Grant Wood Country

Grant Wood Country is a region in Eastern Iowa. The region is named after famous painter Grant Wood, who had lived in the area and taken the images of his paintings from scenes in the area. Anamosa is the largest city and anchor of the region, which has somewhat fluid borders but generally encapsulates the entirety of Jones, Jackson and Cedar Counties.

Cities

• 1 Anamosa : The county seat of Jones County and the center of Grant Wood history. He was born and was buried in the city.
• 2 Maquoketa  : The county seat of Jackson County.
• 3 Monticello  : A larger rural community in northern Jones County.
• 4 Sabula  : Iowa's Island City, Sabula sits on an island in the Mississippi River directly across from Savannah
• 5 Tipton  : The county seat of Cedar County.
• 6 West Branch  : A community in southern Cedar County and the birthplace of President Herbert Hoover.

Other destinations

• Grant Wood Trail: A 3½-mile nature trail near the small town of Olin, the trail runs along the Wapsipinicon River and illustrates many of the same landscapes used by Grant Wood. The State of Iowa plans to connect the trail with another trail of the same name near Cedar Rapids.
• Stone City: An unincorporated community near Anamosa in Jones County, it was home to the famous 1930s Stone City Art Colony founded by Grant Wood, Adrian Dornbush and Edward Rowan. The colony disbanded in 1933, but the town and its limestone architecture are still a cultural draw. Stone City was immortalized in Wood's "Stone City, Iowa" painting. The bridge found in the painting is a parker truss bridge similar to the Sutliff Bridge.
• Sutliff Bridge: While located in the I-380 Corridor region (in northeastern Johnson County), Sutliff Bridge is something of a local legend in the greater Grant Wood Country region. A parker truss bridge, the Sutliff spans over the Cedar River. The bridge had been scheduled for replacement and destruction, but was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Though severely damaged in 2008, it has been restored and is a popular destination in the area.

Understand

The Grant Wood Country was part of the Black Hawk Purchase, a session of land purchased from the Native American tribes in the area following the end of the Black Hawk War. The first European settlers chose to settle in the areas near rivers to facilitate trade. The area was known for its limestone, but later became associated with native son, Grant Wood, who completed many landscapes of the area.

Get in

• US 151: The region is accessible by using US 151 from either Dubuque or Cedar Rapids.

Get around

• IA 64: A primary east-west thoroughfare connecting Anamosa and Maquoketa to the Mississippi River, the route has been designated as the "Grant Wood Scenic Bypass" and features some of the best scenery in the State.

See

IA 64 is a particularly scenic route, especially between Anamosa and Maquoketa. An early spring or mid-fall drive will show the best landscapes.

Do

• 1 Maquoketa Caves State Park, 9688 Caves Rd (County Road Y-31), ☏ +1 563 652-5833, Maquoketa@dnr.iowa.gov. Six miles of trail link the caves and park facilities. See the stone Natural Bridge over Raccoon Creek and the 17-ton Balanced Rock. There are 13 caves in the park, ranging from easy access to opportunities for the serious caver. Playground, picnic tables, and restrooms. RV and tent camping with showers. Museum open on the weekends during the summer. Arrive early on summer weekends to avoid parking problems. No rock climbing or mountain biking. (updated Jul 2021)

Drink

• Baxa's Sutliff Store and Tavern, 5546 130th Street NE, Lisbon (From Lisbon, take Highway X20 due south), ☏ +1 319-624-2204, info@sutliffbridge.com. Baxa's sits on the eastern side of the Sutliff Bridge. 

Stay safe

Grant Wood Country is exceptionally safe, though travel may become difficult during snow or heavy rain.