Kimballton, Iowa might have less than three hundred people, but the tiny Audubon County town has a rich cultural history. Part of the Danish community in Iowa and only three miles from world-famous Elk Horn, this rustic town brings in tourists to visit one of Iowa’s best-kept secrets – a celebration of the creations of Denmark’s most famous author.

Kimballton, Iowa is a charming small town with a rich Danish heritage - but nowhere more so than in a little alcove of Main Street.
Audubon County
The Little Mermaid Sculpture Garden pays tribute to the most famous creation of iconic writer Hans Christian Andersen.
Larry Syverson/Flickr
Sitting under the American and Danish flag, The Little Mermaid Fountain is the centerpiece of the park.
City of Kimballton/Facebook
Up close, it's amazing to see the detail put into this classic bronze statue of the title character.
Leonora (Ellie) Enking/Flickr
When the water is on, the statue is even more peaceful and stunning - you can feel magic in the air.
Management/TripAdvisor

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But the Little Mermaid isn't alone - several of Andersen's other creations have smaller sculptures around the park.
City of Kimballton/Facebook
The tiny adventurer Thumbelina takes flight on a bird in this charming sculpture.
Larry Syverson/Flickr
The young explorers of The Snow Queen, off to confront the evil title character, are off on the sleigh ride of their lives.
Larry Syverson/Flickr
The sculpture garden is at the center of a small Danish village, so feel free to grab a bite to eat or drink while you're here.
Ken Lund/Flickr
The statue is a smaller version of the original - which famously overlooks the harbor of Hans Christian Andersen's beloved Copenhagen.
City of Kimballton/Facebook

Have you paid a visit to the Little Mermaid Statue Garden in Kimballton? Let us know your favorite Hans Christian Andersen tale, and if you know any other storybook secrets hiding in Iowa, let us know in the comments! Kimballton is always greeting visitors, so make sure to visit the town’s Facebook page to learn all about this little slice of Denmark in Iowa.

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214 N Main St, Kimballton, IA 51543, USA