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Decorah Visit for a day.... Return for a lifetime! A breath of fresh air is the best way to describe Winneshiek County and Decorah, named one of the seven Prettiest Painted Places by the Quality Paint Institute. Quiet beauty, sparkling streams, smiling faces, and hometown friendliness await you.
If you are looking for a place to get away, without the stress of a typical vacation or trip, our area is the place for you. If you love the outdoors just bring your gear along and you're set. Our extensive trail system offers biking, hiking, equestrian trails, and cross-country skiing opportunities. Or perhaps you'd like to float in a canoe or tube down the Upper Iowa River, listed as one of the top 100 adventures in the U.S. by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
And don't forget our world- class trout fishing and hunting are among the finest areas in the Midwest. Your visit to the Decorah area would not be complete without a glimpse of the rich heritage and history of the area. Each year visitors come from all over the world to visit our indoor and outdoor museums, learn about Norwegian immigrant life, wander the grounds of a fort built to protect the Winnebago Indians, and take in the beautiful architecture of homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Decorah also boasts a newly renovated historic shopping district. Discover everything from hidden antique nooks and eclectic art shops to fine apparel stores. After shopping, get ready for a culinary adventure.
Don't miss our array of dining experiences- from down-home fare to ethnic, from fast food to fine dining. Finally, you'll enjoy a good night's rest in one of Winneshiek's County comfortable lodging facilities, charming bed and breakfasts, or elegant hotels. Immigrant History Like other parts of the United States, Winneshiek County received its share of immigrants from a variety of ethnic groups. The 1850 county census, for example, showed 500 individuals in 100 households with foreign-born represented by Upper Canadians, Norwegians, Rhinelanders and Irish. Three such groups are noteworthy in the history of Decorah. The Norwegians were important leaders in the creation of Luther College.
The local churches, Luther College, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and the Decorah Posten newspaper are testimonials of the 19th century impact of the Norwegian immigrants. The annual Nordic Fest, first held in July 1967, is an ongoing reminder of their heritage. The "English Colony" of the late 19th century began arriving in 1867. For the most part, the men of this group were the younger sons of English gentlefolk, or would-be gentry, seeking their fortune among the riches of Iowa's natural resources. They were undoubtedly a stimulus to the city's business and industrial life. But a combination of unrealistic expectations, the hardships of life in Winneshiek County at the time and the collapse of the wheat market in the 1870's caused most of these settlers to move elsewhere or to return home.
The Irish were a successful minority. Unlike the Norwegians, whose standards were often cultivated by an intellectual elite, or the English Colony's would-be gentry, the Irish were industrious, hardworking laborers who made good as farmers in Decorah and Bluffton Township northwest of the city and in business and professional occupations as they chose. Again, unlike the two other groups, they tended to be members of a Catholic Church rather than Protestant.
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