1010 198th Place
641.628.2409
Built in 1880 as a one-room schoolhouse, the Amsterdam school provides a glimpse into the past.
Open: By appointment year around
Group tours welcome. 

812 University
641.628.9000 (Information) or 877.462.3687 (Admission Office)
Central College is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college.  Central has 1,635 students and offers bachelors' degrees in areas including 36 majors and other pre-professional programs. 
Central College

1378 Highway G-28, Otley 50214
641.627.5935
This tower is the tallest observation tower in a public park in the Midwest.  The observation deck measures 106 feet tall with 170  steps to the top.  It also has the longest continuous fiberglass staircase in the world. 
Open: All year, outdoors, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Group Tours and Admission Fee 

1357 Main Street
641.628.3592 or 641.628.8859
A “must-see” for antique lovers and wood workers, this Dutch inspired, 19th century reproduction home was designed from memory and built by a Pella couple who immigrated from Holland at the turn of the century. Originally named De Zee Meeuw (The Sea Gull), this polished masterpiece offers museum-quality antiques, chandeliers, and hand-made lace. It also features a built-in Dutch bed, tower room, balconies, and exquisitely crafted wood and stone details. A thirty-minute guided tour explains the details of this elegant and fascinating private home. (Located 6 blocks north of Central Park on Main Street) 
Open: May-September on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. or by appointment anytime
Group Tours and Admission Fee; Large Group Rates Available 
Hagens Van Willigen House

Half block east of square on Franklin Street
641.628.2626
Eight four-foot mechanical figures perform at regular intervals to the music of a 147-bell computer driven carillon.  This is one of only a handful of animated musical clocks in the United States.
Klokkenspel plays: Monday-Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at the top of each hour from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Half block southeast of square
641.628.2246
The Molengracht, which means "mill canal", is a complex of 5 buildings that combines 21th century entrepreneurial spirit with Old World charm.  The plaza includes a canal, drawbridge, hotel, resaurants, tri-plex movie theater, Pella Window Store, professional office space, and underground parking.
Open: Year around 
Molengracht

507 Franklin Street, PO Box 145
641.628.9463
The Vermeer Mill is an 1850's working mill and is the tallest in the United States.  Guided tours begin in the Interpretive Center every 30 minutes.  Adjoining the windmill is the Historical Village with colorful flower gardens and a complex of 20 buildings that depict home life in Pella from pioneer days to the early 20th century.  The boyhood home of Wyatt Earp is located within the Historical Village.  The miniature Dutch Village, with over 100 buildings replicating villages in Holland, is a delight to all.
Open: March through December Monday-Saturday at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Last tour begins at 4 p.m.).  Summer Holidays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Group Tours, National Register Historic Site, Admission Fee 
Pella Historical Village

611 Franklin Street
641.628.8625 or 800.720.6327
The Pella Opera House: It is about history . . . It is about the performing arts . . . It is about special occasions . . . It is about meetings, dinners, and exhibitions . . . It is about tours . . . It is Pella!  Built in 1900, this historic treasure features a Barton vintage organ and an ornate tin ceiling.  The theater seats 324.
Open: Monday through Saturday
Group Tours, National Register Historic Site, Admission Fee 
Pella Opera House

102 Main Street
641.621.6224
The restored Pella Depot is a transportation site used to portray items of historical importance to Pella Corporation.
Open: Monday-Saturday (excluding holidays) 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
National Register Historic Site 
Rolscreen Museum

728 Washington Street
641.628.3684
The Scholte House, built in 1847, displays the life of Pella's founder; the 22 rooms are carefully laid out for self guided tours.  The garden's bloom with tulips in the spring and annual flowers throughout the summer.  The bronze sculptures celebrate Pella's Dutch immigrants.
Open: March through December Monday-Saturday at 1-4 p.m. or by appointment.
Group Tours, National Register Historic Site, Admission Fee 
Scholte House & Gardens

1681 220th Street
Leighton, IA 50143
641.672.WINE (9463)
Open: Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun, Noon-6 p.m.
Nestled in the picturesque farmland of Mahaska County, family-owned Tassel Ridge Winery "takes Midwest winemaking to new heights."  The winery is surrounded by 41 acres of vineyards and includes a state-of-the-art cellar.  The Tassel Ridge label wines ranges from light, fruity whites to rich, complex reds and includes a traditional sweet wine and dessert wines.  
Groups welcome 
Tassel Ridge

Want to visit more wineries?  Check out the Heart of Iowa Wine Trail.

