Sitting on more than 80 acres along Highway 20 in Independence, Heartland Acres Agribition Center has quickly become a landmark to travelers since its opening in May of 2007. The main building, a curious structure of two 1800s-style barns capped at the ends with glass silos, carries the theme of past meets future found throughout the property.
Upon entering the facility, visitors may view an introduction video, funded in part by SSNHA, offering a glimpse into both Heartland and the region. As visitors interact with the exhibits they discover the impact agriculture has on everyone. One of the highlights for many is “Big & Small Tails” which houses various farm animals, along with “Bessie” a fiberglass Holstein that can be milked like a real cow.
As visitors wander through the “Hall of Time,” they follow the evolution of agriculture in a progressively changing mural and the artifacts that line the walls. The past and present continue to meet in the “Machine Shed,” where visitors see the differences between early farming implements and the equipment of today. In “Modern Mechanics,” visitors get to use vintage tools used to grind or shell corn. Visitors experience a day-in-the-life of an 1800’s student in the activities at the 1869 One-Room Schoolhouse.
Located at 2600 Swan Lake Blvd, Independence, Heartland also features a state of the art event center, one of the Midwest’s most unique collections of cars and a gift shop complete with local products. Featured products include heirloom seeds from another SSNHA partner site, Seed Savers Exchange. For more information, including current hours, call 319-332-0123 or visit
www.heartlandacresusa.com .
Topics: Spotlight Site
Related Attractions:
Heartland Acres Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd.
Independence, IA
319-332-0123
