Iowa City is a small prairie town that runs on sentences. It was Iowa's original state capital — the gold-domed Old Capitol still crowns the University of Iowa campus, the seat of government until the capital moved to Des Moines in the 1850s. But the town's lasting claim is literary: the Iowa Writers' Workshop, founded in 1936, was the first creative-writing graduate program in the United States, and its graduates and teachers have collected dozens of Pulitzer Prizes. Flannery O'Connor, Kurt Vonnegut, John Irving, and Marilynne Robinson all passed through. In 2008, UNESCO named Iowa City the first City of Literature in the United States — one of only a handful worldwide. Walk downtown and you'll find authors' words set into the sidewalks. For a town of this size, the density of great writing per square block is hard to beat.

Iowa Writers' Workshop - Dey House

1936

The world's most celebrated creative writing program, founded in 1936 at the University of Iowa, which has produced seventeen Pulitzer Prize winners.

Old Capitol Building - University of Iowa

1842

Iowa's original territorial and state capitol, now the centerpiece of the University of Iowa campus, served as the seat of government from 1842 to 1857.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

1874

The two-room cottage in West Branch where the 31st president was born in 1874, now part of a national historic site that includes his presidential library and gravesite.

9.5 mi away

Amana Colonies

1855

Seven villages founded by German Pietist settlers in 1855, operating as one of the longest-lasting communal societies in American history until the Great Change of 1932.

19.9 mi away

Everything Near Iowa City

20 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

A Town Built on Words
Iowa City is a small prairie town that runs on sentences. It was Iowa's original state capital — the gold-domed Old Capitol still crowns the University of Iowa campus, the seat of government until the capital moved to…
Englert Theatre · 0.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what it was like to experience the golden age of vaudeville? The Englert Theatre lets you step back in time. Built in 1912, the Englert was designed as a premier entertainment venue, hosting everything from…
Union Brewery (Iowa) · 0.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a second – we’re right near the spot where Iowa City almost turned into a Wild West brawl over beer! Founded in 1856 by German immigrants, the Union Brewery was a cornerstone of the community, quenching…
Old Capitol Building - University of Iowa · 0.3 mi · Historical Marker
Iowa's original territorial and state capitol, now the centerpiece of the University of Iowa campus, served as the seat of government from 1842 to 1857.
Pentacrest · 0.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine being in the very room where Iowa became a state! The Pentacrest, anchored by the Old Capitol, marks the spot where Iowa’s journey truly began. Iowa City was chosen as the capital of the Iowa Territory in 1841,…
Old Brick Church (Iowa City, Iowa) · 0.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You’re approaching Old Brick Church, a survivor from Iowa City’s earliest days. It's one of the few buildings that stood here before the Civil War. Originally known as First Presbyterian, it was built in 1856 after the…
Iowa Old Capitol Building · 0.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine Iowa's government operating right here! This stately building, now on the University of Iowa campus, was once the Iowa State Capitol. Iowa City was designated the capital in 1841. Construction began on this…
Iowa Federation of Colored Women's Clubs · 0.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder how black women students navigated life at the University of Iowa before integration? This area holds a key piece of that story. The Iowa Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, or IFCWC, was an organization…
Bethel AME Church (Iowa City, Iowa) · 0.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Founded by freed people in 1868, this church stands as a testament to the resilience and faith of Iowa's African American community. Bethel AME Church was established by free people of color, some from the South and…
Iowa Writers' Workshop - Dey House · 0.7 mi · Historical Marker
The world's most celebrated creative writing program, founded in 1936 at the University of Iowa, which has produced seventeen Pulitzer Prize winners.
Plum Grove Historic House · 1.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here for a minute; this place is more than just a pretty house. It's Plum Grove, the retirement home of Iowa's first territorial governor, Robert Lucas, and the childhood home of author Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd.…
Kirkwood House · 1.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here for a second; you're looking at the home of a man who helped keep the Union together. This is the Kirkwood House, the long-time home of Samuel J. Kirkwood, a pivotal figure in Iowa's history. Kirkwood,…

Show all 20 nearby places

Old State Quarry State Preserve · 7.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This quarry provided the stone to build Iowa's original capitol building. Back in 1842, they started digging here. The North Bend Quarries, as it was first known, became a crucial source of limestone. That limestone…
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site · 9.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This isn't just another small town; it's where a future president's journey began. Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, spent his formative years right here in West Branch.Hoover was born in 1874 in…
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site · 9.5 mi · Historical Marker
The two-room cottage in West Branch where the 31st president was born in 1874, now part of a national historic site that includes his presidential library and gravesite.
Stone Academy (Solon, Iowa) · 12.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine learning your ABCs in this one-room schoolhouse, built in 1842 when Iowa was still a frontier. Stone Academy, formerly known as Big Grove Township School #1, is one of the oldest surviving school buildings in…
Sutliff Bridge · 14.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This bridge isn't just a way across the Cedar River; it's a survivor with a great story. This Parker truss bridge has connected the Sutliff community since 1898. Built for about $12,000, the Sutliff Bridge was…
Historic Ely Elevator · 14.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over, history buffs! You're about to witness a towering testament to Iowa's agricultural might and ingenious engineering. This 'iron-clad' giant isn't just a building; it's a time capsule of local prosperity. Cast…
Abbe Creek School · 19.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered what school was like before smartboards and cafeterias? Here, at Iowa's oldest standing one-room brick schoolhouse, you can almost hear the lessons echoing. This little red brick building holds generations…
Amana Colonies · 19.9 mi · Historical Marker
Seven villages founded by German Pietist settlers in 1855, operating as one of the longest-lasting communal societies in American history until the Great Change of 1932.

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History of Iowa City

A Town Built on Words RoadyGoat

Iowa Writers' Workshop - Dey House

Old Capitol Building - University of Iowa

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Amana Colonies

Everything Near Iowa City

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