Surprising Iowa

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By Timothy Rubacky, Senior Vice President

Every voyage on the American Queen is a perfect blend of unique Victorian-inspired touches, Southern-style cuisine, terrific entertainment, a gracious staff and the quaint cities and towns along the river. What we always find challenging here at the American Steamboat Company is educating consumers on the attractions to be found in places that the media often dismisses as being behind the times or uninteresting. There’s nothing that gets my blood boiling more than when people refer to the areas we visit as being “fly-over” country, meaning they are places that the rest of America flies over as they travel between what the media would have you believe are the far more exciting coasts.

And probably few places get more unwarranted abuse from newspapers, television and radio than Iowa. Folks in Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston or New York might not think of Iowa as a vacation destination but the fact people dismiss its appeal is exactly what makes Iowa so attractive. Sometimes the best treasures are those that are hidden and that we uncover for ourselves. Our complimentary hop-on, hop-off tours in each port are a perfect match with the warm and friendly people eager to show off their towns at every stop. There is so much to discover.

For example, in Burlington, we step back in time as we visit the Des Moines County Heritage Center. Experience what life was like in the 19th century and learn more about the importance of the river and rail in Southeast Iowa. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River from Mosquito Park. Named for its size, this park provides a bluff-top look at the massive river. We drive through Heritage Hill National Historic District. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, Heritage Hill lines the northern sector of downtown, and nearly 160 structures reflect many architectural periods and styles.

Our next stop is the Phelps House Museum. This home features furnishings dating from 1774 and is located at the top of Snake Alley. Perhaps Burlington’s most famous landmark, Snake Alley got its name from Ripleys’ Believe It or Not. The Alley consists of five half curves and two-quarter curves with a 58-foot drop over a distance of 275 feet. If you’re feeling brave, take a walk down the “crookedest street in the world” and our Steamcoaches will pick you up at the bottom of the alley to continue your tour. We then visit the renovated Capitol Theater, a 1930s Art Deco theater with a rich history. Take some time visiting unique, locally owned stores inside historic buildings along Jefferson Street before we conclude the tour at the Port of Burlington Welcome Center.

Our Premium Choice Tour in Burlington features a live cabaret show in the Bart Howard Room. Songwriter Bart Howard, a Burlington native, has been described as “elegant, urbane and smart in business matters.” Lena Horne included Howard's “Let Me Love You” in her repertoire. When Frank Sinatra turned 50, he asked Howard to write a song for him, and Howard composed “The Man in the Looking Glass,” which Sinatra included in his album September of My Years. Howard was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999 and at the end of his life saw his music regaining popularity.

Today, our guests enjoy a live cabaret show of his music and other cabaret standards in the room that was named in his honor. The hour-long show takes you back in time when Sinatra, Martin, Lena Horn and others ruled the airwaves.

Davenport has its own charms that refute the idea it is any place travelers would want to intentionally “fly-over.” Stroll from place to place and discover surprises among the gift shops and galleries. Stay to eat, drink, shop or play at the Village of East Davenport. Enter the very chic, hip and historic Hotel Blackhawk. Experience inspiring works of art from the 16th century to present day at the Figge Art Museum. Listen to the sounds of American roots music at the River Music Experience, where guests enjoy an exclusive show available only to those sailing on the American Queen. Learn about German immigration to the area at the German-American Heritage Center. Take time to explore the exotic plants, flowers, gardens, and ponds at the Quad City Botanical Center.

But the most important parts of this region of Iowa is the legacy of John Deere. We offer a Premium Choice Tour that begins with a James Deere re-enactor who boards the Steamcoach and narrates his life story from New England to Moline. Visit one of John Deere’s factories, the John Deere Seeding Group facility, and learn about this agricultural giant. Your guide then takes you to the John Deere Family Home to enjoy an escorted tour of his humble abode and glimpse into pioneer life. After the home tour, walk to the John Deere Pavilion where both modern-day and concept machines are displayed in their working environments, and hear stories about owners and operators as they describe a typical workday and learn about how John Deere equipment has changed their work and helped shape the land. You can even feel the power of a John Deere in action as excavators crawl through simulators in the hands-on full sensory tour experience.

Dubuque’s charms are located both inside and outside the town limits. Begin the hop-on, hop-off free tour with a drive by the Shot Tower, a seven-story structure built to produce lead shots for the civil war. Bask in the beauty of light filtered through 101 Tiffany stained glass windows at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Next on the tour is the Dubuque’s Museum of Art and the third largest collection of Grant Wood art in Iowa. At The Fenelon Place Elevator, enjoy a bluff-top view of the Mississippi River and downtown Dubuque. Hop-off at 2nd and Main Street at the Hotel Julien for some shopping or spa and beauty treatments before visiting the most impressive of the more than 16 legitimate theaters which served the community, the Grand Opera House. Lastly, visit the Dubuque County Jail, which once housed the Notorious Butch Cassidy who was detained there on suspicion of a local bank robbery. The Old Jail Museum & Dubuque County Courthouse is an example of Egyptian Revival-style and is only one of three of its kind still standing today.

But as much as there is to do in downtown Dubuque, we find many guests are drawn out into the countryside on our Premium Choice Tour to the cornfield and baseball diamond featured in the film Field of Dreams. Just bubbling with Americana, this tour leaves everyone feeling patriotic. The first stop is the National Farm Toy Museum to explore antique farm toys as well as contemporary contraptions. There’s even a miniature farm replica to convey the growth of American farming. But as the Steamcoach pushes on, deeper through the amber waves of grain, a diamond begins to emerge. It’s not a mirage; it’s the actual Field of Dreams baseball diamond and farm from the 1989 Academy Award winning film. Walk around the grounds or take a seat on the iconic bleachers and behold the majestic beauty of the surrounding cornfield. Walk the bases like Shoeless Joe Jackson or hit a few balls into the fields like Moonlight Graham. Owners of the Lansing Family farm have truly gone the distance in their efforts to keep the grounds simple and un-commercialized. Rounding out the day is a stop at Breitbach’s Country Dining. Adorned with turn of the century furniture and handmade quilts, it’s a true testament to America’s roots. Don’t be surprised if you’re greeted by owner Mike Breitbach himself, as he’s often on premise and loves for visitors to sign his guest book. Grab a slice of homemade apple pie and a hot cup of coffee at this home-style restaurant and enjoy a piece of America’s history.

Make no mistake about it, Iowa is the poster child for the very best of America. It shows in its work ethic, the care it has taken to preserve the past, the pride in each community, and the overflowing Midwestern hospitality that turns strangers into friends with just one port call. I invite you to join us this summer and explore Iowa on one of our voyages. You’ll find Iowa ports are part of a variety of itineraries sailing between St. Louis and Minneapolis/St. Paul, including our Good Old Summertime, Fall Foliage and American Hootenanny Themeboating adventures.