Attractions

Tourist Attractions & Points of Interest

(In alphabetical order)

Abraham Lincoln Statue
This 1918 bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln stands on the courthouse lawn as a monument to the Lincoln Highway, known as Old Highway 30. It was created by the English sculptor Hastings. Located at 106 East Lincolnway, Jefferson.

Barn Quilts of Greene County
The Greene County “Barn Quilt” project is now on public display, with fourteen colorful and traditional quilt patterns – each painted on a wood frame at least 8-feet square – in place on ag buildings around the county. For more information visit this site.

Bell Tower Square
An array of specialty shops, restaurants and businesses line the heart of downtown Jefferson. The Mahanay Bell Tower, Greene County Historical Museum, Abraham Lincoln Statue, Lindsey Memorial, and Greene County Courthouse are all within walking distance.

Deal's Orchard
This 3rd generation apple orchard has 55 acres of trees with 35 varieties. Other fresh produce is available in season including raspberries, cherries, tomatoes, sweet corn and pumpkins. Each year about 25,000 - 30,000 gallons of fresh apple cider is processed. Celebrate the harvest on the 2nd weekend in October at the Annual Fall Festival. Located 3 miles west of Jefferson on Old Highway 30 and 1/4 mile south. For more information call 515-386-8279 or visit www.dealsorchard.com.

Gallup House
This early 1900s unique octagon shaped house is the boyhood home of George Gallup, founder of the Gallup Poll. Gallup was born and raised in Jefferson and lived in Jefferson until he graduated from high school in 1919. The Gallup House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is currently undergoing restoration by Gallup & Robinson, after which it is planned that the home will be available for a variety of uses, such as business or private retreats, educational meetings and seminars, and private receptions. Located at 703 South Chestnut, Jefferson. Click here for more information.

Greene County Courthouse
Built in 1917, the courthouse boasts a dome rotunda with a stained glass ceiling. Offices are accessed through archways of marble that frame murals depicting the "progress of civilization as recorded in Iowa". The rotunda floor is a mosaic of the county seal with the theme Home of the Horn of Plenty. Located at 106 East Lincolnway, Jefferson. Open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information call 515-386-2316.

Greene County Historical Museum
Organized in 1966, the society has made steady progress in collecting, preserving, restoring, cataloging and displaying hundreds of items pertinent to Greene County's history, starting from the first white settler in 1849. Early in the society's existence, a building was purchased on the north side of the courthouse square in Jefferson. Later, a large metal building was constructed on the Greene County Fairgrounds to house a log cabin, farm machinery and farm related implements. A well preserved one room school house near this site is also maintained by the society. Admission to the museum is free. Located at 219 East Lincolnway, Jefferson. Hours: April-October, Wednesday 1 p.m. - 5p.m. and Saturday 9a.m. – Noon. Other times by appointment only. To make an appointment or for more information call 515-386-8544
 

Historic Lincoln Highway

Complete with reproduction Burma-Shave signs, Greene County’s portion of the Historic Lincoln Highway leads the way to several area attractions. Just east of Grand Junction is the convergence of a piece of transportation history. Within a few hundred feet of each other lie the original version of the Lincoln Highway, later U.S. Highway 30, the newly relocated U.S. 30 and the grade of the Union Pacific Railroad. Travel down the road to Jefferson and you will find the Greene County Historical Museum, which houses an extensive collection of items, including Native American artifacts as well as a broad timeline of objects illustrating American progress, from pioneer times to the early days of television.

Continuing on, just off the square, is the local office of the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association. Filled with an array of memorabilia and photos, the informative staffers can help you plan your own exploration of this historic piece of Americana at its best.

Inspiration Gardens

Dick and Janice Schlicht of rural Rippey invite you to visit and tour their gardens. They offer an experience of tranquility and relaxation. Janice shares her gardens "So others can be inspired. She has put her heart and soul into the gardens and when you wander through them, you can see through the window of her soul."

                                                       Points of Interest:

- Garden Colors are more appreciated in the late spring, summer and early fall for their beauty.

- The ponds entertain glimpses of orange and wihite goldfish and water plants in the spring, summer and fall. The flowing waterfalls soothe the nerves.

- Two rustic rooms are available to create a relaxed atmosphere for small group meetings.

- There are sitting areas located through out Inspiration Gardens.

