Men and women in a fun run activity - running club history routes

Running · County in Iowa

Running Club History Routes in Des Moines County, IA

Club runs that pass listed sites, with the distances worked out and a story to tell at the regroup stops.

A club needs a reason to show up on a Saturday. Des Moines County is one of 99 counties in Iowa. A route through local history is a reason people will actually put on the calendar.

Group of people running on stadium - running club history routes — Photo: Steven Lelham on Unsplash

A diverse group of adults jogging together on a city bridge during the day - running club history routes — Photo: Cottonbro on Pexels

Woman jogging outside historic baroque building with arches - running club history routes — Photo: Connor Scott McManus on Pexels

On the record near Des Moines County, IA

The 12 nearest

120 listed historic sites on the record within 30 miles of Des Moines County, IA. 25 listed sites carry Des Moines County as their county.

Dodge, Augustus Caesar, House2.3 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1980National Register of Historic Places
German Methodist Episcopal Church2.4 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1977National Register of Historic Places
Snake Alley2.4 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Structure · Burlington · listed 1974National Register of Historic Places
Burlington Public Library2.4 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1975National Register of Historic Places
Jagger-Churchill House2.4 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1982National Register of Historic Places
Church of St. John the Baptist2.5 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1982National Register of Historic Places
White, Abiathar and Nancy, House2.5 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 2014National Register of Historic Places
First Congregational Church2.5 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1976National Register of Historic Places
Hedge Block2.5 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1982National Register of Historic Places
Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Freight House2.6 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1983National Register of Historic Places
Hotel Burlington2.6 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1987National Register of Historic Places
The Capitol Theater2.6 miles from the center of Des Moines County · Building · Burlington · listed 1996National Register of Historic Places

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

Running Club Routes in Des Moines County, step by step

1
Pick the distance first, then the stops that fit it
2
Load the route and note the regroup points
3
Run easy and stop at each marker long enough to read it
4
Take one photo per stop, no more, and keep moving
5
Save the route so the next run starts where this one ended

What people in Des Moines County, IA ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Des Moines 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.

Can our group in Des Moines County, IA build its own route?

Yes. Pick the listed sites that fit your theme, add your own notes for each stop, and share the route with members or the public.

Do members need to download anything?

The map runs in a phone browser, so members can open a link and go. The app keeps track of badges for anyone who signs in.

How a visit works in Des Moines County

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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.