Iowa Heritage Tourism; My Home State
The Hawkeye State provides historic, cultural and natural experiences in abundance
The State of Iowa is a great state 'to be from' such as I am. My parents and grandparents spend their entire adult lives in a fairly small radius of miles in the heart of west central Iowa farm country. Iowa is certainly rural and agriculturally based - but, the capital city of Des Moines is second only to Hartford, Connecticut as home to insurance company headquarters, over the years.
Over a third of the 99 counties are included in the National Heritage Area (NHA) of the northeast region of the state: Silos and Smokestakes NHA.
The Iowa State Capital building is not only distinctive it is indeed unique, with five domes; the central dome is gold.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iowa_State_Capit...
Useful Links for Learning and gaining new experiences
I like to start off, as you know, with links to any National Heritage Area (NHA) in the state because they focus on historic, cultural and nature issues in their area. Silos and Smokestack covers an enlarged northeast portion of the state, over a third of the counties in the sate.
Whiterock Conservancy is notable in its own right, but also as a wonderful example of what can be done with an area through a close private-public effort of land conservation and preservation along with regional recreational opportunities.
The Garst Homestead was visited by Soviet Premier Khrushchev in his historic 1959 visit to the USA.
- Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area official website
This NHA tells not only the great story of agriculture in the state, including the Living History Farm and the Amana Colonies, but also manufacturing interests such as John Deere. Check the continuous list of events occurring in the NHA in addition t - Whiterock Conservancy official website
Whiterock Conservancy is a 5,000 acre land trust in west-central Iowa that is not only conserving natural resources but engaging the public in these important issues along with providing recreational opportunities. This happens to be located near my - Roswell and Elizabeth Garst Farmstead Historic Districk on Wikipedia
This historic district is part of the Whiterock Conservancy but is worthy of separate note for its historic importance in Iowa history.
Silos and Smokestakes NHA
Also known as America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership
This NHA includes 37 counties as well as the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Waterloo, Dubuque and Iowa City.
Living History Farms, opened to the public in 1970, in Urbandale, Iowa, anchors the southwest corner of the HNA. This is a 500 acre open-air musuem.
The Amana Colonies are also included in the Silos and Smokestacks NHA.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silos_%26_Smokestacks...
The main intersection in Amana, Iowa
Visited Silos and Smokestacks NHA area in Iowa? - 37 counties to visit... ;-)
Have you visited the Silos and Smokestacks NHA area?
A Typical Iowa Farm Scene - Maytag Dairy Farm near Newton, Iowa
Iowa has three public universities - Cyclones, Hawkeyes and Panthers
Iowa has always been a leader in literacy and education, led by their outstanding three state universities - and a strong community college system. There are also many fine private schools, as well.
- Iowa State University official website
My alma mater - in Ames, Iowa, near the center of the state; just a few miles north of Des Moines, the capital city. The athletic teams are the Cyclones. - University of Iowa official website
Located in Iowa City, in east-central Iowa, they are known as the Hawkeyes. - University of Northern Iowa official website
Located in Cedar Falls, UNI has been noted over the years as the state teachers college. UNI is known as the Panthers.
Be sure to visit Iowa on Wikipedia
Iowa is part of the American Heartland
Iowa became a state in 1846. Iowa is in the heart of the Corn Belt but has developed a diversifies economy in the later 20th century. Iowa is bordered on the east by the Mississippi River and on the west largely by the Missouri River.
Photo Courtesy of WIkimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa
