About Grinnell

MEET ME IN GRINNELL!

Self-Guided Tour Information

Learn Grinnell's history with an Architectural Landmark Walking Tour.

Explore Grinnell College's beautiful campus on a student-led Campus Tour.  

Tour Grinnell Heritage Farm, one of the few certified organic farms in the area.

Find out about the history of Grinnell's Industry and visit the Old Glove Factory, Spaulding Automobile, and the railroad buildings.

Hear the history of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company.

Go green with a Grinnell Watershed Ecological Tour.

Scare yourself with a tour of Grinnell's Haunted Places.

Take a tour of Mariposa Herb Farm, which supplies herbs to eight different states.

Tour Priority Plastics to discover where your plastics come from.

Be on the radio with a tour of KGRN Radio Station!

 
Sample Group Tour Itineraries

To book your tour, call the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce at (641) 236-6555.

How It's Made - Industry is thriving in Grinnell.  Get an insider tour of different manufacturing and production facilities to see how things are made!

• JELD WEN: Jeld Wen Windows & Doors is a comprehensive source for reliable wood, vinyl and aluminum windows and patio doors; wood and molded wood fiber interior doors; wood, steel, fiberglass exterior doors; and garage doors.
  
• Priority Plastics: Sho-Me® is the industry leader in plastic wide mouth canisters with its patented towel wipe lids and plastic canisters. They also manufacture blow molded plastic containers, plastic bottles, closures and plastic jars.
• Pulmuone Wildwood: Pulmuone Wildwood integrates the assets of two companies in the United States and focuses them on manufacturing and marketing the highest quality natural, vegetarian products with a particular focus on tofu, value added tofu, and cultured soy products.
• Monsanto: Monsanto is a Global Seed Production Facility. They apply innovation and technology to help farmers around the world produce more while conserving more. They help farmers grow yield sustainably so they can be successful, produce healthier foods, better animal feeds and more fiber,
  while also reducing agriculture's impact on our environment.
• ASI: ASI is a national leader in providing comprehensive service and signage solutions.  They offer superior product solutions for interior, exterior and digital signage. From their proven standard product assortment to their custom design and manufacturing capabilities, ASI is focused on providing their healthcare, hospitality, education and corporate clients with progressive products and services tailored to meet their exact needs today and in the future.

• Dragonshire Stained Glass: Dragonshire offers custom stained glass creations as well as other stained glass gifts, and carries over 100 different colors of stained glass and various supplies for the stained glass artist.
• Make your own pottery on a wheel at the Art Factory: The Grinnell Art Factory is a facility situated on the Lacina family farm north of Grinnell,Iowa. The 2400 square foot facility has one large open studio, a dock/shop area, a kitchen, and community space. It contains 10 pottery wheels, 3 clay
  building tables, 1 clay slab roller, pottery storage shelves and various supplies. The facility has a dedicated kiln room with several kilns in use. The space, as well as other areas of the farm, can also be used for painting, drawing, sculpture and other construction projects.
• Grinnell Fiberworks: Grinnell Fiberworks is a very exciting quilt and bead shop in the center of Iowa, located only 3 minutes north of Interstate 80, at exit 182 in historic downtown Grinnell, Iowa.
• Flower Arrangement: Bates Flowers And Greenhouses and Flowers on Fourth, your local Grinnell florists, can provide you with all your floral needs. Their florists in Grinnell can create a unique arrangement just for you.

Art, Architecture, and History - See the incredible art of Grinnell's galleries, see the wonderful architecture of, and go back in time and hear the amazing stories of Grinnell's beginnings.

• Grand Homes of Grinnell: Grinnell has 13 individual properties currently on the National Register of Historic Places, and homes represent  almost every older architectural style of the past 150 years, including Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Victorian, Craftsman Bungalow, Arts & Crafts, and Prairie.  Don't miss Walter BurleyGriffin's famous Benjamin. J. Ricker House!
• Faulconer Gallery: The Faulconer Gallery at Grinnell College opened in September 1999. Located at the heart of the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, the Gallery is part of a fine arts complex designed by internationally famous architect Cesar Pelli. With 7,400 square feet of exhibition space, the gallery presents major changing exhibitions of significant historical and contemporary art on a rotating basis.
• Grinnell Historical Museum: Your link to history.  On July 30, 1958 the Grinnell Historical Museum Society was formally incorporated in the State of Iowa as a not-for-profit organization to promote the study of the history of the State of Iowa and, particularly, the City of Grinnell and Poweshiek County, to gather objects of historical interest and importance and to preserve them for cultural and educational purposes for present and future generations.
• Historic Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank: Designed in 1914 by Louis Sullivan and originally known as the Merchants' Bank, it has long been called the "Jewel Box" of Sullivan's small midwestern bank designs.

Go Green - Tour the Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA) and the Mariposa Herb Farm and do a hands on workshop by Grinnell's Master Gardeners.

• CERA: The Conard Environmental Research Area - known informally as CERA or the bio preserve - is primarily a protected facility for class use in the study of ecology and student and faculty research. The rich floristic and faunistic diversity of CERA provides both a varied ecosystem for research and an invaluable center for the dispersal of hundreds of plant and animal species.
• Mariposa Farms: Mariposa farms the fresh herbs that are available in the produce department in grocery stores throughout the midwest. Mariposa Farm's fresh herbs are locally grown with tender loving care in a clean, healthy greenhouse environment.  Herbs are hand picked daily to ensure you the freshest, highest quality products.
• Farmers Market: See Grinnell's Farmers Market, one of Iowa's largest small town markets. Browse and buy local homemade and home-grown produce and products!
• Master Gardener Club

A Taste of Grinnell - Grinnell is truly a dining destination with more independent restaurant choices than any city of its size in Iowa.  Sample delicious creations from restaurants and experience wonderful cooking demonstrations by Grinnell's own celebrity chefs and take home secret recipes to try on your own.

Delicious samples from Grinnell Restaurants include:

• A&M Café: Specializing in home cooked meals at a reasonable price.  Breakfast served all day!
• Back Alley Deli: Great sub sandwiches and soups! Located in Saints Rest Coffeehouse.
• Bourbon Street: The area's exclusive restaurant offering Cajun, Creole, and American fare.
  
• Café Phoenix: The finest and freshest of foods served with loving care.
  
• Casa Margaritas: Casual Mexican Restaurant
• Comeback Café: Fresh food, fast service, and friendly faces!
  
• Danish Maid Bakery: Home of the cream-filled coney.
• Depot Crossing Restaurant: Upscale casual restaurant located in the historic Rock Island Railroad Union Depot.
• Godfather's Pizza: Pizza pies piled high.
• Grinnell Steakhouse: A grill-your-own-steak restaurant, bar, and grill.
  
• Michael's: Classic Italian Restaurant,
  
• Montgomery's Sandwich Shop: Serving the best loose meat sandwiches since 1933.
• Pagliai's Pizza: Authentic Italian classic pizza baked in a stone hearth.
  
• Thai Basil: Authentic and delicious Thai cuisine.
  
• West Side Family Restaurant: A family-owned-and-operated establishment that serves tasty entrees that will have you coming back for more.
• Yumi's Bakery: Fresh cakes and cookies, tasty sandwiches and wraps.