Step into the world of natural wonders and discover Iowa’s rich history with a journey to its national parks and historic sites. From mysterious mounds to presidential secrets, there are many things to uncover!

Join us and dive into the excitement of Effigy Mounds National Monument, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, and more. So, get ready for the adventure and discover the magic of Iowa’s natural beauty and history together.

Most Popular National Monuments & Historic Sites in Iowa

1. Effigy Mounds National Monument

The Effigy Mounds National Monument is an ideal tourist spot for history buffs. Native Americans built prehistoric mounds about 1000 years ago. But we must first understand what mounds are. Mounds were considered ceremonial or sacred sites made from earth, sand, or gravel.

The effigy mounds are as big as a house. Usually, they are shaped in the form of animals like bears, birds, turtles, or even the water spirit. In total, there are more than 200 such mounds. One mound group has 10 bears, which archeologists call the ‘Marching Bears.’

Interestingly, most effigy mounds are so big that tourists must hike on them. Apart from the effigy mounds, travelers can also explore the hiking trails, a 14-mile stretch of wooded areas. During winter, we can also see nesting bald eagles.

If you don’t like the cold weather, you can visit the Effigy Mounds National Monument in autumn. You can get an amazing view of an idyllic rural paradise at that time.

2. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of America. His tenure was between 1929 and 1933. He was one of the earliest supporters of the National Park Service. In fact, during his presidency, the lands assigned for national parks and monuments increased by forty percent.

Also, President Hoover expanded the scope and size of the National Park Service by 70%. A key reason why President Herbert Hoover wanted more national parks could be due to his upbringing during the first eleven years of his life in the outdoors of Iowa.

During these years, he spent time on activities like Fishing, Swimming, and Horseback Riding. Although Herbert Hoover’s National Historic Site was founded in 1916, it became famous after Herbert Hoover became President. When visiting Herbert Hoover’s national historic site, be sure to visit Herbert Hoover’s presidential library.

The Presidential Library shows Herbert Hoover’s life through many exhibits. The library even talks about the First Lady, Lou Henry. The national park also houses a blacksmith shop, which the father of President Hoover owned.

Inside the blacksmith shop, you can find an anvil, a working forge, and a rack filled with several other tools that blacksmiths commonly use. The visitor center is a good recommendation by many tourists. It is like a self-guided tour.

It plays a short film (12 minutes) about the life of America’s 31st president, Herbert Hoover. Apart from the historic buildings, the park also features a tallgrass prairie.

3. Lewis And Clark National Historic Trail

The Lewis and Clark expedition follows the adventures of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. These two travelers wanted to find a practical route along the western region of North America.

It took two years and 16 different states to complete the expedition. During the expedition, they also managed to obtain information on the flora and fauna of the regions.

Once they crossed Louisiana, they made it to the Pacific Ocean. While the Lewis and Clark National Trial is not a hiking trail, it does consist of many recreational activities like horse riding, hiking, boating, auto tours, etc. The Lewis and Clark historic trail is about 4900 miles long, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Astoria, Oregon.

4. Sergeant Floyd River Museum And Welcome Center

While the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was made popular by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, there was one more member, Sergeant Charles Floyd.

Unfortunately, he died during the expedition. After his death, a boat called’ M.V. Sergeant Floyd‘ was named after him. The boat was built in Indiana in 1932. Initially, it was used as a workhouse for the Missouri River Division of the Corps of Engineers.

As technology improved, the role of M.V. Sergeant Floyd was limited, and it was about to be decommissioned. However, Congress decided to convert it into an exhibition boat. Initially, the boat was mobile, traveling the gulf and inter-coastal waterways.

In 1983, the boat was decommissioned and transferred to Sioux City. Currently, the boat serves as a museum and welcome center. Here, the visitors can see the history of Missouri River Transportation, old artifacts, and photos.

The Museum also displays one of America’s largest exhibits of Missouri River Steamboat and keelboat models. This attraction will surely catch the interest of history buffs.

5. Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail

There is a long history associated with the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. It follows a 1300-mile route from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah. The journey included as many as 14000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

While the trial occurred between 1846 and 1868, the real story began in 1827. A man named Joseph Smith made claims of finding golden plates in God’s true Church.

Smith claims that an angel named Moroni guided him to the plates. He also claimed that the angel gave him ancient tools to translate the ancient text into English. Smith used these to produce scriptures called the Book of Mormon.

He founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Saints a few years later. His followers would be known as Mormons. Unfortunately, many groups opposed Joseph Smith’s teachings, and eventually, he was arrested in Carthage, Illinois.

While Smith passed away, the legacy of his teachings would continue. One of his followers, Brigham Young, would continue the Mormon pioneer national historic trail. He realized that staying in Illinois was too dangerous, so Young decided that they would take shelter in Utah.

On March 1st, 1846, Young and a group of 500 Mormons traveled Northeast toward the Missouri River. The route included places like Council Bluffs, Iowa, Fort Bridge, Wyoming, California, and Oregon trails known as the Mormon Trail.

This could be the reason why there are so many Mormons in Utah. As mentioned earlier, the trial is a 1300-mile route. The route includes stops in other national parks like Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Scott’s Bluff National Monument, and Fort Laramie National Historical Site.

Closing Thoughts

As mentioned, Iowa has large farmlands, wildlife, terrains, etc. Thus making it a great tourist destination. In particular, Iowa’s national monuments and historic sites play an important role in tourism and wildlife conservation.

However, it is important that when visiting the States, you travel safely and responsibly. Especially after the pandemic, we must follow safe and hygienic practices.

Also, places like the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in the west branch, the Mormon Pioneer Trail, and Sioux City have a wealth of attractions along the trail.