Latimer IowaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Latimer, Iowa.
1. Latimer Grocery
LOCAL COMMUNITY MARKET
Latimer Grocery is a local market serving the Latimer community. The grocery store provides essential goods and services to residents and visitors alike. It serves as a central gathering spot for locals in this small Iowa town.
2. Immanuel United Church-Christ
HISTORIC RELIGIOUS LANDMARK
Immanuel United Church-Christ stands as one of Latimer's notable landmarks. The church serves the spiritual needs of the local community with regular services and events. Its architecture and history make it a point of interest for visitors to Latimer.
3. St Paul's Lutheran Church
FAITH AND HERITAGE
St Paul's Lutheran Church is a significant religious institution in Latimer. The church represents the strong Lutheran heritage present in many Iowa communities. Visitors appreciate its role in the community and its architectural features.
4. Latimer Golf Club
GREEN FAIRWAYS COUNTRY CLUB
Latimer Golf Club offers golfing opportunities for locals and visitors alike. The course provides a recreational outlet in this small Iowa community. Golfers enjoy the rural setting and friendly atmosphere of this local course.
5. Beeds Lake State Park
SCENIC OUTDOOR RECREATION
Beeds Lake State Park is located just a short drive from Latimer. The park features a 99-acre lake perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating activities. Visitors can also enjoy camping, hiking trails, and picnic areas throughout the scenic grounds.
6. Ledges State Park
DRAMATIC SANDSTONE CLIFFS
Ledges State Park features dramatic sandstone cliffs and scenic overlooks not far from Latimer. The park offers hiking trails that wind through wooded areas and alongside canyon walls carved by Pease Creek. Visitors enjoy the unique geological formations, picnic areas, and opportunities for wildlife viewing throughout the park.
7. Robert D. Ray Asian Garden
CULTURAL BOTANICAL SHOWCASE
The Robert D. Ray Asian Garden is a cultural botanical showcase located in Des Moines. The garden features Asian-inspired landscaping, architectural elements, and a serene atmosphere. Visitors can explore the pavilions, stone sculptures, and traditional plantings that celebrate Asian heritage and design.
8. Effigy Mounds National Monument
ANCIENT NATIVE HERITAGE
Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves more than 200 prehistoric mounds built by Native American cultures. The site features mounds shaped like bears, birds, and other animals that hold cultural and spiritual significance. Visitors can hike trails through the forested landscape while learning about the Indigenous peoples who created these earthworks centuries ago.
9. Walker Johnston Park
FAMILY RECREATION DESTINATION
Walker Johnston Park offers diverse recreational facilities for visitors of all ages. The park features sports fields, playgrounds, walking paths, and picnic areas set in a pleasant landscape. Families particularly enjoy the accessible design and variety of activities available throughout the seasons.
10. Amana Colonies
HISTORIC GERMAN SETTLEMENT
The Amana Colonies consist of seven historic villages founded by German immigrants as a religious communal society in 1855. These well-preserved communities offer visitors a glimpse into 19th-century communal living through museums, craft demonstrations, and historic buildings. Today, the colonies are known for their restaurants, shops, wineries, and breweries that showcase traditional German foods and crafts.
11. Blood Run Site
ANCIENT TRIBAL CENTER
Blood Run Site served as an intertribal and ceremonial center for Oneota and Prairie Dakota tribes from 900 to 1720 A.D. Located along the Big Sioux River and Blood Run Creek, this National Historic Landmark includes significant burial mounds and village sites. Visitors can explore the area on foot to learn about the Indigenous cultures that once thrived here.
12. Farm House Museum
PIONEER AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE
Farm House Museum stands as the first building on what became the Iowa State University campus. This well-preserved structure offers visitors insight into agricultural life and education in Iowa's early days. The museum features period furnishings and exhibits that tell the story of farming and rural development in the region.
13. George M. Verity Riverboat
HISTORIC MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT
The George M. Verity Riverboat is a preserved steamboat that once plied the waters of the Mississippi River. Visitors can tour this historic vessel to learn about river transportation and commerce during the steamboat era. The boat has been converted into a museum showcasing artifacts and information about river life and navigation.
14. James B. Weaver House
CIVIL WAR GENERAL'S HOME
The James B. Weaver House was the home of Bloomfield lawyer and Civil War General James B. Weaver. This striking two-story pink-brick structure was built in 1867 by the one-time United States representative. The historic home preserves the legacy of this important political figure in Iowa's history.
15. The Lone Star Steamer
LAST WOODEN STERNWHEELER
The Lone Star Steamer, the last wooden-hull sternwheeler, is housed in the Buffalo Bill Museum in Le Claire. Constructed in 1868, the boat navigated the waterways of the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers during America's steamboat era. The museum also serves as a tribute to legendary native 'Buffalo Bill' Cody and commemorates American Indians, pioneers, and steamboat history.