Cedar Rapids, IA Summary

Cedar Rapids is Iowa’s second-largest city, with a population of 115,000 residents. Incorporated in 1856, it was named after the swiftly flowing Red Cedar River. The town is centrally located in Iowa’s eastern heartland by I-380.

Cedar Rapids’ symbol is a very dramatic 60-foot landmark, the Tree of Five Seasons, which is located at the corner of First Avenue and First Street SE. It marks the spot where the original settler, Osgood Shepherd, constructed Cedar Rapids’ very first residence. By the 1870s the town had grown and became known as a grain-milling center.

Today the town is a principal industrial and business center with rich ethnic traditions and a love of the performing and visual arts.

Approximately a quarter of the population is of Czech heritage, and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library is worth a visit to explore their cultural, political, and religious traditions. Included is an interesting variety of ethnic, gift, and specialty shops, plus a bakery and restaurants.

Historic Brucemore is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This Queen Anne style mansion is set in the midst of a 26-acre park and hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including outdoor theater, which is performed during July.

One of Cedar Rapids’ true hidden treasures is the Belmont Hill Victorian B&B, which was built in 1882. Both the main dwelling and accompanying carriage house are on the National Register of Historic Places. The perennial gardens with centuries-old hardwood trees, and rooms with luxury appointments, ensure a pleasant stay.