Keokuk is located in the state of Iowa and has a lot of culture to offer as well as great sights and interesting destinations. So if you’re planning a trip to Keokuk, you’ve come to the right place!
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Vacation in Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa is a beautiful, historic city located on the Mississippi River. With its riverfront parks and scenic views, Keokuk is a great place to take a relaxing vacation. There are numerous bed and breakfast establishments and small hotels located throughout the city, as well as camping options at nearby lakes and rivers.
There are plenty of things to do in Keokuk, Iowa during your vacation. Take a stroll through one of the many parks, visit the Museum of Mississippi Valley History, or tour the historic Victorian homes. There are also several festivals and events held throughout the year, such as the Keokuk Junction Railway Festival, the Mississippi River Balloon festival, and the Summertime Blues Festival.
If you’re looking for a little more excitement, take a short drive to one of the nearby casinos in Dubuque, Iowa or Hannibal, Missouri. Or if you prefer to stay close to home, there are plenty of golf courses, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities located in Keokuk. Whatever you choose to do during your vacation, Keokuk, Iowa is a great place to relax and enjoy yourself.
Sights in Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa is located along the Mississippi River in the southeastern part of the state. It is the county seat of Lee County and has a population of just over 11,000 people. The city was founded in 1837 and was named after the last chief of the Sauk and Fox Indians, Keokuk.
The city is a popular tourist destination because of its location on the Mississippi River and its abundance of historical landmarks. The city is home to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, the Hotel Keokuk, and theiakuk Memorial Park.
The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium is a mustsee for anyone visiting Keokuk. The museum features exhibits on the history and culture of the Mississippi River. The aquarium is home to a variety of fish, reptiles, and amphibians that can be found in the Mississippi River.
The Hotel Keokuk is a historic hotel that was built in 1839. The hotel has been renovated and now features a restaurant and bar. The hotel is located in downtown Keokuk and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Memorial Park is a tribute to the Native Americans who once lived in the area. The park features a statue of Keokuk and a plaque that tells his story. The park is also home to a playground, picnic tables, and a walking trail.
History of Keokuk
Founded in 1827 as a strategic river town between St. Louis and Des Moines, Keokuk is one of the oldest cities in Iowa. Located at the southernmost tip of Iowa, Keokuk was a popular Native American settlement long before European settlers arrived. The Sauk and Meskwaki Indians both inhabited the area and used the Rockingham Site, an elevated land mass overlooking the Mississippi River, as a sacred burial ground.
In 1823, the U.S. government built Fort Edwards near the presentday city to establish American sovereignty in the region following the Louisiana Purchase. The fort was named after Colonel John Edwards, who was killed in the Black Hawk War. A year later, the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians signed the Treaty of Washington, ceding their tribal lands in Iowa to the United States.
The first permanent American settlement in Keokuk was established in 1827 when John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company built a trading post along the Mississippi River. The trading post was strategically located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers, making it an ideal spot for riverboat traffic.
Astor’s company began to bring in settlers from the eastern United States and Europe to work in the fur trade. Keokuk quickly became a thriving river town, with a population of over 1,000 by 1833. In 1837, Keokuk was designated as the county seat of Lee County.
During the Black Hawk War of 1832, Keokuk served as a safe haven for settlers fleeing the violence in Illinois. The war ended with the defeat of the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians, and the forced removal of the tribe from Iowa.
In the 1840s, Keokuk became a major steamboat port, with boats carrying passengers and freight up and down the Mississippi River. Keokuk also became a stopping point for westwardbound settlers on the Oregon and California Trails.
The city continued to grow in the 1850s, with the arrival of Irish and German immigrants. Keokuk’s population reached 5,000 by the time of the Civil War.
During the war, Keokuk served as a Union army camp and hospital. The city was also home to a large prison camp for Confederate soldiers. Keokuk’s strategic location made it a target for Confederate raids, and the city was attacked twice in 1864.
The war brought an end to Keokuk’s heyday as a river town. The construction of railroads in the late 19th century bypassed Keokuk and led to the decline of the city’s steamboat traffic.
Despite its decline, Keokuk remained an important city in southeastern Iowa. The city’s population grew steadily throughout the 20th century, reaching 11,326 by the year 2000.
Today, Keokuk is a small city with a rich history. The city’s riverfront is still home to a number of historic buildings, including the Astor House hotel, the only remaining hotel from Keokuk’s steamboat era. The Keokuk area is also home to a number of Native American archaeological sites, including the Rockingham Site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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