Agriculture in Hardin County has made a permanent imprint on the landscape Courtesy of the Hardin County Community Development Council

The National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places, Hardin County Community Development Council, Hardin County Historic Preservation Commission, Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission, Ackley Historic Preservation Commission, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Iowa State Historical Society, and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) invite you to explore the proud agricultural history of Hardin County, Iowa. Located in the center of the state, the county was settled in the 1850s shortly after Iowa acquired statehood. The rural landscape is characterized by fertile farmland fed by the Iowa River, clusters of agricultural building, and small towns and communities rich with history. This latest National Register of Historic Places travel itinerary highlights 27 historic places--barns, civic buildings, churches, railroad depots, schools and libraries--that depict the history of the county, the "Heart of the Heartland."

In 1853, Eldora was the first town platted in Hardin County and today it is the county seat and location of the impressive Hardin County Courthouse. The county grew with the coming of the railroad, when national and international markets became easily accessible. The county's farms prospered, and many agricultural buildings were constructed such as the innovative Slayton Farms--Round Barn. Agricultural products got to market from many depots throughout the county, including the 1902 Iowa Falls Union Depot and the 1926 Illinois Central Combination Depot in Ackley. Entertainment played a part in the development of the county at places such as the Estes Park Band Shell, Princess--Sweet Shop, and the stunning 1899 Metropolitan Opera House. The importance of education to Hardin County residents

Historic view of Iowa Falls c1890 Courtesy of the Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission

is reflected in the stately Edgewood School of Domestic Arts, the 1936 New Providence School Gymnasium built by the Public Works Administration, and several Carnegie libraries such as those found in Alden, Iowa Falls, and Eldora. The entrepreneurial spirit of the mid-west is represented by successful commercial buildings such as the Ellsworth-Jones Building and Sentinel Block. Historic St. Matthew's by the Bridge Episcopal Church and Honey Creek Friends' Meetinghouse are testament to the important role played by religion throughout the county.

Hardin County, Iowa, offers several ways to discover the historic places that played important roles in the county's past. Each highlighted property features a brief description of the place's significance, color and, where available, historic photographs, and public accessibility information. At the bottom of each page the visitor will find a navigation bar containing links to four essays that explain more about Hardin County Settlement, Transportation, Agriculture, and Preservation and Conservation. These essays provide historic background, or "contexts," for many places included in the itinerary. The itinerary can be viewed online, or printed out if you plan to visit Hardin County, Iowa, in person.

Historic image of a parade in Iowa Falls Courtesy of the Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission

Created through a partnership between the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places, Hardin County Community Development Council, Hardin County Historic Preservation Commission, Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission, Ackley Historic Preservation Commission, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Iowa State Historical Society, and NCSHPO, Hardin County, Iowa, is an example of a new and exciting cooperative project. As part of the Department of the Interior's strategy to revitalize communities by promoting public awareness of history and encouraging tourists to visit historic places throughout the nation, the National Register of Historic Places is cooperating with communities, regions and Heritage Areas throughout the United States to create online travel itineraries. Using places listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the itineraries help potential visitors plan their next trip by highlighting the amazing diversity of the country's historic places and supplying accessibility information for each featured site. In the Learn More section, the itineraries link to regional and local web sites that provide visitors with further information regarding cultural events, special activities, lodging and dining possibilities as well as histories of the region, should they want to explore further.

Hardin County, Iowa is the 12th of more than 30 organizations working directly with the National Register of Historic Places to create travel itineraries. Additional itineraries will debut online in the future. The National Register of Historic Places, Hardin County Community Development Council, Hardin County Historic Preservation Commission, Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission, Ackley Historic Preservation Commission, and the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area hope you enjoy this virtual travel itinerary of Hardin County's historic places. If you have comments or questions please just click on the provided e-mail address, "comments or questions" located at the bottom of each page.