Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food & Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

'A way to start over again’: Collaboration aims to replant…

24-hour COVID-19 vaccine clinic to take place this weekend

Iowa’s public works needs ignored too long, White House reports

Only previous Iowa state trooper shot to death was former…

House GOP calls for freezing funding for ‘bloated’ regents universities

Two members added to Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Home / Living / Recreation

Cedar Valley has several memorable museums

By Marion and Rich Patterson, correspondents Mar. 25, 2021 2:01 pm Updated: Mar. 25, 2021 2:01 pm
Cedar Valley has several memorable museumsCedar Valley has several memorable museumsCedar Valley has several memorable museumsCedar Valley has several memorable museums

Interstate 380 felt like a tunnel bisecting snow banks as we drove to Cedar Falls to see, of all things in this long winter, the Ice House Museum.

Although normally closed in winter, Carrie Eilderts, executive director of the Cedar Falls Historical Society, graciously opened it for us to reveal a pandemic serendipity.

Ages ago, before we heard of coronavirus, we'd trek in all compass directions to tour out-of-state historic and natural attractions. Then the disease turned travel on its nose. Shunning drives or flights to distant places, we've spent the past year visiting Iowa sites we once drove by.

Cedar Falls Ice House Museum is one of those sports. Located west of US 218 at 121 Center Street, we'd driven by it many times without even knowing its existence.

'There are many ice harvest displays across the country, but ours is the only ice house museum located in an ice house,” Eilderts said.

The impressive circular brick structure is adjacent to a dammed-up section of the Cedar River. Iowans once labored on frigid winter days, pulling in the year's first crop - ice.

Inside we learned how ice was cut from the river, hauled into the icehouse, insulated with sawdust and stored until warm weather arrived. Then - throughout the spring, summer, and fall - an 'ice man” delivered blocks of frozen river to homes throughout the area.

Before refrigerators, people kept blocks of ice in their kitchen ice box to preserve food. Ice harvesting and ice houses were once common across the northern United States, but closed as electric refrigerators entered the market. They were in many homes by the 1930s. The Cedar Falls Ice House was built in 1921, just as refrigerators were coming on the market. It closed after only 12 years of operation.

The museum is open mid-May until October and operated by the Cedar Falls Historical Society, only a minute's walk from the 1925 era Behrens-Rapp historic filling station that serves as a visitor center today. Adjoining is the Little Red Schoolhouse, also operated by the historical society. Admission is free.

GABLE MUSEUM

We drove to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Dan Gable Wrestling Museum next, located at 303 Jefferson Street in downtown Waterloo.

We are generally nature and travel writers and somewhat sports naive, so the visit brought us up to speed on the significance of wrestling in Iowa and beyond.

'Iowa high schools have had active wrestling programs for a century now, and colleges quickly followed,” said Jim Miller, executive director.

The museum is named for one of the best-known Iowans, Waterloo native Dan Gable, who is famous among wrestling fans worldwide for his remarkable athletic and coaching career. The museum highlights his career as an Iowa State and Olympic wrestler, and University of Iowa coach.

We also learned about many other accomplished wrestlers. Among them former US Rep. Jim Leach, who noted, 'wrestling is a little understood undertaking. All sports mold to some degree the persona of those who participate. Wrestling - the world's oldest sport - taps uniquely aspects of the human psyche. Indeed, a wrestling mat is the most egalitarian circle in the world.”

Wrestling referee Blake Spotts of Nora Springs affirmed the positive impact wrestling has on lives. Spotts comes from a wrestling family and said 'because of wrestling I truly feel that I have gained years of wisdom and life lessons that would have otherwise taken twice as long for me to understand.”

This is the centennial year of high school wrestling in Iowa. The high school state tournament was held in February, but the NCAA Division I Championships are next weekend in St. Louis.

In addition to documenting Iowa's illustrious wrestling history, the museum's several halls also feature quirky history. Greco-Roman history, wrestling from horseback and Biblical references. The Lincoln Lobby highlights Abe Lincoln's 100 freestyle wins painted by Alley-oop cartoonist Jack Bender and his wife Carole.

In the professional wrestling hall, we learned about colorful Waterloo wrestler, labor organizer and ordained minister Claude 'Thunderbolt Patterson.”

We found it's good to take breaks between museum touring. So, before our last stop, and being COVID-19 conscious, we opted for a carryout lunch from Newton's Paradise Café. We enjoyed it while basking in bright sunshine along the Cedar Falls-Waterloo waterways.

The Cedar River flows through the two cities and parks abound. George Wyth State Park and Big Woods Lake Recreation Area offer camping, fishing, kayaking, disc golf and walking and bicycle trails, such as single track and cyclocross for the adventuresome.

GROUT MUSEUM DISTRICT

After a break, we transitioned to the nearby Grout Museum District in Waterloo. It is actually several museums, including the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Grout Museum of History and Science, Carl and Peggy Bluedorn Imaginarium, Rensselaer Russell House Museum and the Snowden House.

Some of the buildings were closed on this winter day and staff hope to open them later in the year.

We spent most of our time at the Veterans Museum, which has separate areas for each war our country has engaged in since Iowa became a state.

