Iowa City, Iowa

Iowa City is located in southeastern Iowa, four miles (six kilometers) southeast of Coralville and 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Cedar Rapids. It is the seat of Johnson County, and is home to 62,220 people.

Iowa City is known as the "Athens of the Midwest," due to its numerous cultural attractions and the presence of the University of Iowa (UI). The UI campus is located in the downtown Old Capitol Cultural District and boasts great attractions like the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Art. Fans of the performing arts will want to check out the latest offering from the UI Theatre Arts Division, Bijou Theatre, and the Hancher Auditorium.

The Old Capitol building has played an important role in the history of the university, the city, and the State of Iowa. Iowa City was the state's first seat of government, and this building was the capitol of the Territory of Iowa from 1842 to 1846, and the capitol of the State of Iowa from 1846 to 1857. In 1857, Des Moines replaced Iowa City as the state capital, and Old Capitol became the first permanent home of the University of Iowa. Today, the Old Capitol Museum attracts 40,000 visitors each year, and the building is still used for important university functions.

Outside of campus, you'll find many more attractions throughout the Old Capitol Cultural District! Riverside Theatre delivers quality productions in an intimate setting, while Englert Theatre offers an eclectic mix of music, theater, readings, and dance. The downtown business district features great shops, fine dining, and regular entertainment at the Pedestrian Plaza. Be sure to visit the Iowa Avenue Literary Walk, which features bronze plaques inscribed with quotes by well-known Iowa writers. The Summer of the Arts festival livens up downtown every year, and includes an arts festival, jazz festival, free movies series, and a Friday Night Concert Series.

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