Michigan achieved statehood, Iowa became a part of Wisconsin territory and finally after two years Iowa was given a territory of its own, west of the Mississippi River.

The state’s assembly selected the new capitol in Johnson County. The old capitol, Burlington, kept serving the state’s government.

Eventually in 1857 the seat of government was moved to Des Moines.

Effigy Mounds National Monument is 1481 acres of mounds and effigies that were built from 500 BC to 1300 AD. It is open daily from 8am to 4:30pm with extended hours up to 6pm.

Enjoy a train ride at Blank Park Zoo and watch many landscapes and animals here. From May to mid-October it is open from 10am to 5pm.

A German religious group constructed this place called Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark. It is a fashionable town full of people staying together and going to fields together for work.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Landmark is fully dedicated to the 31st President of US. Him and his wife’s grave are also here. It is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

A museum displaying the artifacts of American Indians is what The Fort Museum and Frontier Village is all about. Civil War enactment is done during October Festival.

From May to mid-October, it is open daily from 9am to 6pm.

Pikes Peak State Park is the highest peak in altitude on Mississippi River. It offers all the facilities that you might need.

A restored home of Cody’s family, Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead was built originally in 1847. View a stagecoach, buffalo and the house from 9am to 5pm, from April to October.

The first black box used in aeroplanes, invented by an Iowan lies at Buffalo Bill museum/The Lone Star Steamer. It is dedicated to the native William F. Buffalo Cody and displays all the naval things used by him.

Ambrose A. Call State Park is a virgin timber cascading land and rugged hills in 138 acres. Good for camping, fishing and hiking.

All history and artifacts about gas and hot air filling in balloons are displayed at National Balloon Museum. The building here has a unique design and it opens from 9am to 4pm (Mon-Fri), from 10am to 4pm (Sat.) and from 1pm to 4pm (Sunday).

Backbone State Park is one of the first state parks made in the USA and it has narrow steep edges carved by the water of the Maquoketa River.

It also has lots of wild life and the very best multipurpose trails for hiking, cycling and rappelling.

Cabins can be rented here all year round, and sounds like a great place to get away from it all – we all need a respite from life’s toil.

Beed’s Lake State Park has a great fishing shoreline and excellent trails for jogging and hiking. Another point that attracts the visitors here is the unusual 170 foot long spillway with horizontal layers of limestone dropping suddenly 40 ft.

It was built in 1930 and provides all facilities for a perfect picnic.