Iowa is well-known for agriculture, but the state offers a cornucopia of arts and culture as well. Each region has its own unusual spin on the arts. Some of Iowa’s culture comes from a rich immigrant background, from the Dutch tulips of Pella and the German heritage of the Amana Colonies to Council Bluffs’ Danish history and the Czech and Slovak experience in Cedar Rapids.
Add the music of Mason City, the literature of Iowa City and the laid-back river culture of Dubuque and the Quad Cities, and Iowa becomes a fascinating destination for any group looking to immerse themselves in culture while they take care of business.
Des Moines/Ames
Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines is not only the heart of the state, it beats with the pulse of Iowa’s biggest arts and culture scene, too. Planners will find a full roster of performing arts in Des Moines, including the Metro Opera, Ballet Des Moines, the Des Moines Symphony and a variety of theaters, including the Community Playhouse and the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, ranked one of the top theaters in the nation, according to Greg Edwards, CEO of the Greater Des Moines CVB.
“We get shows here before they visit destinations like Kansas City or Omaha,” he says. “The Civic Center is a huge draw for us. It surprises many people that Des Moines is a big financial and insurance hub with 63 insurance companies and 12 large institutions like Wells Fargo. Those companies boost our arts financially, which gives a lot of credibility to the arts and culture in Des Moines.”
For an outdoor event, planners shouldn’t miss the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, a 4.4-acre park featuring walking paths and striking works of art. The park, adjacent to the Des Moines Art Center, can be reserved for special events. The Art Center also offers excellent choices for meetings and receptions, from the 220-seat Levitt Auditorium to the stylish main lobby, which can accommodate up to 300 for a reception.
In nearby Ames, agriculture, history and education influence the area’s arts and culture scene. Reiman Gardens, located at the edge of Iowa State University (ISU), provides a lovely natural setting in one of the largest public gardens in the state. There are also indoor areas to explore, such as the Butterfly Wing, a breathtaking butterfly habitat. Facility rentals and educational speakers are available. The largest space is the 5,250-square-foot conservatory, along with a number of classrooms and conference rooms.
ISU University Museums also offer five distinct cultural venues for groups, including the Brunnier Art Museum, the Anderson Sculpture Garden, the Christian Petersen Art Museum, the historic Farm House Museum, which is also listed as a National Historic Landmark, and the Art on Campus Program, which features a collection of 2,000 public works of art.
“We do lots of gatherings,” says Lynette Pohlman, director of the Iowa State University Museums. “We mainly do receptions, and groups can arrange guided tours through all of these venues.”
Pella
Less than an hour from Des Moines, Pella is best known for celebrating its Dutch heritage in colorful, springtime style with Pella Tulip Time, an annual festival of tulips held each May. Pella Historical Village features several historic buildings, including Vermeer Mill, a working 1850s windmill, and the boyhood home of Wyatt Earp.
The village portrays life from the 19th century to the early 20th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Group tours of the windmill, village and the Scholte House are available upon request, and small receptions are welcome. The Pella Opera House, built in 1900, has a theater that can accommodate up to 324 people.
Mason City/Waterloo/Marshalltown
North and east of Des Moines are the cities of Mason City, Waterloo and Marshalltown. Each town has a distinct flavor of the arts, from musical theater to agriculture and history.
Mason City is best known for two historic residents, Frank Lloyd Wright and playwright Meredith Willson, who wrote The Music Man. The Music Man Square is a tribute to Willson’s creation, complete with a museum, a River City streetscape, Willson’s boyhood home and Reunion Hall, which is available for banquets and other events.
For a different side of Mason City history, the last remaining hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright opened last year. The 27-room Historic Park Inn Hotel has been renovated and reopened so the modern generation can enjoy Wright’s work. The hotel also offers 8,000 square feet of meeting space.
Waterloo is home to the Grout Museum District and the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. While the museum honors all veterans, it receives its name from the five Sullivan men who perished together at sea in 1942 aboard the USS Juneau. The museum offers several spaces, including the main lobby, which can accommodate up to 250. Waterloo will also open a new John Deere Museum in 2013, which will focus on the down-home culture of the area and make an excellent backdrop for special events.
A rich history dating back to 1914 awaits attendees at the Orpheum Theater in Marshalltown. The original RKO theater went through a number of changes before becoming a mainstay of performing arts and film. The theater can accommodate up to 154 people, and there are also behind-the-scenes tours and an amphitheater and patio areas for summer events.
