Dickens IowaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Dickens, Iowa.
1. Pappy Dickens Preserve
TRANQUIL NATURE PARADISE
Pappy Dickens Preserve is a serene natural sanctuary located in Iowa City. The preserve offers a peaceful retreat for nature lovers seeking outdoor adventures and relaxation. Visitors can enjoy the tranquil beauty of this natural paradise while exploring its trails and landscape.
2. Ewing Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION SPACE
Ewing Park is a popular recreational area in Dickens that offers various outdoor activities for visitors. The park features open spaces, walking paths, and areas for families to enjoy picnics and gatherings. Locals and tourists alike appreciate this green space as a community gathering spot in Dickens.
3. Ledges State Park
SCENIC CANYON VIEWS
Ledges State Park features dramatic sandstone formations that rise nearly 100 feet above the Des Moines River valley. The park offers hiking trails that wind through wooded areas and along canyon ridges with stunning overlooks. Visitors can enjoy picnicking, camping, and wildlife observation in this natural Iowa treasure.
4. Effigy Mounds National Monument
ANCIENT NATIVE HERITAGE
Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves more than 200 prehistoric mounds built by Native American cultures. The monument features mounds shaped like bears, birds, and other animals that hold significant cultural and spiritual importance. Visitors can explore interpretive trails and learn about the indigenous peoples who created these remarkable earthworks.
5. Pappajohn Sculpture Park
URBAN ART DISPLAY
Pappajohn Sculpture Park showcases a collection of 28 world-class sculptures in a 4.4-acre green space in downtown Des Moines. The park features works by renowned artists such as Jaume Plensa, Deborah Butterfield, and Willem de Kooning. Visitors can wander freely through this outdoor art gallery that beautifully merges culture with nature.
6. Des Moines Water Works Park
RIVERSIDE RECREATION AREA
Des Moines Water Works Park spans over 1,500 acres along the Raccoon River. The park offers extensive trail systems, fishing spots, and open spaces perfect for outdoor activities and events. It serves as both a recreational destination and an important water management facility for the region.
7. American Gothic House
ICONIC ARTISTIC LANDMARK
The American Gothic House is the backdrop for Grant Wood's famous 1930 painting "American Gothic." Visitors can tour the visitor center featuring exhibits about the artist and the painting's cultural significance. The center provides props so guests can take their own American Gothic-style photographs in front of this iconic white house with its distinctive gothic window.
8. Lost Island Nature Center
WILDLIFE EDUCATION FACILITY
Lost Island Nature Center offers educational programs about local wildlife and ecosystems in northwest Iowa. The center features exhibits on native plants, animals, and natural habitats found in the region. Visitors can explore nature trails and participate in guided programs that promote environmental stewardship.
9. Woodlyn Hills Golf Course
SCENIC GOLFING EXPERIENCE
Woodlyn Hills Golf Course provides golfers with a picturesque setting for their game in the Iowa Lakes region. The course offers well-maintained fairways and greens with varying challenges for players of all skill levels. Golfers appreciate the natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere while enjoying a round at this popular recreational destination.
10. Clark Museum of Okoboji Area & Iowa History
REGIONAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
The Clark Museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts documenting the history of the Okoboji area and broader Iowa heritage. Exhibits showcase the region's development, from Native American settlements through European colonization to modern times. Visitors can explore displays of historical photographs, tools, household items, and other memorabilia that tell the story of Iowa's past.
11. Herbert Hoover Birthplace
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORICAL SITE
Herbert Hoover Birthplace preserves the humble cottage where the 31st President of the United States was born in 1874. The grounds include the president's grave site, a reconstructed blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, and a 76-acre tall-grass prairie. The visitor center interprets Hoover's early life in Iowa through exhibits and educational programs about American history.
12. Historic General Dodge House
VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL GEM
The Historic General Dodge House is a magnificent 14-room Victorian mansion built in 1869 by Civil War general Grenville Dodge. The three-story home features advanced amenities for its time, including central heating and hot and cold running water. Visitors can tour this architectural treasure to learn about General Dodge's contributions as a railroad builder, banker, and politician in Iowa's history.
13. Terrace Hill
GOVERNOR'S VICTORIAN RESIDENCE
Terrace Hill is an opulent Victorian mansion built in 1869 that now serves as the Iowa governor's residence. The historic home overlooks downtown Des Moines and is situated on eight acres featuring a Victorian formal garden. Visitors can tour this architectural masterpiece to admire its period furnishings and learn about Iowa's political heritage.
14. Toolesboro Mounds
ANCIENT BURIAL GROUNDS
Toolesboro Mounds preserves well-maintained burial mounds from the Hopewellian culture that flourished from around 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. The five-acre site includes several large surviving mounds that provide insight into ancient Native American customs and beliefs. Visitors can explore the education center and prairie demonstration plot to learn about this important archaeological treasure.
15. Amana Colonies
HISTORIC GERMAN SETTLEMENT
The Amana Colonies comprise seven historic villages established by German Pietists seeking religious freedom in the 1850s. Visitors can explore well-preserved buildings, craft shops, restaurants serving traditional German fare, and museums documenting the communal society that thrived here for nearly 80 years. The colonies are known for handcrafted furniture, woolen textiles, and other artisan goods that maintain traditional German craftsmanship.