The museum is probably best known as a tribute to the Sullivans, five Waterloo brothers who were killed when their ship, the USS Juneau, was sunk by the Japanese off Guadalcanal in 1942. The tragedy stirred a myth the Navy adopted a policy to not allow siblings to serve on the same ship. The practice is discouraged, but not banned.

The museum includes a replica of the Juneau and a reconstructed section of its bow that overlooks the atrium and a World War II fighter plane. Nearby exhibits tell the story of veterans from the Civil War to the present day. Rich appreciated an exhibit of the massive 16-inch diameter projectile and six bags of gunpowder used to fire each round in the battleship Iowa's massive guns. We were chilled by the nearby Vietnam section with its rows of dog tags, signifying Iowans who never returned.

Other exhibits feature a display of the struggle for women's rights over the decades. Short videos of prominent Iowans capture the essence of progress. Voices of Iowa Oral History Project shows Iowans sharing both wartime, home front and farm stories full of emotion and perspectives of the day. These also are available on the website.

Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for veterans and those in active duty.

IF YOU GO

Waterloo and Cedar Falls are just over an hour's drive northwest of Cedar Rapids. There is much to see and do. The region is studded with parks and lakes. George Wyth State Park has a pleasant campground. Cedar Falls is home of the University of Northern Iowa with attractions that include its own museum and the Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Three museums are plenty for us to tour in a day. Time didn't allow us to visit other parts of the Grout Museum District, but we'll return.

For more information and other places in Cedar Falls and Waterloo to take in:

- Cedar Falls and Waterloo Visitor Centers

- John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum. Currently closed due to COVID-19.

- Grout Museum District, which includes the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veteran Museum

- Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area

- National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum

- Little Red Schoolhouse

- Ice House

- Behrens-Rapp Filling Station

- Tallgrass Prairie Center

- Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens

- Barn Happy. Classic 1920s restored dairy barn now an Iowa products and sweet treat stop.

Outside the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, which is part of the Grout Museum District. (Grout Museum)
Executive Director Jim Miller poses by the Dan Gable Learning Center, which is unique and open to youth wrestling. (Marion Patterson/correspondent)
Military flags inside the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. Statues of the brothers can be seen in the right corner. (Marion Patterson/correspondent)
The ice house museum is the only known one in an actual ice house. (Marion Patterson/correspondent)

Trending

  • 24-hour vaccine clinic in Cedar Rapids this weekend open to…

    Michaela Ramm

  • Cooper DeJean, Iowa’s everything football player

    Leah Vann

  • Cyclist hit Wednesday in Coralville dies

    Lee Hermiston

  • Iowa City man faces life in prison for sexually abusing…

    Trish Mehaffey

  • Drake Relays 2021 form chart: Current cutoffs, state leaders and…

    Jeff Linder

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Time traveling in Iowa

Time traveling in Iowa

By Marion and Rich Patterson, correspondent Outdoors Mar. 12, 2021 10:47 am

Marion’s Prospect Meadows planning a new game: Paintball

Marion’s Prospect Meadows planning a new game: Paintball

Grace King News Feb. 13, 2020 5:31 pm

Jones Golf Course back to full strength — for now

Jones Golf Course back to full strength — for now

Government & Politics Mar. 10, 2020 3:14 pm

Recreation

Twisters gymnastics teams shine at state tournaments

Twisters gymnastics teams shine at state tournaments

Community

Recreation Apr. 9, 2021 12:46 pm

Maquoketa Caves reopening April 15

Maquoketa Caves reopening April 15

Erin Jordan

Recreation Apr. 6, 2021 4:48 pm

Resistance training important as we age

Resistance training important as we age

J.R. Ogden

Recreation Apr. 5, 2021 10:56 am

RV sales soar ahead of pandemic’s second summer

RV sales soar ahead of pandemic’s second summer

Tom Barton, Quad-City Times

Business News Apr. 1, 2021 11:07 pm

Life

Sowing Success

Sowing Success

Dorothy de Souza Guedes

Home & Garden Apr. 11, 2021 1:45 pm

Find the perfect quilt this weekend at Quilt Amana, inaugural…

Find the perfect quilt this weekend at Quilt Amana, inaugural…

Diana Nollen

Community Apr. 7, 2021 2:03 pm

Iowa Senate passes mental health funding changes

Iowa Senate passes mental health funding changes

Rod Boshart

State Government Apr. 6, 2021 9:59 pm

The gardener’s gardener is ready for spring at Fairfax Greenhouse

The gardener’s gardener is ready for spring at Fairfax Greenhouse

By Steve Gravelle, correspondent

Business News Apr. 5, 2021 12:32 pm

Sports

Kirkwood ready for national volleyball tournament

Kirkwood ready for national volleyball tournament

K.J. Pilcher

Sports 27m ago

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Ben Visser

Sports 90m ago

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Basketball Apr. 12, 2021 3:56 pm

Iowa center Noah Fenske to transfer

Iowa center Noah Fenske to transfer

Hawkeye Football Apr. 12, 2021 1:58 pm

News

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 1h ago

More than 750,000 Iowans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

More than 750,000 Iowans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Kat Russell

Health Care and Medicine 54m ago

Biden wants infrastructure deal, but GOP doubts persist

Biden wants infrastructure deal, but GOP doubts persist

AP

News 90m ago

Tennessee school shooting kills 1, wounds police officer

Tennessee school shooting kills 1, wounds police officer

AP

News 90m ago

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company