- Two camping hookups for campers and plenty of area for camping.

- A Greene County Barn Quilt pictured above in the Barn Quilts of Greene County section is entitled Winding Ways. It was dedicated in November 2005, and is listed on the Barn Quilts of Greene County Tour. The colors depict the green growth in the spring, flower colors through the season and the yellow sun needed by people and plants.

A garden has something for everyone and each week brings different points of interest. As you meet new gardeners and get new ideas, you create a bond unlike others. There are unspoken words of encouragement that you take away from that friendship. Dick and Janice encourage individuals, families, small groups, businesses looking for a new place to hold a meeting, and bus tours to come to Inspiration Gardens and see how the Gardens can inpsire you in a mulittude of ways.

Jefferson Public Library
The Jefferson Public Library was founded in 1901. A $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation in 1903 enabled the city to construct the existing library building. In 1967, a new addition was built to house the growing collections. Renovations completed in 1990 made the library handicapped accessible. The Galaxy Automation System, which computerized the card catalog and circulation functions of the library, was installed in 1995. In 2005, a new automation system called Polaris was installed, making the library collection accessible via the World Wide Web at www.jeffersonpubliclibrary.org.

Jefferson Telephone Museum
This museum houses a unique collection of historical telephonic equipment including old telephones, switchboards, and other articles. Located in the Jefferson Telephone Company building at 105 West Harrison, Jefferson. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For appointments call 515-386-4141 Lincoln Highway Local citizens donated money to pave Lincoln Highway across Greene County, beginning in Grand Junction. This was the first paved section of the Highway in Iowa. Memorabilia is exhibited at the Milwaukee Railroad Depot and at the Lincoln Highway Museum located west of the square on West Lincolnway. For more information call the Lincoln Highway Association at 515-275-4966 or visit the Greene County Lincoln Highway Scenic Byway website.

Lincoln Square Building
This unique building renovation, the Lincoln Hotel built in 1895, has transformed the 47 room structure into a collection of shops and offices. Located at 117 East Lincolnway, Jefferson. Lindsey Memorial This monument is in honor of the Jefferson native, World War 11 Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Darrell R. Lindsey. Located at 106 East Lincolnway, Jefferson.

Mahanay Bell Tower
The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, located on the southwest comer of the courtyard, was given to the people of Jefferson and Greene County in accordance with wills of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Mahanay. The tower is 168 feet 2 inches high and illuminated by 6 floodlights. There are 14 bells, illuminated by 3 floodlights, which were cast at the world famous Petit & Fritzen bell foundry in Holland. These bells chime on the hour, quarter and half-hour. The Electronic Carillon bells may be played automatically and manually from the same keyboard. Concerts are played at scheduled hours. The total cost of the tower was approximately $350,000.00. The Tower was dedicated Sunday, October 16, 1966. This 14 story tower commands a breathtaking view of Jefferson and the surrounding countryside. Take a glass elevator ride to the 120-ft. observation deck. Tours are $2 for adults, $1 for children 5 and under. Located at 100 East Lincolnway, Jefferson. Open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day 12pm - 4pm and weekends in May and September. Other times by appointment by calling 515-386-2155.

Milwaukee Railroad Depot
The depot listed on the National Register of Historical Places. It serves as the trail head to the Raccoon River Valley Recreational Bike Trail on East Lincolnway. The depot houses tourist information, Greene County artisan and craft displays, and railroad memorabilia. For more information call the depot at 515-386-5554. Raccoon River Valley Recreational Bike Trail This hard surface bike trail begins at the Old Milwaukee Depot, on the east side of Jefferson and extends 57 miles to Clive/West Des Moines. The trail was built on an old rail bed and has gentle grades. Enjoy the 600-foot trestle across the North Raccoon River. For more information visit their website or call Greene County Conservation at 515-386-4629.

Scranton Water Tower
This 1897 all steel elevated water tank landmark has a capacity of 48,000 gallons and stands 148 ft. high. It is the oldest water tower still in service in Iowa and is tied for 9th oldest still in service in the U.S.A. For more information call Scranton City Hall at 712-652-3888.

War Memorial Army Tank
Located across from the Milwaukee Railroad Depot on East Lincolnway, this tank was donated by the Army as a memorial to all land wars. Dedicated on Veteran’s Day 1998.