Onawa: History and Recreation

Onawa offers a variety of reasons to visit, from regional history to cycling and water activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Onawa, you can plan your trip around the topics that interest you most. The museums focus on historical collections and a local food story, while ONABIKE XXXIV adds an annual bike ride through the Loess Hills. Another historical destination is located outside the city.

Cycling and Water Activities

ONABIKE XXXIV (“The Shawn Gosch Memorial Ride”) is Onawa’s annual bike ride through the Loess Hills. The name refers to a specific event, not just a general cycling theme: the ride is associated with Onawa and travels through the Loess Hills. If cycling is an important reason for your trip, this annual ride offers a clear connection to the city. It sits alongside the museums and their historical themes.

The Onawa Aquatic Center offers registration for swimming lessons and water aerobics. Programs may be scheduled seasonally. If you’d like to include one of the classes in your travel plans, check the dates in advance. Swimming lessons and water aerobics are two different offerings; together, they show that the program isn’t limited to just one type of water activity.

The Onawa pool has a slide and a small children’s pool. If you’re planning to visit for these features, check the current operating conditions before you go. For classes, the main thing to keep in mind is the seasonal schedule; for the pool, check its current operating status in advance.

Museums and Local History

The Monona County Historical Museum displays artifacts from the 19th and 20th centuries. It also features an exhibit about Eskimo Pie, which was invented in Onawa. This brings different perspectives on local history together: the artifacts cover a broader time span, while the exhibit connects a specific food story to Onawa. Visitors interested in the region’s past will find both historical objects and a specific link to the origins of a well-known product.

The Onawa Kiwanis Museum Complex includes a railroad depot, a caboose, and railroad memorabilia. The complex also features a rural church, a blacksmith shop, a log cabin, and a fire station. The collection thus includes both railroad-related items and a variety of buildings. In contrast to the Monona County Historical Museum, the focus here is on these structures and railroad memorabilia; the other museum displays artifacts from two centuries and the Eskimo Pie exhibit. This makes it possible to distinguish between different historical themes in Onawa.

A Historical Site Outside the City

Lewis and Clark State Park is less than five miles from Onawa, but outside the city. It is a scenic park and a historical site along the route of the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition. It complements the museum themes with connections to the landscape and expedition history. Its location is important for planning your trip: the park is a nearby destination in the surrounding area, not part of Onawa itself. If you’re looking for hotels in Onawa, you can consider it a separate destination outside the city.

For the broader travel overview: Monona County.