Guide to Iowa City
In 1847, the University of Iowa was founded and has a 1900-acre campus and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. University of Iowa offers business, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, liberal arts, dentistry, education, public health, and sciences. Over 28,000 students attend the university.
The city offers a multitude of tourist attractions, manufacturing, and natural beauty. Iowa City was named for the Native American word for “beautiful land.” Leisure activities, sightseeing, sporting events, and cultural events are available for all ages. Iowa City generally receives very high rankings for the best place to live across the country.
Even though many consider Iowa to be flat plains land the state does have its share of rolling, rocky hills and bluffs and Iowa City is a fine example of flourishing woodlands, grasses, and rolling hills. With more than forty parks outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, snow skiing, water skiing, and more thrive.
Some of the business and manufacturing in Iowa City include:
Blooming Prairie, which is a distributor of over 15,000 natural and organic foods. Around 220 people are employed at Blooming Prairie.
General Mills is located in Iowa City and packages all of the Pop Secret Popcorn sold in the United States. General Mills employs around 100 people.
Goodwill Industries, one of the world’s largest nonprofits employs 200 people at its Iowa City location. The main goal of Goodwill Industries is to provide challenged people with the means, tools, and support to succeed in the general population.
Hy-Vee Food Stores is one of the nation’s largest grocers with 3 locations in Iowa City. The food chain was founded in 1938 and now has over 200 stores throughout the Midwest. The Iowa City stores employee over 1,300 of the company’s nearly 47,000 employees.
One of Iowa City’s largest employers is the Lear Corporation employing nearly 950 people. As a world leader in manufacture, design, and engineering of automotive products nearly all top auto makers use their products.
MCI employs over 600 people in Iowa City providing local, long distance, Internet, and international phone and computer services.
Oral B Laboratories is also located here and is one of the world’s leading companies manufacturing dental hygiene products. Iowa City’s plant manufactures toothbrushes and employs nearly 900 people.
One of the nations largest producers of glass and plastics, Owens-Illinois, with over 140 plants in five countries is located in Iowa City.
Opened in 1956 is the Procter & Gamble manufacturing plant with over 550 people employed. The plant in Iowa City specializes in shampoos and conditioners and all the Scope mouth wash sold in the US is bottled here.
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics recognized world wide have over 700 beds, and employ over 7,000 people.
The Iowa City Veterans Administrative Hospital serves over 180,000 veterans from eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
The city also has many independent business and local business and manufacturing companies.
Some of the attractions in Iowa City for all ages include:
Devonian Fossil Gorge is like walking on a 375 million year old ocean floor giving visitors an educational glimpse into Iowa’s geologic past. During the floods of 1993 fossils and limestone bedrock was exposed dating back to times before dinosaurs. There have been more than three quarters of a million visitors to the Gorge and Museum since it opened.
Finkbine Golf Course named for W.O. Finkbine, who donated land to the University of Iowa, is the University of Iowa Department of Athletics championship golf course. This course covers over 7000 yards and is a par 72 with a course rating of 74.1 and slope of 132. Many tournaments have been played at Finkbine (Amana VIP Classic; Hogan Tour; and Nike Tour Classic).
Hickory Hill Park is divided into the North Park and South Park. At both Parks you can find picnic shelters and tables; BBQ grills, water and restrooms, hiking and jogging paths and nature studies.
Some of America’s most talented writers have found themselves in Iowa City drawn by the famous Iowa Writer’s Workshop. The Iowa Avenue Literary Walk hosts works by the likes of Tennessee Williams, Raymond Carver, Kurt Vonnegut, Jane Smiley, and the famous quote from “Shoeless Joe” by W. P. Kinsella, “If you build it, he will come.”
MERCER PARK AQUATIC CENTER This pool is divided into 3 areas; one with 2 diving boards and the depth ranges from 4’6″ to 12′ with areas for children also.
