Today, Keosauqua, Iowa is a small town of less than a thousand people. Located in Van Buren County, it’s part of a network of villages with deep roots in Iowa’s history. So why is Keosauqua possibly the most historic small town in Iowa? Simple – many of its buildings have been preserved or restored and look amazingly similar to their original 19th-century form. You’ll be able to explore several historic sites on a tour, stay in one of Iowa’s oldest inns, and even visit the memorial for a forgotten war. It’s the perfect day trip for any history lover in the Hawkeye State.
Welcome to Keosauqua, one of Iowa’s most southernmost towns - and one with a fascinating history dating back to early America.
Sector001/Wikipedia
With a population of only 936, it’s not a surprise that the main street is leisurely. A tour of this town will bring one surprise after another.
Sector001/Wikipedia
The Van Buren courthouse is the oldest courthouse in the state - and is still in continuous use since it was opened in 1843!
Sector001/Wikipedia
The Franklin Pearson House, built in 1847, was a key spot on the Underground Railroad and looks amazingly similar today to its original form.
C.C. Woodburn/Wikipedia
The town’s most famous site is probably the Hotel Manning, an 1890s hotel built in the popular Steamboat style of the time.
Hotel Manning
Today, the hotel has been completely remade into a modern inn - but that classic facade is intact.
Hotel Manning/Facebook
While the inn has been renovated over the years, it still maintains that rustic 19th-century feel.
David Wilson/Flickr
You’ll definitely experience modern comfort in one of their spacious river-view rooms, though.
Hotel Manning
If you head down the road, you’ll find two small stone markers memorializing the Honey War, one of Iowa’s strangest historical events.
Americasroof/Wikipedia
Due to a misreading of maps, a 9.5-mile strip of the Iowa-Missouri border became a source of conflict between the two states, with militias facing off until the US Supreme Court ruled in Iowa’s favor - thankfully, before any blood was spilled.
Kmusser/Wikipedia
Have you taken your own tour of Keosauqua? Let us know what you think of the most historic town in Iowa in the comments section. If you’re planning a visit to the Manning Hotel, make sure to visit their website to book your stay. If you’re looking for another visit to a historic village nearby, make sure to explore Bentonsport.
Sector001/Wikipedia
C.C. Woodburn/Wikipedia
Hotel Manning
Hotel Manning/Facebook
David Wilson/Flickr
Americasroof/Wikipedia
Kmusser/Wikipedia
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Address: Keosauqua, IA 52565, USAAddress: Hotel Manning - Riverview Inn and Standard Motor Lodge, 100 Van Buren St, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USAAddress: Van Buren County Courthouse, 907 Broad St, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USA
