Great place to visit I was surprised they didn't have the Indians they use to have Car show was…read moregreat

We went on national museum day, so admission was free. Very cool museum. Surprisingly, it is full…read moreof conservation information. A beautiful mansion. We also went to a fire-dancing performance in the yard there this summer. Love the community events!

Terre Haute Cemetary is weird. It's supposedly haunted. I've spent many a drunken night in this…read morecreepy place. I've heard a little boy plays on a swing here and then when he sees you he leads you to his grave then disappears. I have never witnessed this. Check it out sometime if you're in the middle of nowhere in Iowa. Oh yeah and it's pronounced "Terry Hut". Just FYI.

Another marker on US75 between Nebraska City and Topeka, this one is just off the highway and not…read morein very good condition and in need of a repainting. Still, it's legible and remembers a time just before the Civil War when slavery was still a thing and Kansas was an important part of the Underground Railroad. The marker reads, "One witness to this event later wrote that it was "no joke" to attack old John Brown. The abolitionist inspired such terror that in January 1859, about 1.5 miles north of here, a U.S. marshal fled at the mere sight of him. Brown, escorting 11 slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, was discovered in a cabin on Straight Creek. Marshal John Wood hid in a nearby stream crossing with about 35 deputies, while Freestaters marched overnight from Topeka to support Brown. Even with reinforcements Brown's party was outnumbered two to one, but he defiantly ordered his men to ford the creek. "Scarcely had the foremost entered the water," one man recalled, "when the valiant marshal mounted his horse and rode off in haste." Another remembered: "The closer we got to the ford, the farther they got from it." Mocking the posse's retreat, a newspaperman dubbed this the "Battle of the Spurs." Brown and his party reached Iowa unharmed." This is the only Kansas historical marker in Jackson County. [Review 11401 overall, 1178 of 2019.]

Life as a prisoner is not for me. There's a friendly…read moreattendant at the entrance to guide you and give info annoy the jail. Very interesting especially for my hubby and his friend.

Chances are that the Squirrel Cage Jail is unlike anything you have seen before…read more.. There were only 18 revolving/rotary jailhouses ever built -- and only 3 of them still remain as museums. Additionally, this one in Council Bluffs, Iowa was the only 3-story structure of this type. Built in 1885, it functioned as a county jail until 1969. You will enjoy visiting this unique place!

Neat little home on the main drag into town once belonged to the MIA famed big band conductor Glenn…read moreMiller. One of the many now famous folk who hailed from a place I call my home town, Clarinda. Always makes me smile when I drive by. Found memories.

The "Little People's House," which is the politically correct term for what is technically, a…read more"Midget House," is also known as the "Bregant House." Whew! Built in Council Bluffs, Iowa for a tiny Coney Island, N.Y. vaudeville couple in 1912, the house was custom designed to fit the needs of Jean Bregant, who was 42 inches tall and Inez Lewis Bregant who was a robust 39 inches tall. The small home is termed a simple Craftsman Bungalow, which was a popular architectural style in the early part of the 20th Century. "Ceilings and doorways were built to normal height for when normal sized friends came to visit the Bregants, but the fireplace, bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances were scaled to fit the small couple," said a story on www.nonpareilonline.com I love the 40-inch-high fireplace, small kitchen appliances and mini claw foot bathtub. The home sits amidst several larger homes that now surround it. Best of all, this very quaint home was designated in 2013, as a local landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to www.frontporchnationcom, " A preservation group called Preserve Council Bluffs is raising money to restore the house. One of the most recent projects was restoring the front porch. That included shoring up the foundation and bricks, as well as restoring the original latticework in front." There is a gofundme page set up to solicit donations for Bregant House upkeep. https://www.gofundme.com/5ovym0 4 YELP STARS for this most unusual but fascinating historical home.

You will find this little structure at the end of Gene Leahy Park. It is an iconic photo…read moreopportunity in the heart of downtown Omaha. Contrary to what I thought, the arches do not have any historical significance. They are remanants of the former US National Bank Building that once stood at the corner of 12th and Farnam Streets. They are made of Ohio bluestone and was constructed in 1887. They were reconstructed in it current location in 1979. The arch is currently owned by the city of Omaha. It has a kind of odd placement and looks like a arch just dropped downtown. It is not hard to find and I located it relatively easy. Parking to see this attraction is simple enough. There is tons of metered parking within a reasonable walking distance. This howevre is probably not a destination attractioon. Most of it visitors will come here with this stop as part of a larger itinerary. The arch seems to be in great shape, and has a placard on it that gives some brief information. Anyway, as with most attractions such as this that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes, got my pictures and then I was out. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

The Arches, built in 1887 by stone are a very majestic way to signify you are about to enter Gene…read moreLeahy Park in downtown Omaha, NE. When I first saw them, I almost thought I was in Paris! They look just like the Arch de Triomphe. When the former US National Bank Building was originally built, it had two of these very impressive stone arches as it's entrances. However, when the bank was remodeled in 1979, one of the arches was reconstructed here at it's current site along Farnam Street, where it stands today. Owned now by the city of Omaha, the Arches have "stood like silent sentinels at the 12th and Farnam entrance to Gene Leahy Mall," said a story on www.omahabydesign.org. Made of Ohio bluestone, the Arch is a very dignified presence in the Old Market downtown area. I just adore noble pieces of public art such as this, so 5 YELP STARS for sure. But this Arch might need some help. In the omahabydesign story, it mentioned that the "recent condition survey completed by the Omaha Public Art Commission cited the piece as in need of extensive restoration. Although the arches appear complete and sound, there is staining, discoloration, crystalline deposits and drainage problems. It appears as though the drainage system may be clogged or insufficient to remove water from the top of the structure. Water is seeping through the mortar joints along the inside curve of the arch." Not good. Someone with local money needs to step forward or a fund-raising effort should be started to get Arch-y in better shape. Also troubling: minor abrasions, accumulated dust and dirt, bird droppings, lichen and self-adhesive stickers. I imagine some Midwestern graffiti has found it's way onto the Arches. I hope the Omaha-ians can find a way to fix up this distinctly classy reminder of what a lovely city this truly is.

If you enjoy looking through cemeteries, this is a must see! There are large number of very unique…read moreheadstones, and a lot of the history in this cemetery. I will definitely be coming back to explore more! The pictures posted, or just a small sampling of the uniqueness that is in this cemetery. I would say, As someone who enjoys exploring cemeteries, this is most definitely within the top five of my past.

This place is so cool!!! The museum is full of amazing stories and unique history. I love all…read morethings old west and was very impressed by this museum. Staff is friendly and the place is well kept. Plus a great gift shop and lots of hands on fun for younger visitors!

This was a great little stop and so educational. If you like western history it's a must stop!read more