old fort madison

Not complete enough history. The Advisor insists I write 100 words in the review. I really can't find enough to write it is an interesting reconstruction and that is about it

We enjoyed the walking around the old fort but the bird life out on the Mississippi was the ticket. Take a camera with the telephoto and just get down by the rivers edge and wait. :-)

When traveling a must see is the replica of Old Fort Madison. The original fort was the first fort west of the Mississippi River. It was attacked regularly by Indians and finally it was burnt down by the soldiers as they were leaving by raft to keep the fort from falling into Indians hands. A full scale reproduction of the fort has been constructed on the beautiful river front in Fort Madison. Tours are available guided by rein-actors in period uniforms. Many of the original artifacts found in a dig at the original site of the fort are on display. Also close by is the Lee County Historical Society"s Museum which among other items are pictures and Items from the Iowa State Penitentiary which also was the first prison west of the Mississippi. Between the two they are a must see if in the area.

We went here with our 6 year old and 1 year old, expected it to be really informative but it was boring..The lady at the front desk talked and talked and talked, it took FOREVER to get through the gift shop due to her.. When we finally got through we went to the first room & the boy "acting" in that room was obviously not wanting to be there- everyone seemed to have that attitude except the man in the fur/trading room! He was awesome. He shot his musket for us & that was really neat..Besides the musket shooter, it was a complete waste of time.Honestly, unless you are a HUGE history buff & could teach them a thing or two, you probably wouldn't enjoy this.

The fort is a reconstruction of the one that was nearby along the Mississippi River. It is well done with plenty of buildings to explore. In some of them there are people in period dress who explain what life was like at the time (early 1800's). I would like to have seen more of such people, but still, it was worth the stop.

Wonderful explanations from knowledgeable staff who play the role of soldiers in the fort made this visit great for our entire family. Highlights included seeing the old medical tools and hearing the gruesome ways that they were used, and seeing a demonstration of the use of a period firearm. Further, the rate was very reasonable.

Although this is only a replica, this fort sets on the bank of the Mississippi River and has a full view of the river. Typical of the period it is worth the time to see how the military protected the settlers. Also how they lived.

Authentic building materials, hand-hewn lumber and well placed on the Mississippi River. They even fly the correct U.S. flag over it.

This is hands down the most interesting attraction in Ft Madison. They had everything that would be in an 19th century fort. It was chilly the day I went but the experience was worth it.

I thought it was cute, but it was not open and did not have seasonal hours posted. Although hours posted were posted and it was not open. I would go back to visit when its open!

An old Mississippi river town which has seen better days: central decay and peripheral sprawl, surrounded by a sea of corn. I spent two days here, waiting for transport to RAGBRAI. It is not often that I have time on my hands, but here I did. I drove around, checked out the old town and the surrounding farms, tried several local eateries and sampled some local wines. The weather was good and the people were friendly. I had a pleasant time.What is worth visiting? Several things. Drive across the old Santa Fe Swing Span Bridge over the Mississippi. It has two decks, one for trains and the other for cars. It is the longest swing span bridge in the world. From the bridge, you can appreciate the width of the Mississippi River.Check out the Old Santa Fe Depot train station which now houses the Lee County Historical Society. The Victorian architecture of the building is unique and the historical exhibits worthwhile.Old Fort Madison is a reproduction of the first military fort on the upper Mississippi River. It is located within Riverview Park and the views of the river are nice.Apparently there are many interesting Victorian homes in Fort Madison and they can be viewed on a driving tour. I did not have the time to do this. Next time.

Hard to imagine the forts we have in Iowa...from the mighty Mississippi to the unique one built to protect one Indian tribe from another in Fort Atkins...if you are a history nut, a must to see.

Attended an historical event put on by the group there. Attention to historical details very impressive. Needs more community support.

This is just a replica built for publicity. Is out in the open next to the Mississippi River. Area floods often, building "feels" fake.

Could only see it from the outside it was always closed. but the river walk and park that surround it is beautiful. and there is an old river boat docked there that was a casino at one time (it is also closed)