Council Bluffs (pop. 58,000) was the site of American Indian powwows for centuries. Lewis & Clark met with the Otoe and Missouri Indians in 1804, a monument commemorates this meeting. Wabash Trace Nature Trail has become a sanctuary for wildlife including deer, turkeys, rabbits and migratory birds.
General Grenville M Dodge was chief construction engineer of the Union Pacific Railway. Built in 1869, Dodge's Victorian home is a fourteen room, three story mansion with parquet floors, cherry, walnut, and butternut woodwork.
Hours:
February 1 to December 31: 10am-5pm; Sun:1pm-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Easter - Christian
Pottawattamie Jail in Council Bluffs is also known as the "Squirrel Cage". It has three floors of revolving pie-shaped cells inside a cage. The jail was built in 1885 to control prisoners with minimum attention from the jailer.
Hours:
April 1 to October 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:1pm-4pm; Closed: Mon
November 1 to March 31: 12pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
The Kanesville Tabernacle was built in Council Bluffs in 1847 by 200 Mormon pioneers. A replica of the building stands today as a reminder of the First Presidency which the members sustained on Brigham Young.
The ailswest Railroad Museum and Model Railroad is located in the restored 1899 Rock Island Depot in Council Bluffs. Displays include railroad memorabilia, a model railroad and two restored steam locomotives.
Squirrel Cage Jail in Council Bluffs is one of the only three remaining rotary cell type jails left standing in the United States. Three floors of revolving pie shaped cells inside a cage in a "Lazy Susan" style.
Hours:
April 1 to October 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:1pm-4pm; Closed: Mon
November 1 to March 31: 12pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
The Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs traces the history of traveling west on the Mormon Pioneer Trail, the Oregon Trail, the California Trail and with the Lewis & Clark expedition. Displays include sculptures and photographs that depict life along the trails.
Hours:
April 1 to October 31: 9am-5pm
November 1 to March 31: 9am-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
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