10 Of The Most Enchanting Man Made Wonders In Iowa
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Michaela Kendall
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Iowa is full of amazing things to see and unforgettable places to visit. We’ve already covered the natural wonders that our state has to offer – and although Mother Nature is pretty awesome – man has made some wonders of his own, including these 10 spots in Iowa:
Often called the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is the largest man-made Grotto in the world, and contains the largest collection of precious stones and gems found anywhere in one location.
Effigy Mounds National Monument, located in Allamakee and Clayton Counties, contains 191 prehistoric Indian mounds, making Effigy Mounds National Monument the largest known concentration of mounds remaining in the United States.
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Created by Mark Benesh in 2008, this rendition of Grant Wood's famous painting, "American Gothic," is now a piece of art that anyone can admire on their drive through Iowa.
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Snake Alley in Burlington is reportedly the most crooked street in the world, with seven curves over 275 feet. The street was was built by the town's German founders in 1894 as an experimental street design.
A graffiti artist named Paco Rosic bought a building in Waterloo and recreated Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Then he turned the place into a restaurant, so now you can admire the artwork with a delicious plate of food.
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Sac City is home to the world's largest popcorn ball, which weighs over 5,000 lbs. The popcorn ball before the current ball was also a record-holder, at 3,100 lbs.
The Iowa State Capitol building, of course, is one of Iowa's most beautiful man made wonders - especially the 23 karat gold dome on top.
Ida Grove, known as The Castle Town, is famous for (you guessed it) the castles that decorate the whole town.
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Aside from all the castles, there is even a life-sized pirate ship!
The biggest Dutch windmill in the U.S., which is located in Pella, was built in Holland and shipped over to the US. The windmill is now a focal point for the tulip-happy town with a Dutch settler ancestry.
If you travel a hop and a skip over to Elk Horn, you will see the only working Danish windmill in the country. The windmill was shipped from Denmark and assembled in Iowa, shortly before exporting windmills from Denmark was banned, leaving lucky Iowa with the only one in the country.
What are some more man made wonders you would add to the list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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