Take a Day Trip to This Beautiful and Historic Iowa Town

The south of Iowa is much quieter than other parts of the state, especially when you get away from the Mississippi River coastal towns. It can be easy to just dismiss the whole area as prairie that you drive through to get to where you're really going, but if you did that, you'd be missing one of the best small towns in Iowa. One case in point is a delightful little town known as Eldon.

What is Eldon, Iowa known for? To start, Eldon is a tiny Wapello County city with a population of only 783 as of the 2020 census - but it has almost as many historic spots as it does residents! The entire town feels like it came from another era, and you'll be able to visit the home of one of Iowa's most famous residents as well as witness the rebirth of some historic buildings. You can even get a great bite to eat in a throwback bar-and-grill while you're there. It's the perfect way to spend a quiet day trip in Iowa while exploring an underrated corner of the Hawkeye State. So, let's take a look at Eldon, Iowa!

Eldon was founded in 1870, and its main street still looks a lot like it did back in the early days. The Eldon Public Library was first opened in 1913, backed by Andrew Carnegie, and it's still operating today in the original building. The McHaffey Opera House, which opened in 1891, was the town's center of culture. It was closed and in disrepair for many years, but has been lovingly restored and now the show is going on once again!

Eldon's most famous resident was undoubtedly Grant Wood, the painter of the iconic American Gothic painting. The house in that famous painting is now the American Gothic House, preserved in its 1930 form and including a visitor's center.

The Rock Island railroad used to travel through here, and the historic depot is now a museum with several train cars on display. Not all the destinations in Eldon are historic, though - Roseanne Barr has a half-finished mansion in the town's woods that has been left incomplete.

For a bite to eat after exploring Eldon, head to Chommy's - a charming bar and grill serving hearty country cooking. The restaurant's specialty, of course, is pork tenderloin sandwiches - fried crisp and spilling off the bun, exactly as they should be!

Have you visited Eldon's many historic sites? Feel free to reach out and let us know what you think of this unique small town in Iowa. You can find out more about the town on the official City of Eldon website, and visit the official Facebook page of Chommy's to find out what it's cooking up! For another unique small town in Iowa, why not take a weekend trip to Decorah? Don't forget to pack the road trip snacks!

If you need a place to stay while you're exploring Eldon, take a look at some unique vacation rentals on VRBO. And, for even more travel inspiration, be sure to check out our new Travel Planner!