The state is named after the Native American tribe Ioway, also known as the Baxoje people. Iowa has a rich Native American culture, with approximately 17 native tribes inhabiting the region at some point in time. Today, only the Meskwaki tribe remain to carry on the heritage of the past years. Most ‘Iowans’ come from a North European background.

Apart from the golden dome of the State Capitol, the capital city is home to the uniquely-different Des Moines Art Centre, which is considered to be a piece of art in itself. Not to be missed is the Effigy Mounds National Monument which covers 2,526 acres of prehistoric Indian burial mounds, dating back to 500 BC. At Boone, one can find the Kate Shelley Bridge, which is the highest double-track railway bridge in the world. Not to be left out is the Fenlon Place Elevator in Dubuque, known for being the world’s steepest and shortest railway line.

The Great River Tug Fest is held every August and features a huge tug-of-war on the Mississippi River between Port Byron in Illinois and Le Claire in Iowa. In the months of June and July, festivals like the patriotic Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival and the mystic Mississippi Valley Blues Festival at Davenport see thousands of guests flocking to the region. The six-day Burlington Steamboat Days and the busy Iowa State Fair are also worth visiting.