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Lake Keomah
Lake Keomah State Park is a 366 acre park that features an 84-acre lake, a three-mile hiking trail, two shelters for gatherings and campsites. The campgrounds are open April 1- Oct. 31 and reservations are required. The lake was drained of water in 2024 for a restoration project that is still ongoing. The park is located about five miles east of Oskaloosa near Highway 92.
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Appanoose County Historical & Coal Mining Museum
Located at 100 W Maple St in Centerville, IA, the Appanoose County Historical & Coal Mining Museum preserves and showcases local history through exhibits on coal mining, farming, historic photos and everyday artifacts. The museum offers a glimpse into the county’ s past, helping visitors connect with the people, places and industries that shaped Appanoose County.
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Iowa Heartland History Connection
Previously the Wapello County Historical Museum, the IHHC’ s mission is to identify, collect and preserve artifacts, images and documents from the region’ s history. The campus at 700 Farm Credit Dr. in Ottumwa had its grand opening in April 2022, and includes the Iowa Heartland History Museum, the Iowa Heartland Research and Archive Center and the Iowa Heartland Event Center. There is also a children’ s area for learning. For more information, call 641-682-8676 or visit iaheartland. org.
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Mars Hill Church & Cemetery
Located at 1011 100th Ave in Bloomfield, IA, Mars Hill is a historic church and cemetery site in Wapello County known for its rich local heritage. The church is considered one of the oldest log cabin churches still in use in Iowa and is said to have served as a stop along the Underground Railroad. The adjoining cemetery is the final resting place of a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. Along with its historical significance, the site is also locally known for reported ghost stories and UFO sightings.
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Naval Air Station Ottumwa
While the Midwest may not be the first place one thinks of for a naval air base, NAS Ottumwa served an important role in training pilots in World War II. From March 1943 to the end of the war, the station graduated 4,626 pilots while averaging 1,000 flights per day. Today, the Friends of NAS Ottumwa work to preserve this station and honor the hard work and sacrifices of those stationed there as a reminder of southeast Iowa’ s contributions to the war effort. The building is located at 14550 Terminal Ave. in Ottumwa. For more information, visit www. nasottumwa. org.
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Nelson Pioneer Farm and Museum
In 1843, pioneers and Margaret Nelson settled in Mahaska County. More than a century later, their descendants ensured the farm would be home of the Mahaska County Historical Society. The farm and museum have many historical artifacts and buildings. Nelson Pioneer Farm is located at 2211 Nelson Lane in Oskaloosa.
26 101 + Things To Do 2026