
Take a Trip: Grant Wood Scenic Byway
In season 2 of Road Trip Iowa, we took a trip along the Grant Wood Scenic Byway. Exploring the limestone and the landscapes that inspired Iowa's best-known artist, the Grant Wood Scenic Byway is a source of inspiration to the communities along its path.
Want to take this journey with us on your next road trip? Use Travel Iowa's itinerary tool to send yourself a fantastic route along this byway to experience most of our episode in person (please note that the itinerary tool doesn't always have every stop featured in our show so you may need to add a couple of stops along the way if you want the full experience).
Grant Wood Art Gallery
Pull into Jones County and there is no question you've entered Grant Wood country. Born in Anamosa in 1891, Grant Wood was a pioneer in the regionalist art movement of the 1930s. His dream-like paintings celebrated themes of manual labor and pastoral beauty at a time when rural America had been devastated by the Great Depression. Wood studied art in Minneapolis and Chicago and he made his living as a teacher. He served in World War I and, like other artists of his generation, he went to Europe in search of inspiration. But he would find his artistic voice in coming home. The Grant Wood Art Gallery offers a comprehensive look at the painter's career and insights on his local inspirations, including neighboring Stone City with its patented limestone structures, a perilous highway bend on the edge of town, and a tribute to ag innovation in nearby Viola.
Wapsipinicon State Park
No visit to Anamosa is complete without a stop at Wapsipinicon State Park located just south of town on the Wapsipinicon River, known locally as the Wapsi. Spanning 394 acres, Wapsipinicon is one of the oldest state parks in Iowa. It has the unique distinction of being listed in its entirety in the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can enjoy dynamic views from the sandstone and limestone bluffs overlooking the Wapsi River and take a walk over the state's longest bow string truss bridge.
Anamosa Penitentiary Museum
Local limestone is on display in grand fashion at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. This towering gothic revival prison was built by inmates and has been in operation for more than 150 years. Exhibits include the tools of the prison trade, a gallery of Anamosa's infamous inmates, and a history of convict-created artwork, which is both in display and available for purchase. Photos and memorabilia tell the story of the prison's years as the Iowa State Reformatory, an era when members of the public were welcomed inside for tours, joint church services and sporting events. Learn the story behind the facility at the Anamosa State Penitentiary Museum.
Maquoketa Caves State Park
Head east to Jackson County for an outdoor experience millions of years in the making at Maquoketa Caves State Park. A popular destination since the 1860s, the Maquoketa Caves are part of the Driftless Area and were untouched by glaciers during the last Ice Age. Whether you're a seasoned spelunker, a natural history enthusiast, or just looking for a day of family fun, Maquoketa Caves State Park offers something for you.
Hurstville Interpretive Center
Head into Maquoketa for a different view of nature at the Hurstville Interpretive Center. Headquarters to the Jackson County Conservation team, Hurstville tells the story of the area's natural history through exhibits and activities. People can explore and wander through a reconstructed prairie, a pollinator garden and even a small frog pond. Opened in 2004, the center welcomes between 7,000 and 10,000 visitors annually and sits proudly on the Grant Wood Scenic Byway.
Codfish Hollow Barnstormers
Since 2009, music bands have ventured the outskirts of Maquoketa where they park their cars, board an old school bus and disappear down a winding gravel road. Their destination, Codfish Hollow Barnstormers, a concert venue unlike any other. Owner Tiffany Biehl and her husband Shawn had no background in music promotion before booking their first barn concert. But they built it, and the people came.
Whispering Meadows Resort & River Ridge ATV Trails
Our journey through Grant Wood country continues off road in rural Spragueville at Whispering Meadows Resort. This cabin getaway combines the tranquility of nature with the thrill of all-terrain vehicles. Featuring a fishing pond, a small golf course and 30 miles of trails, Whispering Meadows is a passion project for owner Steve Tebbe whose affection for this land dates back to his childhood.
River Ridge Brewing
Follow the Grant Wood Scenic Byway to its eastern terminus in Bellevue and you'll be rewarded with unique brews and pleasant views at River Ridge Brewing. Dating back to 1860, this warehouse was once home to an International Harvester workshop and showroom and sits neatly alongside the Mississippi River. River Ridge has become a community staple, thanks to its signature variety of lagers, blondes, IPAs, ambers, sours and stouts as well as experimental brews, plus a patio like no other.