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!

Constructed in 1870 by Eli Cox, this 79 foot long timber town lattice truss covered bridge is the…read moresecond oldest of the six surviving in Madison County. Originally traversing the North River, in 1979 it was moved to its present location inside Winterset City Park. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. There is ample parking, and access to the park is paved. We recommend a visit at the peak of fall foliage, when the park is breathtaking.

As an avid amateur photographer and Iowa native... How can you not make the hop, skip, and a jump…read moredown (over or up) to explore the covered bridges of Madison County...? Here's a secret. I've never seen the movie or read the book, but I did run into Clint Eastwood and his entourage back in the day (1995ish). We weren't able to get too close though. Lol The covered bridges take you back to a much simpler time. When people and cars just weren't as complicated as they are now. The construction of each one seems to be a little unique and diffent from the next. It's too bad that they have been plagued by graffiti artists, people who can't seem to leave things as they find them, and even arson over the years. If you live within a decent driving distance you can experience the bridges in all the seasons. It might sound a little silly, but as a photographer sometimes a few months can make a world of differece in your pictures...sometimes even days. While there is curb appeal to all the bridges Roseman is probably my personal favorite. The Roseman bridge location also has a nice little gift shop you can stop at to take home a momento of your visit (open May 1st through the end of October). Don't miss the shopping opportunities in downtown Winterset. Expect to get dusty, as most of the bridges are on gravel roads, and enjoy your visit!

The tower itself is lovely and a nice to see. You can walk around inside and out and go up to the…read moresecond level via stairs. You can even go up to the rooftop but the ladder/stairs are very steep and you need to be careful. When we visited, another person that was on site said that the roof had been cleaned up considerably and that there is typically a lot more debris , so again be careful, but the structure is beautiful and makes for great photos. It needs better signage for hikers and bikers for sure though as it can get somewhat confusing and the roads in and out are narrow one-way roads but it's definitely worth the trek.

Located in Winterset City Park Clark Tower is a great place to take some picturesque family…read morepictures. Or to maybe just take a nice short hike for a local adventure... Constructed in 1926 this 25 foot tall castle like structure was built on the 18th anniversary of the founding of Madison County. As a testament to its construction Clark Tower survived being struck by an EF 4 tornado in 2022!

Very nice rock with a very artistic mural dedicated to the soldiers who served and protected their…read morecountry. They definitely do a great job maintaining and keeping it clean. There is signs letting you know not to climb on the rock or no touching the rock at all. The colors come out more during the sunny days.

This is the Madison County Freedom Rock. Completing the Freedom Rock tour of all 99 Iowa counties…read moreis something my girlfriend and I have been working on for the past few years. We are four rocks away from the end of our journey at this time. Not only do we learn about the military involvement and the contributions of veterans in each county... A lot of times we stumble on other hidden gems, that we had no idea even existed, as we venture further into our own backyard. As happy as I am going to be when hit 99 and finish our Freedom Rock Tour...a little part of me is going to really miss these trips. We'll just have to find another "tour" to pick up! When you are checking out each Freedom Rock make sure you explore the surrounding area for other points of interest. And please remember to support local businesses...! Visit https://www.thefreedomrock.com/ for more information on Iowa's Freedom Rocks and the tour!

Gayle and I recently took my Dad out on a road trip from Ames to Winterset. He'd been here before,…read morebut we took him along anyway as he enjoys the ride. Our 2nd stop along the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway was the Cedar Covered Bridge, which you can drive through. The Cedar Bridge (previously known as the Casper or Storrs Bridge) was built in 1883, with a span length of 78 feet. Cedar Bridge originally crossed Cedar Creek 2.7 miles northeast of Winterset, on what is now Highway 169, before being moved in 1920 to its present location. The original cost of the bridge was $2,964.73. The Cedar Bridge carried traffic until 1920, when it was moved to its current site over Cedar Creek. Here it functioned in place until it too was bypassed in 1964 by another bridge. It now acts as the centerpiece of a small park. An illustration of Cedar Bridge graces the cover of the novel, The Bridges of Madison County, by Robert James Waller. Oprah Winfrey came to Winterset in the spring of 1993 and filmed an episode of her show from the lawn around Cedar Bridge. A set of stairs descending the bank near the bridge was built for Oprah to make her entrance and these are now known as "Oprah's Steps." The 2 Covered Bridges featured in the Bridges of Madison County movie were Roseman and Holliwell.