Mormon Handcart Site on the south side of US Highway 6 has a bronze tablet on a boulder with these words inscribed: “South of this Boulder on the Banks of Clear Creek is the Site of the Mormon Brigade Camp. In 1856 some Thirteen Hundred European Immigrants, Converted to the Mormon Faith, Detrained at Iowa City, the End of the Railroad. Encamped here they made handcarts and Equipment for their Journey on Foot to Salt Lake City.” In 1856 the railroad made its last westward stop at Iowa City. It was during that time many Mormon converts from five different countries journeyed towards Salt Lake City in search of the promised land. It was not until the end of July that they were able to finally head west. This late start found them caught along the way in a terrible winter storm and nearly 150 died. Mormon Trek Boulevard in Iowa City/Coralville was named in honor of their journey.
The University Of Iowa Museum Of Natural History was founded in 1858. It is the 2nd oldest museum west of the Mississippi. The museum is used mostly for research and study by students, teachers, scientists, and scholars from around the country. The museum has three galleries:
1. Iowa Hall takes you on a 500-million-year journey of Iowa’s native cultures, ecological and geological history featuring a giant sloth.
2. William and Eleanor Hageboeck Hall of Birds features one of the largest collections of North American birds and birds from other areas of the world with more than 1,000 on display. Interactive exhibits help to teach visitors about birds and the world they live in.
3. Mammal Hall has a display of every mammal you can imagine from aardvarks (Aardvark means “Earth pig” in Afrikaans, a language of South Africa, more commonly known as “ant eaters”) to zebras (black-and-white striped African equines coming from Old Portuguese zevro, zevra, meaning wild ass).
Old Capitol is a wonderful place to visit having a history of its own as Iowa’s first state capital. The cornerstone was laid in 1840 on Independence Day where Iowa made its way to statehood. Iowa’s first governor was inaugurated there and the state’s constitution was drafted there. The University of Iowa now owns the capitol building taking possession of it in 1857 when Des Moines became the capital. Up to the 1970’s the Old Capitol building served the university as an armory, a chapel, classrooms, a library, and offices. In the 1970’s the building began a restoration to bring it back to its original splendor and as a place of historic remembrance for visitors from around the world. On July 4th 1976 the Old Capitol reopened as a National Historic Landmark.
Golf Courses In Iowa City:
� Fairview Golf Course is a 9-hole course with carts available for rental.
� Finkbine Golf Course is an 18-hole course with putting greens and a driving range.
� Greenview is a 9-hole course open to members only and carts are available for rental.
� Hi-Point is a 9-hole course and carts are available for rental.
� Pleasant Valley is an 18-hole course with a driving range and carts for rental.
Other attractions in and around Iowa City include:
âÂ?¢ Amana Colonies founded over 150 years ago. Tucked away in the hills of Eastern Iowa is a social and historical jewel of seven towns and villages offering a beautiful glimpse into the customs, people, and history, this community was founded by “German-speaking European settlers who belonged to a religious group known as the Community of True Inspiration.” Here you will find many things to do from shopping, local arts and crafts, to dining and sightseeing.
� City Park is a very luxuriant area set in the heart of the city where one can be lazy, playful, or energetic. It is also home to the Riverside Theatre was founded in 1981 and has produced 12 world premieres, 13 regional premieres and over 100 other works. The park also has hiking trails, jogging paths, tennis courts, a swimming pool (seasonal), ice-skating rink (seasonal), and carnival rides.
� The Coralville Lake located north of Iowa City has 5000 acres of water and outdoor activities include hiking, biking, cross country-skiing, boating, fishing, water-skiing and swimming.
âÂ?¢ Iowa Children’s Museum in Coralville designed to encourage learning through play. The museum features interactive galleries and many hands-on-activities and exhibits such as making videos, building things such as race cars, and playing in a water exhibit.
� Old Brick Church and Community Center date back to around 1856 and the church is the second oldest public building in Iowa City listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
� Iowa Firefighters Memorial honors the courage, will, dedication, and love Iowa firefighters from the first volunteer to the present day firefighter.
Iowa City has something to offer for the entire family!
