Today, Keosauqua, Iowa is a small town of less than a thousand people. Located in Van Buren County, it’s part of a network of villages with deep roots in Iowa’s history. So why is Keosauqua possibly the most historic small town in Iowa? Simple – many of its buildings have been preserved or restored and look amazingly similar to their original 19th-century form. You’ll be able to explore several historic sites on a tour, stay in one of Iowa’s oldest inns, and even visit the memorial for a forgotten war. It’s the perfect day trip for any history lover in the Hawkeye State.

Welcome to Keosauqua, one of Iowa's most southernmost towns - and one with a fascinating history dating back to early America.
Sector001/Wikipedia
With a population of only 936, it's not a surprise that the main street is leisurely. A tour of this town will bring one surprise after another.
Sector001/Wikipedia
The Van Buren courthouse is the oldest courthouse in the state - and is still in continuous use since it was opened in 1843!
Sector001/Wikipedia
The Franklin Pearson House, built in 1847, was a key spot on the Underground Railroad and looks amazingly similar today to its original form.
C.C. Woodburn/Wikipedia
The town's most famous site is probably the Hotel Manning, an 1890s hotel built in the popular Steamboat style of the time.
Hotel Manning

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Today, the hotel has been completely remade into a modern inn - but that classic facade is intact.
Hotel Manning/Facebook
While the inn has been renovated over the years, it still maintains that rustic 19th-century feel.
David Wilson/Flickr
You'll definitely experience modern comfort in one of their spacious river-view rooms, though.
Hotel Manning
If you head down the road, you'll find two small stone markers memorializing the Honey War, one of Iowa's strangest historical events.
Americasroof/Wikipedia
Due to a misreading of maps, a 9.5-mile strip of the Iowa-Missouri border became a source of conflict between the two states, with militias facing off until the US Supreme Court ruled in Iowa's favor - thankfully, before any blood was spilled.
Kmusser/Wikipedia

Have you taken your own tour of Keosauqua? Let us know what you think of the most historic town in Iowa in the comments section. If you’re planning a visit to the Manning Hotel, make sure to visit their website to book your stay. If you’re looking for another visit to a historic village nearby, make sure to explore Bentonsport.

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Keosauqua, IA 52565, USA
Hotel Manning - Riverview Inn and Standard Motor Lodge, 100 Van Buren St, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USA
Van Buren County Courthouse, 907 Broad St, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USA