Keokuk/Nauvoo Attractions

Area Attractions

Nauvoo, Illinois		Historic Nauvoo is located in Western Illinois, bordered on three sides by a bend of the mighty Mississippi River. The restored homes, mercantile establishments and community buildings maintain the charm of what once was a beautiful, industrious city. Today, Nauvoo provides an opportunity to experience the people and times of the past. Beautiful Nauvoo, Illinois has become a popular destination for visitors due to the city's history and the wide variety of experiences to be enjoyed on the bend of the Mississippi River. Annual events, restored historic sites, live entertainment and shows, Illinois' oldest winery, golfing and recreation, and quaint shopping all make Nauvoo an ideal getaway. Browse this site to learn about the poignant history of Nauvoo that helped shape many of the popular events and attractions. As you stand on the streets of Nauvoo, either looking out over the bend of the Mississippi River or looking up towards the vibrant, quaint business district, it is not hard to realize how this picturesque experience in "City Beautiful" will put a smile on the faces of all ages.

Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum		The Mark Twain boyhood home, museum, and other related sites are located in nearby Hannibal, Missouri. Follow young Sam Clemens on his rambles through Hannibal. Meet his family and friends and get to know the town during the time young Sam lived there. Continue the experience as you learn about Sam?s first outing as a writer. Then see which of the town?s people, places and events he later transformed into stories. Enjoy stories from Twain?s past and his imagination as you tour the exhibits.

Villages of Van Buren		The . . . rush of life races the blood, but the quiet life restoreth the soul . . . the quiet life is what you will find when you visit the Villages of Van Buren County, in southeast Iowa. Off the beaten path, but near to history, nature and the spirit of America's heartland. Visitors say life in the Villages moves at a slightly different pace, that friendliness is a virtue among residents and that village heritage is sacred ground. The Villages are a unique cluster of towns in Van Buren County. It is simple to relax as you drive through the countryside, picnic in a park, hike the trails, stroll through the shops, enjoy the historic architecture, or relax and take in the solitude and beauty of the surroundings.

Riverboat Cruise and Gambling		Cruise the beautiful Mississippi River aboard "Iowa's Friendliest Casino." This 1300 passenger vessel features unlimited gaming. The third deck features fine dining, entertainment, and a dance floor. Summer cruise season in Fort Madison. Winter dockside season in Burlington, Iowa (just 20 miles north of Fort Madison).

Eagles		Winter Home of the Largest Concentration of Bald Eagles on the Mississipppi River 23rd Annual Bald Eagle Appreciation Days January 20 - 21, 2007 KEOKUK, IOWA Celebrate the symbol of our freedom! Bald Eagle Appreciation Days View eagles in their natural habitat. Wildlife, Conservation and Environmental Agency Exhibits World Bird Sanctuary Presentations & More! * Bring your camera & plenty of film!

Grand Avenue		Keokuk's beautiful Grand Avenue is referred to in one publication as the "Miracle Mile". To quote the late local author Ray Garrison, "in earlier years admission to the sacred precincts of the Avenue was through family name and achievement." A most prestigious location for Keokuk's elite of the late eighteen and early nineteen hundreds, the atmosphere today is more cosmopolitan, but much of the avenue remains unchanged today. Pick up your walking tour guide and don't forget your camera, and enjoy the beauty these great homes have to offer.

Civil War		Annual Battle of Pea Ridge Civil War Reenactment Battle of Pea Ridge re-enactment. Changes have taken place in Keokuk. These changes will create fresh interest from the Reenacting community and spectators alike. As a result of numerous requests in the past, we have listened and re-structured the lay-out of the Battlefield. Crossing a creek, moving up hill and down, placing Artillery at strategic spots should make for an interesting battle. Activities include a Ladies Style Show and Tea, Military Ball, Breakfast with the Troops, National Cemetery Memorial and Church Service, campfires and two Battle Reenactments. While in Rand Park, visitors can tour the camps, visit Sutlers' Row, snack on period food and enjoy period entertainment! Activities in the park are free of charge!

Medicine Eagle		Rand Park KEOKUK, IOWA "Medicine Eagle" Gathering of the People PowWow The Goal: To reawaken Native dreams and traditions . . . . . To rekindle and awake the history of Native past . . . . . To share cultural diversity with native arts, crafts, dance, music and education . . . . . To bring understanding, love and unity . . . . . To honor Mother Earth and all her creatures . . . . . To honor those who have passed . . . . . All drums, dancers and public welcome

Blues Festival		Rollin' on the River Blues Fest Victory Park Keokuk, Iowa Keokuk, Iowa presents it's end of the summer blues festival on the third weedend of August each year. At various times they feature fund-raisers, the best of the blues! "Through the years, Rollin on the River has presented some of the finest in blues music. We've had everyone from A to Z (Anson Funderburg to Buckwheat Zydeco). " -Jim Wells-

Geodes		ROCKTOBER GEODE FEST "Geode Capital of the World" KEOKUK, IOWA The Keokuk Area Convention & Tourism Bureau and the Worthen Earth Searchers Rock Club have come up with a new event for an old Keokuk attraction. The Rocktober Geode Festival is planned for the 1st weekend in October. The festival will highlight the Keokuk Geode and offer opportunities to go on guided hunts. Although geodes of different kinds are found all over the world, the greatest abundance and variety are found in the outcropping of the Mississippian lower Keokuk bed within a 70 mile radius of the intersection of the Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers. Southeastern Iowa is one of the state?s best Geode collecting areas. Geode State Park in Henry County is named for the occurrence of the geode. The large number of mineral inclusions and the exquisite crystal groups that they form have made the Keokuk Geodes the most beautiful and the most sought after of all geodes by museums and collectors the world over. The most common size of Keokuk Geodes is about 3-4 inches across and sometimes reach 2 feet across and larger. Most Keokuk Geodes occur within a 35 mile radius of Keokuk.

