Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Ottumwa (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: B'nai Jacob Synagogue, Ottumwa City Hall, and Ottumwa Cemetery. Also, be sure to include Jefferson Street Viaduct in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Ottumwa (Iowa).
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B'nai Jacob Synagogue
Conservative synagogue in Ottumwa, Iowa. B'nai Jacob Synagogue is a Conservative congregation in Ottumwa, Iowa. Established in 1898, it was originally Orthodox. It constructed its current synagogue building in 1915, and joined the Conservative movement in the 1950s. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.[1]
Ottumwa City Hall
City or town hall in Ottumwa, Iowa. Ottumwa City Hall is the official seat of government for the city of Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. The building originally served as a post office and federal courthouse. It is part of the Central Park area, which includes: Ottumwa Public Library, Wapello County Courthouse and St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[2]
Address: 105 E 3rd St, Ottumwa
Ottumwa Cemetery
Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa. Ottumwa Cemetery is a public cemetery located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. The entrance area of the cemetery forms a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. At the time of its nomination it was composed of four resources, which included two contributing buildings and two contributing structures.[3]
Address: 1302 N Court St, Ottumwa
Jefferson Street Viaduct
The Jefferson Street Viaduct is an historic structure located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. The riveted Warren deck truss bridge was completed in 1936. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 as a part of the Highway Bridges of Iowa MPS.[4]
St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church
Catholic church in Ottumwa, Iowa. St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Davenport. The church building is located on the corner of 4th and Court Streets in downtown Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Central Park area, which is the civic center of the community. It includes: the Wapello County Courthouse, the Ottumwa Public Library, and the Ottumwa City Hall. The church is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but it has not been listed.[5]
Address: 113 East Fourth Street, Ottumwa
Benson Block
Historical place in Ottumwa, Iowa. The Benson Block is a historic building located in downtown Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It is two-fifths of a building that was originally constructed in 1883 and was damaged in a fire in 1923. This part of the building was re-constructed as a theatre, but because it lacked a sufficient number of exits, was never used for that purpose. It is noteworthy for the decorative Neoclassical white terra cotta cladding on the façade, which enabled its owners to transform its original appearance. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. In 2016, it was included as a contributing property in the Greater Second Street Historic District.[6]
Jay Funeral Home
Jay Funeral Home, now known as the Robertson-Jay Funeral Home, is an historic building and funeral home located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. Local architect Archie Eaton designed the building in the Mediterranean Revival style. The two-story brick structure was completed in 1929. The exterior of the building features round arch windows, a tile roof, and a broad brick porte cochere. The building is noteworthy for its architecture and as an early example of funeral home design. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. In 1998 it was included as a contributing property in the Fifth Street Bluff Historic District.[7]
Address: 220 North Court Street, Ottumwa
Mars Hill
Church in Ottumwa, Iowa. Mars Hill is a historic church building and cemetery located near Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. Barbara Clark donated the property to the Baptist Church and the church building was built between 1850 and 1857. The rectangular structure is composed of dovetail notched hewn logs, and it is capped with a gable roof. The front door is a copy of the original. It is thought that its name comes from its location, but that cannot be substantiated. Local lore has it that the church building served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
A fire set by an arsonist nearly destroyed the building in 2006. After two years of fundraising and construction it was re-dedicated on June 8, 2008. Some of the original logs that were charred in the fire are still a part of the structure. It is one of the largest log buildings and one of the oldest log churches still in use in Iowa. A worship service is held in the now interdenominational church yearly in June.[8]
Address: 1011 100th Ave, 52537 Bloomfield
Trinity Episcopal Church
Episcopal church in Ottumwa, Iowa. Trinity Episcopal Church is located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It is a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. The building is a contributing property in the Fifth Street Bluff Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.[9]
Address: 204 East Fifth Street, Ottumwa
Wapello County Courthouse
Courthouse. The Wapello County Courthouse in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States, was built in 1894. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the fourth building the county has used for court functions and county administration. It is part of the Central Park area, which includes: Ottumwa Public Library, Ottumwa City Hall, and St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church.[10]
Address: 101 N 4th St, Ottumwa
Greater Second Street Historic District
The Greater Second Street Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. At the time of its nomination it contained 12 resources, which included 10 contributing buildings, one non-contributing building, and one non-contributing site. It is located on the northeast side of the central business district. The commercial buildings located here are mostly architect designed, which gives each of them a unique appearance. At the same time, it is a cohesive collection of buildings that exhibit early 20th century styles that are not found anywhere else in Ottumwa. They were either built or they had a new facade added from 1903 to 1930. Eight of the buildings are free-standing, and two of them are set back on their lots. For the most part the buildings housed professional offices and leisure activities. A few of them housed retail business. The Benson Block, the Benson Building, and the J.W. Garner Building are all individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another building is the headquarters of the local newspaper, the Ottumwa Courier.[11]