Missouri Valley, Iowa

Interstate 29 and U.S. Highway 30 intersect at Missouri Valley and there are a
number of hotels, convenience stores, and restaurants by the interstate exit for
the town.

Missouri Valley also has a thriving downtown business district. The restored
Rialto Theater reopened in 1990. Owned by the community, first-run movies are
shown here daily.

West of Missouri Valley is the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, a popular
resting point for thousands upon thousands of migratory birds, especially ducks
and geese. About half a million snow geese visit the refuge in a typical year. The
peak month for birds visiting the refuge is November. The geese are followed
into the refuge by bald eagles, with some wintering here until March. Many other
kinds of wildlife have been observed from the roads in the refuge, including
deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, and fox squirrels. Herons,
beaver, muskrat, and mink can be found in the refuge's wetlands.

Three miles northeast of Missouri Valley on Highway 30 is the Harrison County
Historical Village and Iowa Welcome Center. The village is a collection of
buildings, some historical, some containing historical items. Preston Niles
started the village in 1937 when he moved a log cabin built in 1853 to this site
on the Lincoln Highway. In fact, on the village site is one of a handful of Lincoln
Highway markers still in its original location that were placed by Boy Scouts in
1928. Niles added items to the village over the next three decades until selling
the property to the Harrison County Conservation Board in 1969.
Today, in addition to the original log cabin, the village includes a country store, a
blacksmith shop, and a rural schoolhouse built in 1868 and used until 1959.
The gift shop offers Iowa crafts, souvenirs, clothing, and food and beverage
items. Visitors to the Welcome Center can try the cherry drink that has been
produced at the historical village since the 1930s.
The Welcome Center and gift shop are open every day of the year except
Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and Thanksgiving. Hours are 9-5 Monday
through Saturday and 12-5 Sunday. The historical village is open daily from mid-
April through November. Admission is $2 for adults and 75 cents for children
ages 6-12.