13 iconic stops along Iowa’s Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway

Check out these interesting and historic pit stops along the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, which travels 460 miles across the state of Iowa.

The Lincoln Highway makes its way across all of Iowa—460 miles in all. First established in 1913 as a safe, two-lane highway to take travelers through Iowa and across the country, it was the first coast-to-coast improved highway in the United States. It helped travelers realize there could be fun and adventure on the roadways and not just treachery. Today, this national heritage byway—which follows the path of the modern-day Highway 30—is rich with pitstops as it takes you across Iowa. 

Read on to learn about some of the iconic stops you can make as you travel the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway (seen here as you travel east to west, but feel free to chart your own course), Iowa’s portion of this famed strength of pavement. To plan your full trip, check out the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway Activity Guide. 

1. Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center

3942 291st St., Camanche

Travelers heading west on the Lincoln Highway first crossed the Mississippi River at Clinton. Not too far away in Camanche, you can now stop and visit the Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center to learn more about the mighty river that makes its way through the heart of the country. There is an 8,000 gallon fish tank where you can see some of the native habitants of the Mississippi. You can rent canoes and kayaks to explore the surrounding waters, or take guided boat tour during the summer months. There is also a nearby campground and marina.

2. Abbe Creek School Museum

877 W Mount Vernon Rd., Mount Vernon

Just as highway travel was very different many decades ago, so was going to school. A pit stop at the Abbe Creek School Museum just outside of Mount Vernon (a fun little college town that is definitely worth a stop as well!) will showcase school days gone by.

Built in 1856, this small, one-room schoolhouse actually had to be moved slightly to accommodate the Lincoln Highway being built nearby in 1925. The school operated until 1936 and was a private residence at one point before being dedicated as a museum in 1964. Just behind the school is a small cemetery where many early settlers, including two Civil War veterans, are buried. The earliest gravestone dates back to 1847.

The Abbe Creek School Museum is open to the public on Sundays in June, July, and August from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. in June, July and August. Other special arrangements can be made by contacting Linn County Conservation at  (319) 892-6485.  

3. Jumbo Well

Corner of 8th Ave. and 8th St., Belle Plaine

Some call it the eighth wonder of the world. It certainly is interesting. Jumbo Well was first discovered in Belle Plaine in 1886. The city was known for sitting on a large artisan well with strong pressure that would push water all the way up to the second story of buildings without pumping. But when the city first decided they needed a well, they put out a bid for someone to drill the well, and it went to the lowest bidder. However, all went awry. They dug a two-foot hole but it blasted water 50 feet into the air at 50,000 gallons per minute. Many people tried to stop it, but all were unsuccessful … for 14 months!

It was eventually stopped but news spread all around the country of this astonishing water wonder. Today, a plaque on a rock at the corner of 8th and 8th marks the spot of Jumbo Well. 

4. Meskwaki Cultural Center and Museum

303 Meskwaki Rd., Tama

The land now known as Iowa has long been inhabited by the Meskawi Tribe who began defending the territory from French settlers in the 1700s. After many decades, on July 13, 1857, the Meskwaki formally purchased their first 80 acres in Tama County. Today, they own some 8,100 acres in Tama, Marshall, and Palo Alto County.

In Tama, the Meskwaki Cultural Center and Museum was built to help spread awareness of the history and cultural significance of the tribe. The museum opened in 2010 to help give visitors a glimpse of the tribe’s rich history and culture. It’s full of artifacts, including those that have been reacquired and repatriated, that showcase the Meskwaki lifestyle and traditions. You’ll see arrowheads, bowls, spoons, other pottery, tools, clothing, jewelry, photographs, and other objects. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., but other visits can be arranged by calling in advance. 

5. 1915 Lincoln Highway Bridge

E 5th St., Tama

This pit stop is short and sweet but is a great photo opportunity. Drive right on over to the bridge on East 5th Street in Tama to see one of the iconic Lincoln Highway bridges. Built in 1915, the bridge has “Lincoln Highway” spelled out in concrete on the side panels. 

6. Taylor’s Maid-Rite

106 S. 3rd. Ave., Marshalltown

If you’ve never had a Maid-Rite sandwich, then you are in for a treat; this pit stop takes you to one of the first restaurants to serve up the notable Iowa loose meat sandwich. Taylor’s Maid-Rite first opened in 1928 and began dishing up their signature finely ground hamburger sandwich served up with pickles, mustard and chopped onions. You can even add ketchup if you’d like. You can still belly right up to the counter, and why not add fries and a milkshake while you’re there? 