This is the only covered bridge you can still drive across. There is a small park with it and it…read morehas a grill and tables if you want to picnic.

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!

This may not seem amazing, but that's because you haven't been here: Iowa Quilt Museum. The store…read morefront doesn't do it justice to the professionally curated museum (see the link to their website to see what I'm writing about: https://www.iowaquiltmuseum.org/). They have an incredible display of quilts. But their more than hanging blankets. Each quilt has a story, a meaning and a style of workmanship of its own. Coming from an active do-it-yourselfer perspective, I can really appreciate the planning and detailed construction that is required to build these masterpieces. There are hours and hours of mastery that goes into each quilt, there are truly amazing works of art. The staff here is knowledgeable and friendly. And if by chance the quilting bug bites, there is always Ben Franklin's a few doors away that help you get started.

The Iowa Quilt Museum is a wonderful addition to the Winterset community! The exhibit changes 4…read moretimes per year & always has a spectacular collection of quilts to view. Quilts are beautifully and elegantly displayed. Each quilt is accompanied by information around the date of creation, history, style, and stitching. I always learn a lot about quilting and history by reviewing these. It's been amazing to see some quilted that are more than a hundred years old and intricately hand-stitched and hand quilted. Upstairs is a bed-turning display of several more quilts & a volunteer will review these quilts with you & you may even get to participate in the turning! The museum is housed in the old J.C. Penney's building which has been beautifully restored. The lighting is fantastic for showing off the beauty of the quilts. There is a lobby area where a few gifts and souvenirs can be purchased. This museum can be enjoyed by all ages and genders & by anyone who can appreciate the hard work and artistic talents that go into each of these quilts.

This Museum was very nice filled with John Wayne memorabilia and artifacts. The John Wayne statue…read moreright outside the museum and birth house of John Wayne around the corner within a short walking distance. Great place to visit and take some pictures or video. There is a $20 ticket fee.

Fabulous, in-depth museum of a great American hero .. .. Learn all about him in multiple rooms…read moreincluding a small theatre with original rows of seats from the Chinese Theatre in LA .. .. His birthplace and family home is right next door and a docent is there to explain everything .. .. And, do yourself a favor, come in/out of WINTERSET on the 169 for one of the loveliest drives you can take in America!

I enjoyed stopping at Hogback Covered Bridge during a recent visit in Madison County. It's one of…read morethe bridges that is. It open to drive on, so it makes for a nice short walk to see the serene countryside. We took a gravel road there, I'm not sure that there is any other option.

Gayle and I recently took my Dad out on a road trip from Ames to Winterset. He'd been here before,…read morebut we took him along anyway as he enjoys the ride. Our first stop along the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway was the Hogback Covered Bridge. You can't drive though this bridge, but you can get a good look from convenient parking on either side. The architecturally distinct Hogback spans about 100 feet over North River, four miles northwest of Winterset. While most of the covered bridges were named for nearby landowners, Hogback was named for the hogback ridge at the west end of the valley. It was designed with a Town lattice truss system and was enjoyable to walk through both inside and out. The 2 Covered Bridges featured in the Bridges of Madison County movie were Roseman and Holliwell.

If you want to not only see how your ancestors live, but get close to experiencing it - go to a…read moreliving history museum. This one was fascinating. The best part was talking to the executive Director, and the docents. They had so much to tell me about that era, and how the people used to live then. They were a different breed of human. Exceptionally hardy. It will make you proud of your ancestors. We all come from strong stock. They endured unimaginably tough circumstances.

The Madison County Historical complex is a great treasure in Winterset. The museum itself has…read moregreat (and huge) exhibits and pieces of history from all throughout the county. We were so surprised when we visited and found a full basement of things to explore too! The museum building also has a library room where old records, stories, and other books can be read and reviewed. I could spend days in this room along. The property includes many other buildings including an old church, a one-room school, blacksmith shop, and train depot. There is a lot to explore and you could easily spend hours here without seeing everything. The staff and volunteers are always very friendly and willing to lend a helping hand whether you have a research question, or just want to look around. There are also many great events held here throughout the year including car shows, movie nights, a barn sale, and lectures. We've enjoyed many of these and are always looking forward to the next event.