|
Famous Residents |
Keokuk, Iowa __________________
Driving Directions
From Quincy, go north on US 24 for 6 miles to State Route 96. Follow
State Route 96 north for 28 miles to US 136. Go west 2 miles on US 136
crossing the Missippi River to Keokuk. Approximately 37 miles.
Calendar of Events
Visit the Keokuk
Tourism site for a complete listing of Keokuk events.
History
Keokuk is a wonderful river town complete with breathtaking scenery, historic architecture, and a rich history. Its geographic location, on the Mississippi where the Des Moines River flows into it, provided the area with an important trading location. Keokuk’s early economy was fur trading but eventually evolved to river trade.
Keokuk served as a hub during the Civil War. There were four camps located in Keokuk that served as assembly and training points for volunteers. With five military hospitals and a medical college, Keokuk received thousands of wounded soldiers by way of the Mississippi. Not only did Keokuk serve as a hub, Lee County provided more than 1,000 soldiers for the war.
Keokuk has a unique and colorful past. Here are a few interesting tidbits
about Keokuk:
• It serves
as one of two Lee County seats, the only county in Iowa to have two county
seats.
• In 1855 Samuel
Clemens moved to Keokuk to help his brother publish a city directory.
• Starting in
1875, Keokuk was home to the Keokuk Westerns, their first major league
baseball team.
• On April 29,
1903, Presidential candidate Teddy Roosevelt spoke in Rand Park, the first
of three visits.
• There are
13 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as
25 historic structures located on Grand Avenue, several of which are pre-civil
war homes.
One of the best ways to explore and discover historic Keokuk is by way of a walking tour. The Keokuk Area Convention & Tourism Bureau provides visitors with brochures that map out Keokuk’s historic buildings and homes. The brochure is complete with routes, addresses, and historical information. The walking tour showcases Keokuk’s natural beauty, fine architecture, and elegant homes. The Keokuk Area Convention & Tourism Bureau is located at 329 Main Street and can be reached by calling (319) 524-5599.
Climate/Weather Conditions
Average Temperatures
January - 25°F July
- 77°F
February - 29°F August
- 75°F
March - 40°F September
- 68°F
April - 53°F October
- 56°F
May - 63°F November
- 41°F
June - 73°F December
- 30°F
Average precipitation = 35 inches/year
Related Websites & Links
Keokuk Area Convention &
Tourism Bureau
Keokuk.com
Keokuk's Gate City Daily