7. Jack Trice Stadium

1732 Jack Trice Way, Ames

The home of the Iowa State Cyclones football team is worth a stop as you hit the approximate midway point of the Lincoln Highway. This iconic stadium was first built in 1975. It features a real Kentucky bluegrass field and holds 61,500 people, making it the third-largest stadium in the Big 12 Conference. It is also the only Division I FBS stadium named for an African American. Jack Trice was the school’s first African-American student-athlete, playing football for the Iowa State Cyclones in 1923. Tragically, Trice sustained and died from injuries in a game played in Minnesota that same season.

The stadium is electric on game days, with friendly tailgating activities and performances by the Iowa State marching band taking place leading up to the game. The stadium also plays host to occasional concerts outside of the college football season. 

8. Kate Shelley High Bridge

190th St., Boone

The Kate Shelley High Bridge, officially named the Boone Viaduct, is the highest U.S. double-track railroad bridge (185 feet high!) and is still in operation today. But it’s also notable for an incident that happened more than 140 years earlier.

On July 6, 1881, a devastating storm washed out a part of the tracks leading up to the bridge. Kate Shelley, just 17 years old at the time, risked her life and crawled across the tracks in order to warn incoming trains of the disastrous conditions ahead. She risked her life, crawling on her hands and knees across the bridge at night during a storm, to save the lives of many others and avoid certain disaster.

While you cannot go on to the tracks like Kate, it is an interesting bit of history and a great spot for photos of a high trestle bridge, which are common in and around Boone County.

9. Mahanay Bell Tower

100 E. Lincoln Way, Jefferson

One of the least expected structures as you travel through rural western Iowa is a large bell tower with sweeping views. But right in the heart of Jefferson’s town square, you’ll find just that. The Mahanay Bell Tower, some 168 feet and two inches tall, was built in 1968. The tower is one of only four carillons in the state of Iowa—this one has 47 bronze bells.

You can take elevator rides to the top of the tower, where there is an observation deck. From there, you can take in the views of five surrounding counties, as well as the rooftop artwork that has been scattered across the buildings in Jefferson.  The Bell Tower Festival takes place in Jefferson each summer as well. 

10. Scranton Water Tower

1211 Main St., Scranton

Another quirky stop along the Lincoln Highway allows for a fun photo op. The Scranton Water Tower is one of the ten oldest water towers in the country and remains the oldest working water tower in the state of Iowa. It was first built in 1897 and is a steel elevated water tower—you can’t miss it. The famed water tower led to the town’s motto, “towering above the rest.” You can grab a photo to prove it. 

11. Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery

Glidden

This quick pit stop in the small town of Glidden allows you to pay tribute to Merle D. Hay, a young boy from Glidden who was the first American soldier killed in the trenches of France during World War I in 1917.

The memorial, near the roadside, was erected by the State of Iowa in 1930 in Hay’s honor and features a drawing by famed Iowa newspaper cartoonist Ding Darling. 

12. Donna Reed Museum

1305 Broadway, Denison

Donna Reed, a beloved actress known for “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “From Here to Eternity” (for which she won an Oscar), and “The Donna Reed Show,” was born and raised in Denison. Today, in her hometown, you can visit a museum dedicated to showcasing her rich life and career as a Hollywood darling. You can see her awards and personal effects, including correspondence, original scripts, vintage costumes, and scrapbooks.

The Donna Reed Foundation operates the museum and hosts a whole host of performances and workshops to carry on Reed’s theatrical legacy. The museum is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment. 

13. 100 Block

100 Block of West Broadway, Council Bluffs

A great way to end your trip along the Lincoln Highway across Iowa is pulling up to “100 Block” in downtown Council Bluffs. This historic district, surrounding the 100 block of West Broadway, is rich with locally owned retail businesses and dining establishments.

From fun bars and nightclubs to coffee shops and fine dining, you are sure to find something to please your palette. There’s a locally owned plat shop, music shop, several salons, and much more to explore. So grab a souvenir, fuel up your vehicle and your body, and hit the road to explore more on the Lincoln Highway or other roadways across Iowa.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.