All the United States Iowa

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iowa

84 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Iowa

Updated October 8, 2026
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Cities

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Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Ames
  2. Anamosa
  3. Britt
  4. Cedar Rapids
  5. Clear Lake
  6. Council Bluffs
  7. Davenport
  8. Des Moines
  9. Dubuque
  10. Dyersville
  11. Iowa City
  12. Winterset

Unusual Attractions in Iowa

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Iowa

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

4 Pop-Culture Marvels in Iowa

Iowa is the pantry of America, giving over the vast majority of its land to agriculture and producing more corn and pork than any other state. But the state has also proven fertile ground for pop culture, as well. The landscape has inspired movies, films, songs, paintings, and novels while spawning movie royalty in the form of a certain Duke. Bask in the wonderful corniness of these four pop-culture touchstones in the Hawkeye State.

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Explore Iowa

Museums 13
Roadside Attractions 10
Monuments 7
Architecture 6
Collections 5
History 4
Architectural Oddities 4
Plants 4

Iowa Leaderboard

Recent Iowa Activity

Stories About Iowa

Detention Never Ends:

The Haunted Halls of Farrar School
by Annette King, Community Contributor

This Iowa Summer Camp Is Abuzz With Mosquitoes

But not in the way you're thinking.
by Katherine R. Bruna, Atlas Obscura
One of this cat’s distinctive sabers was broken off before it died.

This Stunning Sabertooth Cat Skull Belonged to a Big Male That Died Young

Found in southwestern Iowa, the well-preserved fossil is about 13,500 years old.
by Matthew Hill, Atlas Obscura
Blue ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata) zigzag through an Appalachian forest.

Photographing Fireflies, a Love Story

An award-winning photographer shares what these bioluminescent insects have taught him—and how you can capture their beauty.
by Emily Dieckman, Atlas Obscura

Podcast: Iowa Remnant Prairies

There's always more to the land than meets the eye.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

Iowa’s Ancient Apex Predator Was the ‘T. rex’ of Its Day

The monstrous menace known as Whatcheeria hints that our distant ancestors may have been more like us than we thought.
by Gemma Tarlach, Atlas Obscura
A researcher on hands and knees surveys the rare flora and fauna on a “breathing hill” in the Upper Midwest’s Driftless.

The Ice Age Persists in the Upper Midwest, Where the Hills Breathe

In the Driftless, a rare combination of geological quirks has preserved ancient ecosystems. But climate change is coming.
by Gemma Tarlach, Atlas Obscura
Nearly-lost collard green varieties are being preserved and propagated across the country.

The Farmers and Gardeners Saving the South's Signature Green

These seed savers are preserving and celebrating the enormous genetic diversity of collard greens.
by Debra Freeman, Atlas Obscura
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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