Iowa’s ‘Coolest’ Small City is an Eastern Iowa College Town

Iowa is home to lots of cute, small towns and cities, but only one was recognized as the "coolest" in the state! According to The Quick Report, that small city is Grinnell.

Called the "Jewel of the Prairie," Grinnell is a city with less than 10,000 people in Poweshiek County, Iowa. It's best known as the home of Grinnell College. Here's what The Quick Report has to say about the area:

"Grinnell combines midwestern ethos with college-town progressiveness. Its downtown is highly walkable. The Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank is a national historic landmark designed by the 'father of the skyscraper.' It’s now Grinnell’s visitor’s center. Whether sipping Chardonnay at a wine bar or eating at the counter in a diner, the crowds look the same. Stay at the Hotel Grinnell."

The Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank was built in 1914 by the legendary architect Louis Sullivan. He built only eight "jewel box" banks, including one in Cedar Rapids. The one in Grinnell is recognizable for its large circular window above the main entrance, as well as the stained glass windows on the sides. According to Wikipedia, "it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its architecture."

Hotel Grinnell was constructed back in 1921, but it wasn't initially built to be a hotel. it actually served as a junior high school until the late 70s. The hotel's official website mentions some of the cool features of the space, including the Periodic Table Lounge, a gymnasium-style ballroom, over 300 pieces of original art, and chalk boards in all of the rooms.

In addition to the Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank and Hotel Grinnell, here are some of the other cool places you can check out on your next trip to the city:

• Dari Barn - Ice cream shop
• Pagliai's - Pizza shop
• Solera - Wine bar
• Prairie Canary - Restaurant/Bar
• Frontier Cafe - Restaurant with all-day breakfast
• Grin City Bakery - Bakery with donuts, pastries, and more
• Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve - 450-acre park/nature preserve with 7 miles of trails
• Grinnell Mutual Aquatic Center - Public pool with a lazy river, two slides, lap lanes, diving boards, and more
• Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park - City park with basketball courts, pickleball courts, a sand volleyball court, several playgrounds, a sledding hill, community gardens, and more
• Grinnell College Museum of Art - Free art museum
• Grinnell College Golf Course
• Grinnell Craft Brewhouse
• Strand 3 Theatre - Locally-owned movie theatre
• Rock Creek State Park - State park with boating/paddling, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and camping
• Grinnell Farmers Market - Open Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. around Central Park - market season ends October 19th

For a full guide to Grinnell, you can check out the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce website HERE.