Prior to the railroads advent in Iowa, small villages were established at suitable locations that would provide a natural site for a mill. The Wagaman Mill location in Lynnville is such a site.
Located just minutes from Newton, the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990. Its mission is to re-construct tallgrass prairie and restore oak savanna on 8,654 acres of the Walnut Creek watershed. They also provide a major environmental education facility.
Acclaimed by cheese experts and food editors as America's finest blue cheese, Maytag Blue Cheese ranks among the world's great cheeses.
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Jasper County Attractions
The Chamber of Commerce is made up of more than 224 businesses, represented by 376 business leaders, from around the Greater Newton Area.
Silos & Smokestacks works with institutional partners, like Jasper County Museum, to preserve and tell the story of American agriculture and its global significance.
Jasper County Historical Museum
Colfax Historical Museum
The Prairie City Historical Museum is housed in two buildings and includes artifacts like the Dowden Potato Digger that was produced in Prairie City. They invite you for coffee at 9:00 a.m. Monday-Friday
The Grout Museum of History and Science is located in Waterloo and has permanent as well as changing historical exhibits. They have the only public planetarium in northeast Iowa as well as the areas largest genealogical library.
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Collecting, Preserving & Exhibiting Our Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial & Societal History
The main museum building, originally the Simpson Hotel, is located a 218 High Street, the primary downtown street. There are seven buildings in all with a variety of artifacts in each.