Iowa is most well known for its beautiful rolling farmlands and charming iconic small towns. But there’s so much more to see and do, with all kinds of surprising treasures just waiting to be explored. In fact, you may not know it, but Iowa is actually home to its very own Downton Abbey, and you’re definitely going to want to visit.

Editor’s Note: As of August 2020, Brucemore Mansion is currently temporarily closed.

It’s hard to imagine living the opulent lives of luxury the inhabitants of the popular show, "Downton Abbey"enjoy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to imagine.
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The best part is, there’s no need to travel to get a taste of the life. The gorgeous estate of Brucemore Mansion is located in Cedar Rapids, and it’s open for tours and events.
Flickr/Richard Roche
The estate was originally built for Caroline Sinclair, a wealthy widow, and her six children in 1886. The family lived there for 20 years.
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Then, the Douglas family, known for Douglas & Co. and Quaker Oats, lived there from 1906 to 1981.
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Just like Downton’s Crawley family, the Douglas family was touched by the sinking of the Titanic. George’s brother Walter was on the ill-fated ship, and gave up his life to allow women and children onto the lifeboats first.

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This gorgeous National Trust Historic Site features a museum, a twenty-one room mansion, and a community cultural center on twenty-six acres.
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It’s a Queen Anne-style mansion with formal gardens, a night garden, a children’s garden, pond, orchard, woodlands and much more.
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Flickr/Richard Roche
It now serves as a community center for culture and the arts, with many annual art fairs, concerts and other community events.
Flickr/Louis
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Brucemore is located at 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA. The mansion is open for guided tours. To learn more, visit their website here.

For more of Iowa’s beautiful old homes, These 17 Unique Houses In Iowa Will Make You Look Twice … And Want To Go In.

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