City of Christmas		Open Thanksgiving thru Christmas Welcome to the City of Christmas in Keokuk's Rand Park. As you stroll through Rand Park, you will view well over 300,000 beautifully arranged Christmas lights and 100 delightful displays. Keokuk's City of Christmas began in 1989 when dreams became a reality and Toyland, Santa's Barn complete with reindeer and elves, Santa's Workshop, a Nativity scene, and the International Christmas Display all appeared in Rand Park for the month of December. Public reaction was outstanding and a holiday tradition began. Over a decade of memories have been shared by visitors to the City of Christmas, with totals of over 20,000 vehicles passing through Rand Park each year. All of the displays are original and created by local citizens with many hours devoted to construction, decoration and upkeep and totally funded by donations. Jim Shuman, coordinator of these activities is the recipient of the distinguished 2005 Spirit of Keokuk Award because of his efforts. The City of Christmas is a non-profit corporation staffed by volunteers. As you journey where visitors from all over the world have toured, we hope you feel the Spirit of the Holiday Season!

Lock and Dam		Construction on U.S. Lock and Dam #19 began in 1910, and when completed in 1913, it was the largest electricity generating plant in the world. Lock 19 is the largest lock on the Mississippi and is on the National Register of Historic places. The area is open 24 hours a day for viewing of river traffic. Call (319) 524-6363 for information. The lock and dam, as well as the rest of the river, can be viewed from a distance on the Observation Deck of the old bridge. The locks are 1200 feet long and 110 feet wide, with a lift of over 38 feet and large enough to handle a full-length fleet of barges. The present lock was put into operation in 1957 at a cost of 13.5 million dollars. It is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Power House and spillways (shown above) are owned and operated by Ameren Power Company. Lock and Dam 19 is the highest "step" in the stairway of locks and dams along the Mississippi River. The pool created behind the dam, Lake Cooper, is the largest pool in the series of dams with 240 miles of shoreline. This dam, along with Lock and Dam #1 are the only ones used to produce electricity.

Riverboat Museum		The George M. Verity River Museum is located in Victory Park on the riverfront. The paddle boat was built in Dubuque, Iowa by the U.S. Government in 1927 to revive river transportation and move barges from St Louis to St. Paul. It was then known as the S.S. Thorpe. Armco Steel Corporation bought the boat in 1940 and put it into service on the Ohio River, renaming it after the founder of their company, George M. Verity. The George M. Verity was donated to the City of Keokuk in 1961 after being retired from service. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Memorial Day through Labor Day and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends only April 1 - Memorial Day and Labor Day - October 31. Admission is $3 for adults and $1.50 for children. Located at Victory Park at the river, from Hwy 136 east (Main St) turn right on 2nd St (at Keosippi Mall), turn left on Bank St down to the railroad tracks.

Amana Colonies		The Amana Colonies. The Inspirationists emerged in the early 1700's as part of the Pietist and Spiritualist movement within the Lutheran Church in Germany. Eberard Gruber and Johann Friedrich Rock were early spiritual leaders in this Community of the True Inspirationalists. The Inspirationalists placed a great deal of emphasis on the development and the nurture of Inner Life via direct mystical contact with God. A strong commitment to church discipline and close community relationships also characterized the Inspirationists. In 1842, 800 German Inspirationists settled near Buffalo, New York, and began to practice full communal life institutionalizing precepts concerning dress and lifestyle. For economic and spiritual reasons, however, the group bought 18.000 acres in Iowa in 1854 and called their new home "Amana" a word taken from the Old Testament Song of Solomon, which means "to remain faithful." In 1932, the year of the "Great Change," community of goods was discontinued. Strict regulations on dress and lifestyle have also been gradually eliminated. Church life itself however, continues with its spiritualistic pattern and simple form of worship. in unadorned meetinghouses. Despite the large number of visitors who come to the Amana villages each year, many unique cultural traditions remain and are, in fact, affirmed and passed on from generation to generation.

Keokuk, Iowa		Keokuk is named in honor of the Sauk/Fox chief of the descendants of aboriginal Algonquin peoples present when white settlers first explored the area. Native Americans fished the Mississippi?s waters and hunted game in the lush woodlands along the river for centuries, most recently by the Sauk and Fox tribes led by the city?s namesake ? Chief Keokuk. The area was under French and Spanish rule for nearly 150 years prior to being included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. In 1804 the area was set aside by special treaty as a tract for half-breed descendants of the Indians and early white fur traders. By 1828, the first white settlers had arrived in Keokuk and began commerce on the Mississippi with the newest scientific wonder ? the steamboat. Although large unnavigable rapids blocked river traffic at Keokuk, ingenious businessmen and engineers soon solved the problem with a series of canals, and Keokuk prospered. Evidence of this age of prosperity can be seen in the magnificent homes perched on the bluffs high above the river. Many of those homes still reflect the opulence and refinement developed during the last half of the 19th century. During the tumultuous 1860s, Keokuk played a vital role as the departure point for northern troops headed for southern battlefields of the Civil War. Returning hospital boats created a need for medical care, and as many as seven hospitals and two medical colleges were established in Keokuk, including one that later became the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. President Abraham Lincoln established the first National Cemetery west of the Mississippi here. It is still the only one in Iowa. In 1913, a huge hydroelectric plant and dam, an engineering marvel and the largest of its time, fortified Keokuk as a major force along the Mississippi, with rapid industrial growth through the 1950s and expansions into the twenty-first century. Keokuk is a progressive community firmly rooted in the past and eagerly reaching for the future, while maintaining the Midwest?s famous small-town friendliness.