Drop Your Anchor And Savor The View In This Iowa Bed And Breakfast That Was Home To A River Boat Captain

LeClaire, Iowa is a picturesque Mississippi River town that has it all - a rich history, natural beauty, great food, and terrific craft beverages. A historic bed and breakfast in the heart of LeClaire is the perfect place to stay while you're in town. The stately home was actually once owned by a river captain who piloted vessels on these waters for decades.

Read on to learn more about why you need to drop anchor at the Captain's Quarters.

LeClaire is located upriver from the Quad Cities. European-Americans first settled in the spot in the 1830s. Because of a sharp bend in the river and rapids, only skilled riverboat pilots could navigate these waters.

John W. Van Sant was one of those pilots. Here are two of his boats moving a 1,200 foot by 250-foot log raft down the Mississippi, back in the 1800s.

In 1862, Van Sant moved into an 1851 home that overlooked the river he worked. He would live there for 40 years, Here's what the home looked like in 1895.

Van Sant died in 1902 and this is what the house looked like in 1979 - it was forgotten and almost lost to time.

Fortunately, the home was saved, and more than four decades later it looks better than ever, as an inn that greets guests. It's in a great location - it's walking distance from the Green Tree Brewery, Mississippi River Distillery, Wide River Winery, and the American Pickers, featured on the History Channel.

The home has two units for rent - a two-bedroom and a one-bedroom suite.

The units are well appointed, including all the usual amenities, as well as a few extras, like binoculars for watching boats and birds on the river.

The inn gets some great reviews - it has even received some national recognition. In 2019, River Travel Magazine called it one of the top 5 "Most Romantic Couples Getaways" on the river. Interested in exploring more river towns? Here are some you should put on your list.