Downtown Square
641.628.2626
In 1968, the Tulip Toren was built and measures 65 feet tall.
Open: Year around

2110 Vermeer Road East
641.621.7017
The Vermeer Museum chronicles the history of Vermeer Manufacturing Company and the development of its industrial construction, environmental, and agricultural product lines, as well as the community.  The museum is located in the Vermeer Global Pavilion, a 75,000 square foot world-class training facility.
Open: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Group Tours 
Vermeer Corporation

Central College Campus
641.628.9000
The Vermeer Science Center was the state's first building to receive a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2003-a silver rating. 
Central College

1378 Highway G-28
Otley, 50214
641.627.5935
Open: All year, outdoors 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Lake Red Rock
The Dragoon Trail is now a scenic road route along the Des Moines River, which marks the trail used by Dragoons to first explore this area.  A market on Highway 14, three miles north of Knoxville, marks the Dragoon Trail.
Open:  All year, driving route

Located below the Red Rock Dam (south side), off Jewell Drive
Knoxville, IA 50138
515.281.4815
This 38-acre refuge is prime habitat for bald eagles as well as neo tropical migrants and other wildlife. 
Open: April through November, outdoors (Note: Refuge is closed to all public access and use December 1 through March 31)

198th Place, near the Howell Station Recreation Area
Knoxville, IA 50138
641.828.2213
The 1881 Horn's Ferry Bridge was Marion County's first river crossing and wagon bridge over the Des Moines River.  The bridge is an excellent location to watch bald eagles soar over the river and observe other wildlife.
Open: All year, outdoors

3333 Rusty Wallace Drive
Newton, IA 50208
641.791.8000 
Iowa Speedway

1000 N. Lincoln St.
Knoxville, IA 50138
641.842.5431
This fabulous 25,000-seat, half-mile track is the home of the legendary Knoxville Nationals each August and weekly races from April-October.  The track also has 52 luxury suites.  Two classes of sprint cars (360's and 410's) race for the checkered flag each week during the racing season.
Open:  April-Oct; starting time for races is 6:45 pm.
Groups, admission fee 
Knoxville Raceway

214 E Main Street
Knoxville, IA 50138
641.828.2231
The 1896 Richarson Romanesque style courthouse houses many offices of city government.  
Iowa Flag: The original Iowa flag is on display inside the Marion County Courthouse and a memorial has been erected on the lawn to honor its creator Dixie Cornell Gebhart.  The flag design was officially adopted on March 29, 1921 by the Iowa general assembly.  
Red Rock Line:  In 1842, a treaty was made between the Sac and Fox tribes to buy 10 million acres of land.  From 1843 to 1845, settlers were not allowed west of the Red Rock Line, which ran north and south through territorial Iowa.  A market can be found on the southeast corner of the Marion County Courthouse grounds.
Open: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

306 Willets Drive, Marion County Park
Knoxville, IA 50138
641.842.4895
The village features a log cabin, little red schoolhouse, country store, stagecoach inn, church, machine annex and depot.  There is also a museum full of history and displays regarding Marion County.
Open: Memorial Day-Labor Day, Sat. & Sun. 1-5 p.m.
Groups, admission fee.

306 Willets Dr, Marion County Park
Knoxville, IA 50138
641.828.2213
The 1891 bridge features criss-crossed planks on the sides.  In the late 1960's, the bridge was cut in half.  The north 40 feet of the bridge can be seen at the Marion County Park and the south 40 feet is in the Wilcox Reclamation area.
Open:  All year, outdoors 6 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

101 NE Center, PO Box 412
Melcher, IA 50163
641.947.5651
The museum, which is located in the former Miners' Hall includes a reconstructed coalmine, mining tools, blacksmith's shop, local history memorabilia and Rock Island Railroad items.  Gift shop.
Open:  May-September by appointment, Sat. & Sun. 1-4 p.m.
Groups welcome

One Sprint Car Place, PO Box 542
Knoxville, IA 50138
641.842.6176 or 800.874.4488
This is the world's only museum dedicated to preserving the history of big car, sprint car and super modified racing.  Tour the Donald Lamberti National Sprint Car Hall of Fame year round.  Gift shop.
Open:  April-Sept; Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sun. 12 Noon-5 p.m.
October-March: Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. Noon-5 p.m. and Sun. Noon-5 p.m.
Groups, admission fee 
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum

1105 Highway T-15
Knoxville, 50138
641.828.7522
The Red Rock Dam was built to reduce flood damage along the Des Moines River.  Tours offer visitors a glimpes inside the structure and its history.

1105 Highway T-15
Knoxville, 50138
641.828.7522
In additin to the exhibits and the observation deck's great view of the lake, the center's staff and volunteers are available to provide lake information.  The bell from the Red Rock Church is located on the lawn of the Red Rock Visitor Center.  Red Rock was the first permanent river town in Marion County and received its name from the red sandstone, which is nearby.  Today, Red Rock lies under Lake Red Rock.
Open: February through March, Saturdays and Sundays, Noon to 4 p.m.;   April, Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; May, Monday through Friday, Noon-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.;  Memorial Day through Labor Day (everyday) 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; September and October, Saturdays and Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.;  November, Saturdays and Sundays Noon-4 p.m.
Group Tours 
Red Rock Visitors Center