Area Attractions

Monticello, IA

Bowen's Prairie Cemetery: Located north of town on U.S. 151. It is the oldest pioneer cemetery in the area and it is all that remains of the area's first settlement in 1835.

Bridges: Two historical bridges in the area. The triple-arch bridge over Deer Creek is on Bridge Road off County D62. It was built in 1862. Most of the stone came from a little creek bed upstream. The Bowstring Bridge is used as a walking bridge over a segment of the lake in Central park in Center Junction. It was built in 1873.

Canoe Rentals: Take one of a variety of trips down the Maquoketa River. Rental from Memorial Day-Labor Day. Shuttle service provided. Call 563/465-3697.

Downtown: Retailers for nearly any need. New for 2000 is the newly completed streetscape project. New banded sidewalks, buried overhead wires and decorative street lights.

Historical buildings: There are many architectural sites in the city. Four date to the 1800s and others to the early 20th century. They are: Martinsen House, 535 West Seventh St.; Masonic Temple, 205 East Grand St.; Farwell House Bed and Breakfast, 321 N. Chestnut St.; Oldest Business Building, 102 E. First St.; Old Lovell Bank Building, 111 E. First St.; Shover-Hall Mansion, 326 N. Walnut St.; Carpenter-Wears Home, 233 N. Walnut St. and Monticello Public Library, 116 E. Grand St.

Jacobs Park: Fourth and Fifth streets. Site includes a playground.

Monticello Berndes Center: North Maple Street (fairgrounds). The center is sometimes available for tennis, open basketball and open volleyball. It is also used for wedding receptions and banquets.

Monticello City Park: North Maple Street. Includes area for picnicking, shelters and playground equipment. There are also ball diamonds and camping facilities.

Monticello-Maquoketa Dam: U.S. 151 on north edge of Monticello. There is fishing and boat access to the Maquoketa River at the 50-acre site.

Old Stone Bridge: On Hardscrabble Road. This bridge has been featured in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not." All three arches were built by a Mr. Ely without the use of a keystone, considered an architectural feat in 1890.

Par 3 Golf: Scotch Grove at Coonhunter's Club.

Panther Park: 321 W. South St. behind Shannon Elementary School. Community playground with play structure.

Pictured Rocks: Iowa 38. Facilities for picnicking, trails and fishing at 26-acre site.

Riverside Gardens: At the intersection of Third Street and U.S. 151. It has 33 flower beds, a picnic area, 2½ acres of wetland, nature trails, gazebo and wishing well. The wetlands and gardens have cement handicapped accessible walkways.

Rose Wildlife Area: Four miles east of Scotch Grove. The 13-acre site is a wildlife refuge.

Track: The new all-weather track at the football field. It is used to host local and surrounding town track meets. It is open to the public for walking and jogging.

Walnut Acres Campground: Iowa 38 north of town. There is camping, fishing and boating. There is a large lake stocked with fish. It is open through Oct. 15.

Stone City, IA

Stone City Art Colony: In 1932, Grant Wood and Adrian Dornbush, an art instructor at The Little Gallery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, established an art colony in Stone City. With little more than $100 and a number of promissory notes based on the success of the art colony they leased 10 acres of land on the Green estate. (200 acres of the estate had been purchased by Frank Nissen in 1920.) The parcel of leased land included the Green Mansion, the Ice House and Water Tower.

The upstairs portion of the house was converted into a dormitory. The rest of the house was used for business offices, kitchen, a sculpture studio and showers for the men.

The basement of the ice house was made into a bar called “The Sickle and Sheaf” where instructor/student Dennis Burlingame tended bar. The upper portion of the water tower was converted into an apartment where Adrian Dornbush lived. It was called “Adrian’s Tomb.”

The art colony failed. In terms of attendance and reputation the colony was a huge success. However, it was never a financial success. Many of the students had been allowed to work, rather than pay for their tuitions and the colony was pressed to pay its bills.

Parks

* Wapsipinicon State Park on County E-34, more than 250 acres south of Anamosa on the Wapsipinicon River, with facilities for picnics and overnight camping. Surrounding facilities include fishing, clubhouse and golf.

Area Camping

Monticello, IA

* Walnut Acres Campground; north of Monticello on Iowa 38, offers primitive and modern campsites, shuttle service to canoe rental, fishing equipment and candlelight lane June 20 from 9:15 to 10:30 p.m. Enjoy fishing and swimming in the lake.