Girl sits looking at washington monument - history adventures for kids

Self-guided · County in Iowa

History Adventures for Kids in Dickinson County, IA

Short, active outings built for children, where each stop is a place to find, a story to hear and a badge to earn.

Visitors to Dickinson County, IA tend to see the same three attractions. Dickinson County is one of 99 counties in Iowa. The sites that tell you the most about the place are usually the ones with no gift shop.

Children looking at an exhibit in a museum - history adventures for kids — Photo: Fenghua on Unsplash

A child in a purple vest looking over a stone wall at a valley - history adventures for kids — Photo: Michele Biase on Unsplash

Young girl hikes on a rocky forest path - history adventures for kids — Photo: Aurel Tyson on Unsplash

On the record near Dickinson County, IA

The 12 nearest

29 listed historic sites on the record within 30 miles of Dickinson County, IA. 10 listed sites carry Dickinson County as their county.

Spirit Lake Massacre Log Cabinunder a mile from the center of Dickinson County · Building · Arnolds Park · listed 1973National Register of Historic Places
Pillsbury Point State Park1.6 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Structure · Arnolds Park · listed 1993National Register of Historic Places
Gull Point State Park, Area B1.9 miles from the center of Dickinson County · District · Milford · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Gull Point State Park, Area A2.2 miles from the center of Dickinson County · District · Milford · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Pikes Point State Park Shelter and Steps2.3 miles from the center of Dickinson County · District · Spirit Lake · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Spirit Lake Public Library2.8 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Building · Spirit Lake · listed 1980National Register of Historic Places
Antlers Hotel2.9 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Building · Spirit Lake · listed 2007National Register of Historic Places
Clark, Gerome, House5.2 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Building · Milford · listed 1977National Register of Historic Places
Moore, George M., Farmstead9.1 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Building · Jackson · listed 1987National Register of Historic Places
Okoboji Bridge10 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Structure · Milford · listed 1998National Register of Historic Places
Trappers Bay State Park Picnic Shelter11 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Building · Lake Park · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
District No. 92 School13 miles from the center of Dickinson County · Building · Jackson · listed 1988National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Dickinson County, IA. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

Kids History Adventures in Dickinson County, step by step

1
Set the area and the list of markers to find
2
Split into teams or go solo, with the map open
3
Find each marker and answer one question from its story
4
Photograph the marker to prove the find
5
Count the badges and pick a harder hunt for next time

What people in Dickinson County, IA ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Dickinson County, IA?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

How close does a site have to be to show up here?

The list is sorted by straight-line distance from the center of Dickinson County, IA and covers sites out to about sixty miles. Most people find several within a short drive, and in older towns a few within walking distance.

Can I visit the sites that are private homes?

You can see them from the street, which is how most listed houses are meant to be enjoyed. Please do not walk onto the property or knock unless the site is open to visitors.

How a visit works in Dickinson County

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Dickinson County, IA the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Dickinson County, IA are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.