Newton, Iowa is a cute, quiet little town 20 minutes outside of Pella, IA . While visiting Pella’s Tulip Time Festival, Newton’s Best Western Hotel was home for 3 nights. Just wanted to show you a few of the sights and murals in town and also highly recommend, Cardinal Corner, an yummy ice cream shop should you ever find yourself in Newton.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
The Vermeer Windmill was designed and built by Lukas Verbij in the Netherlands. Then the mill was de-assembled, shipped to Iowa, and re-assembled here in Pella in 2002. The windmill has 2 rooms at the base for living quarters and has five floors, including the deck outside where you can watch the giant blades as they sweep around and enjoy views of Pella and the Historical Village . The tour of the windmill also includes a stop at the Miniature Village. This Miniature Village of Holland in the 1840’s, began in 1938 as a work study project for students at Pella’s community schools and Central College. Many volunteers have since spent countless hours working on it. The display is full of detail and depicts all four seasons. Very fascinating!!!
I highly recommend a trip to Pella’s Tulip Time Festivals in the future. You won’t be disappointed!
Vermer WindmillWindmill’s Living QuartersKlokkenspelMechanical figures in the KlokkenspelWyatt Earp GunSelf Playing Organjail
The Historical Village ( a collection of 22 buildings) and Vermeer Windmill has preserved Pella’s history . This village is interesting, beautifully kept and touring it is a fun way to learn about the town’s past. The Vermeer Windmill is functional and still grinds grain. Wyatt Earp’s boyhood home is in the village and has very interesting chronological records of Earp’s life. Among other things, there is a church, a farm house, a Dutch bakery, a blacksmith shop, a werkplaats ( where wooden shoes are made), a sod house, and the Heritage Hall which is full of Dutch memorabilia. The top floor of the Windmill has a miniature display of a Netherlands Village as depicted the 1840’s which can be seen when you take the tour. My next blog will show photos of this incredible miniature displa. Besides the Village, there are other points of interest in Pella to see, such as the Klokkenspel which plays music and has mechanical figures that move at certain times of the day. A 1882 Firehouse displays an antique fire engine and also has an old, cold, desolate jail . The Tuttle Cabin is the oldest building in Pella and, down a short path, is the Sunken Garden Park, home to another windmill and a pond in the shape of a wooden shoe. There is more than I can list here. Of course ,there are also colorful tulips every way you turn! I fell in love with Pella the moment I arrived and loved it more and more by the time I had to head for home.
The photos of downtown Pella will speak for themselves. What a wonderful town and the magic of the Tulip Festival will stick with me forever !
Visitor’s Welcome Centerwindow displayTractor competitionTile Murals imported from the NetherlandsDutch ArchitectureMolengracht PlazaPella Opera HouseSunken Garden Park
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
The first weekend in May, 2022, Pella, Iowa celebrated its 35th Tulip Time Festival and I knew I had to be there!! Pella, Iowa was settled by Dutch immigrants from the Netherlands in 1847. They settled in Marion County, Iowa, on the divide between the Des Moines and Skunk Rivers. They called their new home Pella, the name taken from a biblical city of refuge. Over the years Pella has grown into a thriving town and community. Today many of the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren of those original settlers still live in Pella. Pella’s Tulip Time Festival was truly enchanting!! Their town square is full of Dutch architecture and it is as clean as can be. They didn’t get the nick name of ” scrubby Dutch” for nothing . : ) The people were friendly, there was a lot to see and explore, parades twice a day, plenty of food (my favorite called the Pella cheeseburger, was a thick slice of grilled bologna and a slice of melted Gouda chees on a bun. Delicious!!!!). There was plenty of parking and Johnny on the spots everywhere. All within walking distance of each other. But best of all – the tulips!!! 350,000 tulips!!!! No matter where you walked, there was beautiful tulips! I have never seen a festival so beautiful and organized as Tulip Time. But enough of the reading… here comes the tulips!!!
“Flowers are the sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” author unknown
Jeannie's Travel Addiction 