Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Loose-meat sandwiches, masons' trowels and a courthouse dome that came back from a tornado: Marshalltown packs a lot of Iowa into one county seat. Henry Anson staked a claim beside the Iowa River in 1851 and named the settlement after Marshall, Michigan; his son Cap Anson, born here, became one of baseball's first superstars.
The city of about 27,000 grew into a manufacturing town where Lennox furnaces, Fisher valves and Marshalltown trowels were made, and actress Jean Seberg grew up on its quiet streets. On July 19, 2018, an EF3 tornado tore through downtown and damaged the Marshall County Courthouse, and the restored courthouse is now a symbol of the town's recovery.
A visit is low-key and friendly. Order a Maid-Rite at the counter of Taylor's, walk Main Street past the Henry Anson statue, tour the 1860s Glick-Sower House and see the art at the Fisher Community Center. Grimes Farm and the parks along the Iowa River offer prairie and woodland walks, and the Central Iowa Fair fills the fairgrounds each summer.
An 1880s limestone courthouse with a tall central dome, the centerpiece of the downtown square. The July 2018 tornado tore off part of the dome and damaged the building, and a careful restoration brought it back. View it from all four sides of the square, and come at dusk when the dome is lit.
A small family-run diner near downtown, serving Iowa's famous loose-meat Maid-Rite sandwiches since 1928. Customers sit on stools around a horseshoe counter and watch the seasoned beef scooped onto steamed buns. Add a malt or a slice of pie, and expect a short line around the lunch rush.
A two-story brick house from the 1860s, one of the oldest homes in Marshalltown, now kept by the Marshall County Historical Society. Rooms are furnished as a pioneer-era family home, and volunteers share stories of early settlers. It opens on limited days, mainly in summer, so check ahead.
A Marshall County Conservation property just outside town, with restored prairie, woodland, ponds and a nature center that hosts classes and family programs. Trails loop past wildflowers and old farm fields. It is free and quiet, a good spot for birdwatching in spring and fall color in October.
The historic downtown around Main Street and the courthouse square, with brick commercial buildings, local shops, cafes and the bronze statue of town founder Henry Anson. Many storefronts were repaired after the 2018 tornado. Walk a loop around the square and stop for coffee or ice cream.
A historic movie theater on Main Street that has been restored as a community arts venue, hosting classic film nights, live music, theater and local events. The marquee is a landmark of downtown. Check the event calendar before your visit, and pair a show with dinner on Main Street.
An art gallery inside the Fisher Community Center with a permanent collection of paintings and prints by well-known European and American artists, built up through gifts from local families and businesses. Rotating shows feature Iowa artists. Admission is free; check hours, as they follow the center's schedule.
A large city park on the banks of the Iowa River, with a campground, picnic shelters, playgrounds, ball fields and paths along the water. Anglers fish from the shore and families use it for summer cookouts. It is an easy place to stretch your legs after a drive along US 30.
A classic midwestern summer fair held each July at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds in Marshalltown, with 4-H livestock shows, a carnival midway, grandstand races and concerts, and plenty of fair food. It is a lively look at rural Iowa life. Go in the evening when the midway lights come on and the heat eases.
No reviews yet. Been to Marshalltown? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Marshalltown? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: marshalltownpubliclibrary, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Crcjfly, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Daniel Hartwig, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ChickenPieLinux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Daniel Hartwig, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kepper66, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
