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Council
Bluffs Visitors' Center
This visitors' center is in the center
of town - 7 North 6th Street.
If you are eastbound and are already on I-480,
where I-480 meets I-29, I-480 officially ends and becomes W. Broadway
(US-6). Just continue eastbound on Broadway to N. 6th Street, turn left
and they will be on your right.
If you are on I-80, take exit 5. Turn left at the end of
the off ramp if eastbound, right of westbound. The first street is
Woodbury Ave. Turn left on Woodbury and follow it to where it joins
US-375. Follow US-375 to 16th Avenue. Turn left, cross the tracks, go a
block and cross another track. The next street is S. 6th Street. Turn
right and follow S. 6th. You'll notice that the numbered avenues you are
crossing count down. The Visitors' Center is just across Broadway (now
you will be on North 6th Street) and on your right. You can phone them
at 1-800-228-6878. Unfortunately the phone is answered by one of these
'push 1', etc, computer message systems and if you are on a cell phone
it can be quite frustrating. Just push 'O' and, if you're lucky you'll
get the operator who will get someone to help you. Once you get by the
computer stuff, they're great. Ah, modern technology and how it can be
abused.
Kanesville
Tabernacle & Visitor Center
This is the authentically
reconstructed replica of the original Mormon log tabernacle where
Brigham Young was set apart as Prophet and President of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). The original building,
which stood nearby, is said to have had the seating capacity of over
1,000 people.
The Visitors' Center can tell you how to find the many other
monuments, etc., regarding the ca 1850 Mormon settlement and the great
migration west to Utah. They also show some films of historical
interest. Located at 222 East Broadway.
If you are eastbound and are already on I-480, where I-480 meets I-29,
I-480 officially ends and becomes W. Broadway (US-6). Just continue
eastbound on Broadway Benton Street (on your left one block after N. 1st
Street).
If you are on I-80, take exit 5 (Madison Avenue) and follow
Madison Ave north (toward downtown). Madison eventually joins S. 1st
Street. Continue on 1st St to Broadway. Turn right on Broadway, go one
block to Benton and there it is on your left.
April through October they are open daily from 9:30a-7p. November
through March hours are 10a-5p daily. For more information, phone
1-712-322-0500.
Railswest
Railroad Museum
It is difficult sometime to adequately explain
to folks from other parts of the world just how important railroads were
to the prairies and western mountains. Until the Lincoln Highway (no
pavement, just gravel or graded dirt) was completed in 1922, the primary
means of transportation (including livestock and other goods and not
just people) and communication were the railroads - starting with the
Union Pacific. The sight of one of the later steam locomotives - making
you feel like a dwarf as you look up at the monster 0 is still a thrill
to many even though they have not ever ridden on a train.
Here, in a restored 1899 Rock Island Depot, is a complete HO
gauge model railroad. Outside are several steam locomotives, a restored
mail car (just like in the Western movies) and a caboose.
Admission $4 (kids 6 - 12, $2), From Memorial Day through Labor
Day weekend they're open 10a-4p Tuesday - Saturday; 1-5p Sundays. Open
weekends only through December from 1-5p.
Located at 16th Avenue and South Main Street. From I-80 take exit
5. Turn left at the end of the off ramp if eastbound, right of
westbound. The first street is Woodbury Ave. Turn left on Woodbury and
follow it to where it joins US-375. Follow US-375 to 16th Avenue. Turn
left, cross the tracks and there is the restored depot. For information,
phone 1-712-323-5182.
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Western
Historic Trails Center
Located south of
I-80 at 3434 Richard Downing Avenue. Take exit
1B and go south on S. 24th Street one block to Richard Downing Avenue.
Turn right (you'll see a grey stone wall with a National Park Service
sign) and enjoy the 0.7 mile drive through river-bottom prairie grass.
This is also an official Iowa State Welcome Center but with a historic bent.
Council Bluffs was the springboard for the California Trail, Mormon
Trail, Oregon Trail and many other trails used by the 19th Century
pioneer-settlers moving westward in their prairie schooners, pulling
handcarts, on horseback and even afoot. Though there are many stories of
hardships, there are also many stories of incredible patience, persevering
and fortitude finalized with success.
In the Visitors' Center, here, you can view displays depicting
life during that period punctuated by many photographs. You also will
have the opportunity to view a very interesting video presentation.
A neat trail connects the Visitors' Center with a shore-side
overview of the Missouri River. It is an easy, half-mile and a great
break to sitting behind the wheel.
Pottawattamie
County Jail
It is hard to imagine anything very interesting
about a jail - but, this one is very different, - one of three remaining
jails of this design. In the center of the building is a three-story
high revolving drum. Each of the three floors of the drum contain 10
jail cells - like slices of pie. The purpose was to reduce the cost of
having a lot of jailers. Did it work - a matter of opinion. It
eventually came to be recognized that there is a safety problem with
this design. The prisoners can't get out unless their individual cells
are aligned with the exit opening. A fire would be a disaster for most
inmates. It is interesting and open to tourists.
Admission $4; $2 for kids 6-12. June through August they're open
10a-4p Wednesday through Saturday, noon-4p Sundays. In May and in
September they're only open weekends - noon-4p. Closed holidays and also
the weekend following Labor Day. For more information, phone
1-712-323-2509.
If you are eastbound and are already on I-480, where I-480 meets I-29,
I-480 officially ends and becomes W. Broadway (US-6). Just continue
eastbound on Broadway to Pearl Street. It will be the next street on
your right after S. 6th Street. Turn right and you'll see the jail; and
courthouse two blocks up on your right.
If you are on I-80, take exit 5. Turn left at the end of the off
ramp if eastbound, right of westbound. The first street is Woodbury Ave.
Turn left on Woodbury and follow it to where it joins US-375. Follow
US-375 to 16th Avenue. Turn left, cross the tracks, go a block and turn
right on South Main street (just before you would cross the next track).
Follow Main Street north and just after you cross another track is 9th
Avenue. The third street on your left after 9th Avenue is Pearl (it
leads off at a slight angle rather than as a cross street. The
courthouse and jail is two more blocks on your left.
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