A road trip detour in Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa, IA sits along the Des Moines River. The Main Street Ottumwa organization has been working to revitalize the town of about 25,000 people.
After marrying an Iowa woman and traveling to visit her family in Centerville over the years, I had heard about the town of Ottumwa many times. Several of my TV News colleagues over the years had worked at KTVO, the local news station for Kirksville, MO and Ottumwa, IA. They too had stories about the area. A few years ago we passed through Ottumwa, but in 2021, I actually took a detour on my road trip back to Tennessee to check out the downtown as well as the local HyVee. This quick stop provided a good feel for what the town had to offer and plenty of reasons for me to return for a longer visit.
The St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church (in the foreground) sits across the street from the Wapello County Courthouse in Ottumwa. These buildings are just two of the many striking architectural features in the Downtown area.
Most cities and towns have a nickname and in Ottumwa’s case, the city is known as the “City of Bridges.” There are four of them crossing the Des Moines River there. And while the city is known for its bridges, there are a number of grand churches and other architecturally striking buildings that dot the “skyline.”
Just down the street from the Catholic Church, the gothic architecture of the First United Methodist Church building is sure to catch your attention.
Near the ornate Wapello County Courthouse you’ll find several historic houses of worship. Behind the Courthouse is the First Baptist Church Building and across the street is the St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church. The First United Methodist Church building also sits near the Courthouse. It served as a house of worship for many decades. According to a 2019 article in the Ottumwa Courier, the building was put on the market after three UMC congregations merged and began meeting elsewhere.
Travel a few blocks up the hill from the Catholic and Methodist churches you’ll find a neighborhood filled with brick lined streets, stately homes, great views of the city and the historic Trinity Episcopal Church.
According to the Trinity Episcopal Church website, the current building was consecrated in April 1895.
Downtown Ottumwa sits near the river and covers several long blocks. The collection of buildings in this area gives you a glimpse into Ottumwa’s rich history as both a river town and a regional commercial hub. You’ll find several shops, restaurants and businesses to check out. It was obvious on my recent visit there were many efforts to bring new life into Ottumwa and the city certainly has potential.
According to a report in the Ottumwa Post, this theatre’s name was originally the Capri.
Movie houses and theaters often stand out in downtown areas and here it’s the Ottumwa Theater that catches your attention with its Art Deco style marquee. The theater showed movies for several decades with hopes that it might show movies again in the future.
Beyond the bridges and beautiful buildings around town, there is much more to explore in the city. It remains a hub for commerce and entertainment in Southeast Iowa. While I didn’t visit the Ottumwa Old School Pinball &Arcade, I did discover on MeetOttumwa.org that this venue helped the city claim the title of “Video Game Capital of the World.”
If you’ve been to Ottumwa, what would you recommend people see and do? Let us know in the comments.