The Mississippi Valley Welcome Center
With so many sites and attractions around the Heritage Area, The Mississippi Valley Welcome Center is a gateway to visitors exploring Northeast Iowa. Overlooking the intersection of Interstate-80 and the Mississippi River in LeClaire, the Welcome Center showcases a breathtaking six-mile view of the great Mississippi and nearby bluffs.
Beyond the free maps, coffee and wireless internet, the Welcome Center hosts numerous displays and attractions providing a look into the culture and history of the Mississippi Valley and Iowa. The MidCoast Fine Arts Gallery displays talented local artists, while the Antique Center features an assortment of local, one-of-a-kind relics. From soybean candles to pickled asparagus, the Iowa Peddler Gift Shop has something for everyone, including many items made right here in Iowa. Outside, visitors can walk through native prairie grass, have a picnic or just enjoy the landscape and river.
With the assistance of SSNHA, four interpretive signs were recently installed around the Welcome Center and Prairie Nursery. The signs highlight the prairie and fertile land that surrounds the area. The environment of the region is illustrated in the signs; the amazing diversity of plant life and remarkable creatures that roamed the plains. Also portrayed is the loss of grasslands to cultivation; this led to the buffalo's demise and relocation of the native Ioway people.
The Mississippi Valley Welcome Center is open 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the summer and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the winter. Admission is always free. For more information, call 563-322-3911 ext. 120 or visit www.iowawelcomecenter.com or www.visitquadcities.com .
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