8 haunted and historic destinations in Iowa.
Sheldon, IA
East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, Iowa, was established in June 1881 when Mayor Wykoff purchased ten acres in the Hartenbower Addition for $400. The cemetery became the final resting place for generations of O'Brien County residents. An archway erected in 1893 by the Ladies Cemetery Association remains a distinctive landmark. The site is currently maintained by the City of Sheldon.
Story City, IA
The apartment building in Story City was formerly a funeral home before being converted into a three-unit residential building. The structure's funeral home heritage remains part of its architectural and local cultural history, though specific dates of original construction and conversion are not readily available through public records.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Brucemore is a 21-room Queen Anne mansion designed by Indianapolis architect Maximilian Allardt and constructed from 1884 to 1886 by Caroline Sinclair, widow of pioneer industrialist Thomas M. Sinclair. The structure stands on a 26-acre estate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is Iowa's only National Trust for Historic Preservation site. Significant renovations in 1905 by the Douglas family added architectural features and modernized the interior.
Davenport, IA
The Hotel Blackhawk opened in 1915 as a luxurious eleven-story fireproof hotel on Main Street in Davenport, Iowa, built at a cost of $1 million by businessman W.F. Miller. Designed by the architectural firm Temple & Burrows with Italian Renaissance and Art Deco elements, it originally featured 225 rooms with private bathrooms. Four additional floors were added in 1920, bringing capacity to 400 rooms. The hotel hosted presidents, celebrities, and big bands throughout the twentieth century.
Cherokee, IA
The American Theatre was built in 1920 by Barry Sisk and Walter James as a movie palace on East Main Street in Cherokee, Iowa. After remaining empty due to financial constraints, Dale Goldie purchased it at a Sheriff's sale in 1923. The theatre was upgraded during the WPA era in the 1930s with dramatic murals and is now operated as the American 3 Theatre (a 3-screen multiplex) by Fridley Theatres. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Storm Lake, IA
Buena Vista University is a private liberal arts institution in Storm Lake, Iowa, established in 1891. The campus occupies a prominent location in the town's center. McAllister Cottage, a student residential building on College Avenue, was demolished and replaced with a parking lot, though its location and the associated folklore remain part of campus history.
Waverly, IA
Camp Ingawanas (now Ingawanis Adventure Base) is a Boy Scout camp operated by the Winnebago Council, Boy Scouts of America, serving Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing Crews in the Waverly, Iowa area. The camp provides outdoor education and Scout programming on its facilities near Waverly.
Bertram, IA
Campbell Cemetery is a historic burial ground located in Bertram Township, Linn County, Iowa, serving the local community with graves spanning multiple generations. The cemetery features typical grave markers, landscape features including trees, and a gazebo structure providing shelter and gathering space for cemetery visitors.