We visited the bridges of Madison County entirely by accident during the Covered Bridge Festival…read more That just happened to be the time that we were driving through the area and we honestly had no idea until we arrived. I honestly think the timing kind of put a damper on our experience. Instead of being able to take in the bridges quietly and enjoy this scenery, there were people everywhere including loud groups and dust was getting kicked up on us constantly. It was really difficult to find parking and there was just a general sense of disturbance of the piece and the beauty of the nature surrounding us. It was also virtually impossible to get any good photographs. I know we've come a long way and our phones can remove a person or two from a picture, but crowds of people make it much more difficult. After the first few Bridges, we figured if our visit was going to be disturbed in this way, we might as well balance things out by checking out the main festival in winterset. Unfortunately, when we arrived we realized that dogs are not allowed even though it's an outdoor fair. That made it even more frustrating because we couldn't even enjoy some kennel corn to make up for the overcrowded bridge visits. All that said, the bridges themselves are still really lovely and historical and I can see why this area is loved and that people would come from all around to celebrate the bridges. I would still recommend coming to take a look at them, but definitely to avoid the festival weekend if you're looking for a more peaceful, reflective experience.

I took a tour through the chamber of commerce and had Jewel as my tour guide. She was very…read moreinformative and fun to be around. I loved all of the history that she shared with me and all of the personal stories in between. Highly recommend!

Being a native of Iowa. Yet moving away 12 yrs ago. I have to say…read more The Midwest has many pockets where you would least expect. The high level of customer service & genuine level of kindness. The building is honestly still absolutely beautiful In it's design. People were very helpful & friendly. Now the- Clerk of Court employees. Debbie, Marsha & Albert. These 3 are God sent Angel's. I have been dealing with a matter over the phone. Via from Las Vegas, NV. From day one. I believe starting July. I have had the pleasure speaking & working with all 3 of these lovely individuals. They all listened to me. Went above and beyond their required job duties. I couldn't thank them enough. So if you are ever needing assistance from the Clerk of Court. Make sure you get one of the mentioned 3 individuals. You are definitely in good hands. I highly recommend this court house. Even if it's just to stop by & check out nothing more then all of its beauty. From the people. To its wondrous Architectural design.

I love old historic buildings, even when they are under construction!…read more Now I guess I would have rather taken a tour of the Polk County Courthouse, instead of being called for my civic duties of Jury Duty.. But hey I also get to check out this beautiful building I have always admired from the outside but never actually went in! The building is pretty epic, with beautiful stain glassed ceiling, and cool murals, epic stair cases that would make Rocky sweat and lots of vending machines to get you through the door if you need it! I got to go in the Jury's waiting room and also visit 2 different court rooms while I was there! It's pretty cool to feel like you are in the scenes of Law and Order for an afternoon minus the great Olivia Benson! Man I wish she was there to have a coffee outside on the steps with me, and reporters were running up to us to ask us questions! Oh well real is real and fake is fake, and this building is real cool!

The covered bridges tour by Leslie was outstanding! She shared history, film stories and local…read morehappenings. A very kind person, a perfect blend of entertainment and information. Without Leslie, how would we have known the beavers confiscated the 'greenery props'?!? Many thanks for a job very well done.

From the owner: Whether it's by foot, boat, bike or car, at one of our six famous covered bridges, majestic parks,…read moreor quaint historic town square in Winterset, while shopping at our top-notch retail stores, sipping wine at one of our wineries, or learning a craft like quilting or fusing glass, there's plenty to engage your senses here in Madison County. And, yes, you can also get engaged (in the traditional sense) in the place that inspired The Bridges of Madison County, one of the greatest love stories of our time. The Madison County Chamber of Commerce is here to assist you with your visit. We specialize in creating custom itineraries and facilitating guided personal or group tours of our covered bridges. Contact us today to make your next trip one that will stay with you for years and years to come!

WOW! The Law Library looks straight out of a fairytale. I swear it looks like the inspiration for…read moreBelle's library in Beauty and the Beast. The gorgeous murals and senate chambers were also impressive. We stopped here on a whim during a recent road trip and were pleasantly surprised by its grandeur and beauty. They offered a free tour, but we opted for a self guided tour instead so we could go on our own pace. We came on a Friday afternoon and someone who worked there told us it's the best day to visit since the place is so busy Mon-Thurs when legislators are in session, that it's often difficult to find a parking spot. But on this quiet Friday morning, we parked in the front row and had no line in front of us as we went through the security metal detector.

My visits to state capitols are few and far between, but after visiting the Iowa State Capitol, I…read morewant to make a point of visiting more whenever I travel to other states. My son started attending law school in Des Moines and so I was trying to see what the city has to offer. Visiting the capitol building was one of the things that kept popping up on things to do. We decided to check it out on a Saturday and luckily they do guided tours which I highly recommend. Completed in 1886, they have done a remarkable job preserving this place and showcasing it's beauty. It sits on top of a hill and offers great views of the city from every side. One of the first things you notice from the outside is the gold dome. The ornate outside facade carries inside where it is just as beautiful. You'll notice intricate wood decor as well as marble, gold and other beautiful materials. You can visit the historic supreme court chambers and see all the offices of state officials. The law library is by far my favorite part of the building. I felt like I was in some movie like Harry Potter or something. You have to see it in person to really comprehend the beauty. The wood and gold along with the spiraling staircases and law books stacked to the high ceiling was cool to see. If you aren't afraid of heights, you can take a long winding staircase at the top of the dome. We were one of the last tours so we didn't really get to really take our time and soak in all this place has to offer. I will most definitely come back next time I am in town visiting the kiddo. It was absolutely something I did not expect to see deep in the Midwest.

Beautiful modern courthouse. The Justice Center houses the courthouse as well as the county jail on…read morea well-kept part of town just west of Fareway. Walking up to the enterance doors, you see the scales of justice in marble stone. Upon entering, you can turn left or right. On the left side of the building is the County Jail entrance, and on the right side of the building is the Courthouse. Upstairs is where the clerk of court and other offices are. The inside is very well-kept and clean. The bathrooms are nice and located on the right side towards the courtrooms. A water fountain and elevator are also located on the first floor. The County Attorney's Office is around the corner on the right side at the end of the hall. You pass the 3 courtrooms and several conference rooms along the way. The courtrooms are intimate yet roomy. Upon entering the courtroom, the public may sit on either side of the aisle. The bailiff holds the door partition for you as you walk past the jury on the left and the attorneys' tables on the right. The court reporter and judge seats are ahead, and the witness stand sits to the right-hand side of the judge and behind the court reporter. Raise your right hand and tak3 a deep breath. You can do it!

This place has that "old book smell" ... in the best possible way!The building itself is brick on…read morethe outside, wood trim everywhere with a lovely patina on the inside , widows everywhere let in a soothing diffused natural light.Seems like a place out of the Harry Potter mythology. I would love to Spend more time here . Little private nooks & window seats located throughout. Such a "cozy" vibe. This is a good place to pick up some tourist info, about local events. Locations of attractions ,and services offered locally. My Sprint cell phone doesn't get very good service when I visit Bedford.I imagine a lot Of visitors discover their cell service does not "work" in Bedford,it's pretty "far out"! It's so hospitable and very useful to me ,that the library generously allows even visitors to use the FREE WIFI ! Not Even the Taylor County Courthouse offers public WiFi . The friendly librarians giving me the wifi Password, has been a true lifesaver at times when visiting my family in the Bedford area .