Take a Road Trip to Iowa’s Most Charming Historic Town
If you're looking for a cute Iowa town to visit, look no further than Bentonsport! Love Exploring has named Bentonsport as Iowa's most charming historic town!
According to the website, Bentonsport is a small village in Van Buren County that was named after Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton. The history of the village dates back to the 1830s, with Giles O. Sullivan building his log cabin "at the foot of what is now Walnut Street" in December of 1834. The says that "the first lock and dam was authorized by the territorial legislature of Iowa in 1839 and the villages on either side of the river soon hosted two grist mills, two ferries and a saw mill." Then, Iowa's very first paper mill was built in Bentonsport in 1952.
Bentonsport was a popular steamboat port until the railroad to Des Moines was finished in 1866. That's when things started to go downhill. The river was declared non-navigable in 1870, the dam failed in 1879, the paper mill moved out of state, and the rest of the mills were ruined by "neglect, fires, and floods." Eventually, the railroad was abandoned, too.
Despite the difficulties Bentonsport has faced in its 180+ year history, the village has been preserved and restored. It was even added to the National Register of Historic Places back in 1972!
There are lots of interesting things for visitors to see and do during their visit to Bentonsport. Here are some of the highlights:
- Historic Iron Truss Bridge
- Built in 1883, the bridge was once used for horse and buggies. Today it is one of the oldest bridges across the Des Moines River, and it now serves as a pedestrian bridge.
- Indian Artifact Museum
- The museum contains over 5,000 Indian artifacts and arrowheads that were found in the area.
- Mason House Inn
- This historic bed & breakfast was built back in 1846 and has served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, a "holding hospital" for wounded Civil War soldiers, and a tuberculosis sanitarium. Because of its history, the building is rumored to be haunted, and is a popular stay for paranormal investigators.
- Greef General Store
- The Greef General Store also dates back to the 1840s, and is considered one of the oldest general stores in the country! Shoppers will find a wide variety of items in the store, including antiques, handmade items, specialty foods, clothes, and delicious Addie May Fudge.
- Iron and Lace
- This unique shop features "hand made original works of art in Pottery, Weaving, and Ironwork." They also offer pottery and blacksmith classes throughout the year.
- Rose Garden
- Guests can enjoy this beautiful, volunteer-run garden that is set within the historic mill foundation.
- Events
- Bentonsport hosts several big events and festivals each year, including Bentonsport Heritage Day, Bentonsport River Fest, the Bentonsport Art Show, and Bentonsport Christmas.
Most of Bentonsport's shops will close for the winter on December 22nd, so be sure to plan your visit before then! You can read more about things to do in village HERE.
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