Iowa
Council Bluffs
Historic General Dodge House
712-322-2406. 605 Third St. Open Tu-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. Closed January, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. W, $
Victorian house-museum built by Grenville and Mrs. Dodge in 1869-1870 is a National Historic Landmark. Dodge was a Civil War general, railroad builder, banker and politician. Each year, the mansion is fully decorated for Christmas, exhibiting 25 Christmas trees in a variety of holiday charm.
Des Moines
Iowa State Capitol
515-281-5591. E. Ninth and Grand Ave. Open M-Sat 9:30-3. W
Century-old building features 275-foot gold-leafed dome flanked by four smaller domes, grand staircase and beautiful woodwork. See legislative and Supreme Court chambers, governor's office, two-story law library, scale model of Battleship Iowa, and collection of first-lady dolls. Tours last 40 minutes. Capitol grounds include a new World War II memorial with sculpture and Wall of Memories. Other monuments include the 1894 Soldiers and Sailors Monument of the Civil War, and memorials honoring those who served in the Spanish-American, Korean and Vietnam wars.
Fort Dodge
Civil War Days
September (August 31-September 1, 2002)
E-mail: thefort@frontiernet.net
515-573-4231. Bus. Hwy. 20 and Museum Rd.
Reenactments of the Battle of Fort Donelson, 1860s ball, ladies' fashion workshops, educational seminars, dedication of Civil War monument.
Fort Museum and Frontier Village
www.dodgenet.com/~mayorofdodge/fort E-mail: thefort@frontiernet.net
515-573-4231. Bus. Hwy. 20 and Museum Rd. Open daily 9-6, May - mid-October. W, $
1862 military fort and frontier town with 12 original and replica buildings. Museum displays American Indian, pioneer and military artifacts. Relive the area's history at Frontier Days in early June and at the Labor Day weekend Civil War reenactment.
Fort Madison
North Lee County Historical Center
319-372-7661. Hwy. 61 and 10th St. Open W-Sat 12-4, May-October, or by appt.
View arrowhead and Civil War displays, Silsby steam pumper and hose cart, ice-gathering exhibit with audio presentation, railroad and farm displays, and prison cell. This National Historic Register site includes gift shop and Flood Museum.
Hopkinton
Delaware County Historical Museum
E-mail: brian@datainterchange.org
563-926-2639. College Square, Hwy. 38. Open Tu-Sun 1-4, June-September or by appt. $
Nine-building complex on former Lenox College Campus offers displays on natural history and Civil War history, Civil War Monument, farm equipment, depot/caboose, country store and country school, and Delaware County memorabilia.
Jefferson
Greene County Historical Society Museum
515-386-8544. 106 E. State St. Open W-Dat 2-5, Sun 2-4, April-October and by appt.
Displays of early county history, American Indian artifacts, Civil War memorabilia, early transportation, WWII model planes. See early American period rooms, country store, barber shop, doctor and dentist offices, bank. Farm machinery displayed at county fairgrounds — open by appointment and during fair.
Keokuk
Keokuk National Cemetery
319-524-5193. 1701 J St. Open daily 8-5 year round.
Iowa's only national cemetery, designated by Congress at the same time as Arlington National Cemetery. Union and Confederate soldiers, as well as members of the military representing all conflicts since the Civil War, are buried here.
Lansing
Suzanne's Inn
www.suzanneinn.com E-mail: suzanneinn@aol.com
563-538-3040. 120 N. Third. Open Feb.-Dec.
Restored Gothic Revival home with Victorian wallpaper, fireplace, antique-filled rooms, sauna in root cellar. Civil War era ambiance.
Sibley
McCallum Museum and Brunson Heritage House
E-mail: verstoff@heartlandtel.com
712-754-3882. Sibley Park, Fifth St. and Eighth Ave. Open Sun 1:30-4:30 and holidays, Memorial Day-Labor Day, or by appt. W
Civil War display, pioneer artifacts, horse-drawn vehicles. 1908 Sears automobile. Antique clothing.