The architecture on the historic buildings is incredible.
Except for getting sprayed with soda while dining at an Italian eatery (and no amends made save a perfunctory “sorry”), my husband and I loved this northeastern Iowa river town.
Our daughter Miranda, who visited a college friend here last summer, was right. We delighted in Decorah’s historic architecture, natural beauty and small town ambiance.
That Norwegian museum we need to tour next time we’re in Decorah.
Home to Luther College and the world’s largest collection of Norwegian artifacts at the Vesterheim—The National Norwegian-American Museum and Heritage Center, Decorah definitely presents a college town feel and an ethnic bend toward Norwegians. Interestingly enough, we didn’t tour either Luther or the Vesterheim. Next trip, because we will return.
Blue Heron Knittery is housed in the lower level of this architecturally stunning corner building in downtown Decorah.
So what exactly did we see? Mostly, we simply strolled through downtown admiring the historic buildings and occasionally popping into charming shops in this city of some 8,000.
On a Tuesday morning, the streets were teeming with pedestrians, including this Amish man from southeastern Minnesota.
Decorah, with numerous one-way streets, plenty of stoplights, an abundance of benches, information kiosks, bike racks, and planters overflowing with vibrant flowers and vining plants, rates as an especially pedestrian friendly community. First impressions count and this Iowa town does a splendid job of making visitors feel welcome via the relaxed setting created in the downtown business district.
It’s the details that count in creating an inviting downtown shopping experience.
Join me as we begin our journey through Decorah, today with a peek at that historic architecture and other photo-worthy snippets in the downtown.
So much to see along Decorah’s downtown city streets.
You’ll find an abundance of trolls/gnomes.
The Storypeople workshop exterior pops with vibrant colors and images. I’ll tell you more about Storypeople in a future post.
Window displays and signs are equally as interesting as the architecture.
A building needn’t be ornate to impress. I love the strong simple lines of Cary’s Fabrication.
If I had excess discretionary funds, I would purchase the woodcut art of Lennis Moore sold at Eckheart Gallery.
More great buildings…
FYI: Check back for more posts from downtown and elsewhere in Decorah, Iowa, including images of the historic hotel where we stayed, a beautiful waterfall, Storypeople, an historic home and a fish hatchery. I promise that by the end of this photographic tour, you will add this community to your list of “must visit” towns.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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