Black Hawk: Museums, Trails, and Nature

Explore Black Hawk through a range of interests: regional history, technology, art, cycling and hiking trails, and nature watching. Each destination has its own focus—from historical collections to a trail network with more than 100 miles of trails. You can choose the topics that interest you most for your trip.

Museums and Regional History

The Grout Museum of History and Science features permanent and regularly changing exhibits on the region’s history. The same museum houses the James, Robert and Dick McKinstry Funded Library, the largest genealogical reference library in northeast Iowa. Those interested in family history will find a different way to explore the past here than through an exhibit of historical everyday objects.

The John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum focuses on the history of technology. It presents Deere equipment at the site of the very first Deere tractor factory and uses interactive exhibits to explore the history of John Deere. The museum is on the west side of the 30-acre TechWorks Campus in downtown Waterloo. The combination of exhibits and historic factory site gives this museum visit a distinctive focus.

The collection at the Waterloo Center for the Arts also has a clear historical starting point: it was established in 1962 with Marvin Cone’s painting I Have Loved the Unloved, donated by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Junior League. At the Victorian House Museum, furnishings, photographs, and everyday objects offer a glimpse of the period from 1880 to 1900. The Ice House Museum, meanwhile, is a round building dating from 1921; it displays tools once used to harvest ice from the nearby Cedar River.

The Cedar Falls Historical Society also has a special exhibition gallery and a Lenoir model railroad display. The Little Red Schoolhouse recalls a time when siblings and neighborhood children learned in a schoolhouse like this one. For a broader historical perspective, the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors the service and sacrifice of all Iowa veterans—from the Civil War to the present day.

Trails, Cycling, and Nature

The Cedar Valley Trails network covers more than 100 miles of trails. The trails are open year-round for hiking, cycling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The right activity therefore also depends on the season; check seasonal conditions and possible closures before your trip. Along the trail network, the Prairie Pathways project installs panels and kiosks that share the region’s natural and human history through images and stories. This is a way to explore local history through a range of interests while getting active.

Black Hawk Park is another destination with a direct connection to the trails, offering access to the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail. The Behrens-Rapp Filling Station/Visitor’s Information Center offers cyclists along the trail shaded benches, trail maps, and an air compressor. These are useful details for anyone planning time on a bike.

Nature watching brings other features to the fore. Hartman Reserve Nature Center is a 340-acre woodland surrounded by Waterloo and Cedar Falls. It is home to the largest publicly managed tract of upland forest in Black Hawk County. At George Wyth State Park, birdwatchers have spotted more than 200 bird species, along with other wildlife; this is a reported observation count and may change over time.

Markets, Programs, and Events

The Waterloo Urban Farmers Market brings together more than 40 vendors. They offer fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items, and hot food. The Cedar Valley Arboretum adds classes and programs for all ages to these outings, including activities for children and workshops for adults. Program options may vary by season.

The Riverloop Amphitheatre sits along the Cedar River. This venue has an exceptional design and spectacular views. The general seating area offers about 600 seats. Lost Island Themepark offers a very different experience: its design is divided into five immersive, themed elemental worlds—fire, air, earth, water, and spirit. The destinations featured here range from art, history, and nature to distinctively designed worlds of adventure.

Discover more destinations: Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Evansdale, Henry County, Ida County, Jefferson County, Des Moines County, Dickinson County.

For the overview of the wider region: Iowa.