Cedar Rapids/Amana Colonies
The National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library, one of the jewels of Cedar Rapids history and culture, will reopen this July with improved and expanded space. A European exhibit of Alphonse Mucha’s work will kick off the facility’s new look, which features three galleries, including a 7,200-square-foot exhibition hall, a 400-seat reception hall, a 5,500-square-foot library and a terrace with a view of the Cedar River.
The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is home to the world’s largest collection of works by Iowan Grant Wood, and attendees can also tour Wood’s studio. The museum offers a variety of spaces for meetings and events.
Just a short drive from Cedar Rapids are the Amana Colonies, a religious German community founded in 1855. Groups can experience the area’s heritage through a variety of day tours, from a peek inside the lives of 19th century Amana women to tours through today’s agricultural business, from winery tastings to farm visits.
Local restaurants serving groups include the Ox Yoke Inn and Ronneburg Restaurant.
Iowa City/Coralville
Iowa City has a unique claim to cultural fame in the state. It was declared a “City of Literature” by UNESCO in 2008, one of only three in the world. It achieved this status mainly because of the stellar Iowa Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa, and the honor has spawned a handful of cultural experiences groups can include in meetings and downtime, such as a guided Literary Walk past important sites and noted memorials for authors. The Iowa City/Coralville CVB and the university can also arrange for writers to speak to groups or hold mini-workshops for spouses or to build better communication among attendees.
The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, which opened last year, is the main venue for concerts, lectures, musicals and plays, and also offers meeting and event space in addition to the 472-seat theater.
Dubuque
The Mississippi River inspires the art of Dubuque, a port city that wears its heritage proudly, from the elegant Victorian homes perched on bluffs above the river to the 1890 Grand Opera House, showcasing music, theater and more. The 625-seat theater is available for rental, or planners can arrange a reception at the Dubuque Museum of Art, which offers its 20th century American regionalist collection as a stunning backdrop for events.
Also unique to Dubuque is the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, which highlights the natural wonders and river culture of the area. Planners can rent indoor spaces as well as an outdoor amphitheater. Meanwhile, the city features the America’s River Festival, with a variety of live music performances, the Art on the River exhibit, featuring dozens of unique public art pieces, and the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, which had its inaugural event in April.
The riverfront is also home to Dubuque’s impressive Grand River Center.
Quad Cities
A vibrant art scene welcomes attendees in the Quad Cities, formed by Bettendorf and Davenport in Iowa and Rock Island and Moline in Illinois. From local works at the Bucktown Center for the Arts to the national prestige of the Figge Art Museum, attendees can enrich their minds and souls with breathtaking artistic exhibits.
Planners can go big with the Adler Theatre, an Art Deco jewel hosting plays and musical acts like the Oak Ridge Boys, or get attendees involved in the story with Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse. Another don’t-miss attraction is the River Music Experience, a facility dedicated to American roots music.
“The arts and cultural amenities of the Quad Cities are so important that a whole new festival is being created around arts, culture and heritage in the Quad Cities,” says Lynn Hunt, vice president of sales for the Quad Cities CVB.
The East West Riverfest, held in September, will be a 10-day celebration of arts, culture, heritage and the Mississippi River.
Burlington
Also along the Mississippi River is Burlington, located in the southeast corner of the state. Most of the city’s performing arts revolve around Memorial Auditorium, a WPA-era historic building hosting the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra and performances by Burlington Civic Music Association. A large part of the town’s culture is in its heritage. Visitors can enjoy touring through the Phelps House Museum and the Hawkeye Log Cabin Museum.
Council Bluffs/Sioux City
On the other side of the state are Council Bluffs and Sioux City, two communities with a culture of historic exploration and other interesting remnants from the past to keep visitors fascinated.
Council Bluffs features monuments to the 1849 Gold Rush, Lewis and Clark and other historic figures and events, as well as a wealth of cultural institutions, several of which can be used for private events.
The Historic General Dodge House, a lavish Victorian home built in 1869, is a National Historic Landmark. It is available for receptions of up to 80 people and banquets of up to 60 people. The Danish Immigrant Museum offers speakers and workshops for group events. Other top options include the Western Historic Trails Center, spotlighting more than 200 sculptures; the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, housed in the historic Beaux Arts Carnegie Library; the Commemorative Air Force Museum; and the Historic Squirrel Cage Jail, a Victorian-Gothic structure built in 1885.
Sioux City boasts the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Planners can also hold events amid the grandeur of Sioux City’s Orpheum Theater, the stylish hub of concerts and symphony performances for the area.
Beth Bartlett is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus MidAmerica.
