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Cedar Rapids in the state of Iowa is a city in the heart of the Midwest. The area was originally inhabited by the Fox and Sac tribes before European settlers arrived in the early 1800s. The first permanent settler was Osgood Shepherd, and he established a log cabin in 1838, marking the beginning of what would become Cedar Rapids. The city was officially incorporated in 1849 and quickly grew as a center for commerce and industry, particularly with the arrival of the railroads in the late 19th century.
Cedar Rapids also held a strategic location along the Cedar River, which provided ample water power making way for its early development. The city became a hub for agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, and the economy diversified over the years, with significant contributions from the grain and livestock markets, as well as the production of cereals, packaged meats, and electronic equipment. Today, Cedar Rapids is known as a key economic center in Eastern Iowa.
Downtown Cedar Rapids is modern and located in the streets along the eastern bank of the Cedar River. You can walk along the riverfront and eventually start a walk at Plaza Park on May’s Island in the river. To the north is the Veterans Memorial Building, designed in the Beaux-Arts style and completed in 1927. The building contains a Memorial Window, Memorial Auditorium and a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and it served as the Cedar Rapids City Hall until 2008. To the south is the Linn County Courthouse, which was completed in 1925 in a similar architectural style as the city hall. The structures formed a civic center on the small island as a quite unique feature.
Back in downtown, you can see the streetscape and some notable buildings like the Paramount Theatre, that originally opened in 1928. It is another architectural gem in Cedar Rapids from its time. The historic theater, which was restored after significant damage from the 2008 flood in the city, now hosts a variety of performances, including concerts, Broadway shows, and community events. It has an impressive interior, featuring ornate plasterwork and a grand chandelier.
Close by, at Greene Square, you can visit the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Founded in 1905, the museum houses an impressive collection of American art, including works by Grant Wood, a native of Cedar Rapids. The museum’s modern building was designed by Charles Moore. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is another museum. It is located in the historic Czech Village, and the museum showcases the history and culture of Czech and Slovak immigrants who settled in the area. A third museum choice is the African American Museum Of Iowa which tells the story of the African American heritage and culture of Iowa.
If you head a bit east of downtown you can visit one of Cedar Rapids’ most iconic heritage buildings. It is Brucemore, a Queen Anne-style mansion built between 1884 and 1886. Brucemore is a historic estate set on beautifully landscaped gardens. You can visit the place where guided tours provide insight into the lives of the three prominent families who lived there. You can also head south to Mount Trashmore, towering over Czech Village and the NewBo neighborhood. Once a landfill, Mount Trashmore is turned into a spot for hiking, biking and getting great panoramic views to Cedar Rapids and Cedar River.
Des Moines is the largest city and the capital of the US state of Iowa. The town is located where the Raccoon River flows into the Des Moines River, where Captain James Allen established a fort in 1843. Allen wanted to name the site Fort Raccoon, but the U.S. The War Department preferred Fort Des Moines. In 1846 the fort was abandoned due to a reduced threat from Indian tribes, and in the same year settlers arrived at the fort, and in 1851 Fort Des Moines formally became a city, which from 1857 was simply called Des Moines.
That same year, the city became the capital of Iowa, instead of Iowa City. Des Moines grew to 22,000 residents in 1880, and in the latter half of the 1800s, the coal mining industry brought great growth to the city. At the beginning of the 20th century, Des Moines was developed with large beaux-arts buildings as part of a City Beautiful project, and in the 1930s construction was initiated as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal.
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Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin, and it is a vibrant city with an interesting history and cultural sights. Founded in 1836 and named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, the city was strategically chosen for its location on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona. Over the years, Madison has grown from a small settlement into a bustling city with a pivotal role in the political life of Wisconsin. The city’s rich history is evident in its well-preserved buildings and landmarks you can explore today.
The most iconic building in Madison is the landmark Wisconsin State Capitol. It was completed in 1917 and stands as a majestic monumental structure in the Madison skyline with a dome inspired by the U.S. Capitol. It is also the tallest building in Madison. The Capitol’s interior is adorned with beautiful murals, marble from around the world, and a stunning rotunda. Visitors can take guided tours to learn about the building’s history and architecture while enjoying panoramic views of the city from the observation deck.
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Chicago is one of the great cities in USA, and it is beautifully located at the shores of Lake Michigan. The city’s parks and skyscrapers create a skyline that is only seen a few places in the world. Here, the urban, eastern United States meets with the vast agricultural lands, forests and prairie of the Midwest, and just that strategically good location has attracted millions of residents since Chicago with 350 people became a city in 1833.
Chicago stands in the history of architecture as one of the pioneers of modern high-rise buildings, and the Chicago school made its mark on many places in the world, such as in New Zealand’s Auckland. Chicago itself, though, is the best place to admire the early-20th-century skyscrapers, which became ever higher over the years to top it with Sears Tower; the present Willis Tower.
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Springfield is the state capital of Illinois. The city was founded in 1821, and just 16 years later it became the state’s political center, not least thanks to the efforts of the young politician Abraham Lincoln. Since then, Springfield has been closely associated with the later American president, and this history forms an important part of the city’s attractions.
The state of Illinois’ current government building, the State Capitol, is the sixth of its kind in Illinois since the state’s admission to the United States in 1818. It was built 1868-1888. The building is 110 meters high, making it the tallest classical Capitol in the United States. The beautiful, zinc-clad dome measures 28 meters in diameter, and the style is French Renaissance.
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