Traces of a layered history
Built in 1853, the Todd House is considered one of four surviving Underground Railroad stations in Iowa. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and included in the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom as the Tabor Anti-Slavery District. One house thus represents an important chapter in Fremont County’s history.
The Fremont County History & Iowa's Championship Rodeo Museum connects the history of the county with the history of rodeo. Its exhibits span prehistory and the history of Indigenous peoples to businesses in Fremont County and military history. The museum also tells stories about Lewis and Clark’s visit to Fremont County, the Orphan Train, the Underground Railroad and the Civil War.
Historic buildings also reveal different sides of the past. The Ferrel House is a restored Italianate home built in 1871. Visits are available for special events or by appointment; arrange your visit in advance. Built in 1893, the Sunnyside Country School was moved to the Fremont County Historical Society museum complex for preservation and display. It opens for special events at the museum, school tours or by appointment. Confirm your visit in advance.
Built in 1893, The Gathering Place served as the home of the First Baptist Church of Sidney for 70 years. Today, it serves as Fremont County’s education and performing arts center. The Historical Society hosts educational programs and performing arts events there—a blend of architectural history and cultural life.
Rodeo and local traditions
The Sidney Iowa Championship Rodeo began in 1923. Sidney American Legion Post 128 made it an annual event; in 2015, the rodeo was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. You can also encounter the rodeo’s past and present at the museum, which connects rodeo tradition with other topics in county history.
The Farmers & Merchants Picnic continues to be held annually in Tabor. The program includes food, entertainment, games, parades, a flea market and a fair. A farmers market is also held in Tabor in summer, in addition to the picnic. As seasonal dates may vary, check current event dates before your trip.
The Loess Hills, from scenic routes to hiking trails
The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway includes a 220-mile paved main route and 185 miles of loop routes. In Fremont County, the byway follows U.S. 275 through Tabor, then County Roads J18, J24 and L44. The route offers a concrete reference point if you want to look beyond individual towns and explore the Loess Hills.
Landscape and history meet at Waubonsie State Park: the park is part of the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail and offers views of the Loess Hills and the Nebraska plains. When it comes to the trails, it’s worth distinguishing between two offerings, each eight miles long. The hiking trails are for hikers only; the multi-use trails are intended for challenging hikes, mountain biking, horseback riding and snowmobiling.
The Blackburn State Park Unit encompasses 72 acres of prairie as well as wooded ridges and valleys in the Loess Hills. At Blackburn State Park, hiking trails wind through wooded areas. Native flowers bloom in a restored 20-acre prairie, especially in late spring—a seasonal contrast to the wooded trails.
More activities in the county
Public camping is available at Fremont County Conservation Park. Check current operating details before you arrive. At Lake Virginia, you can fish for largemouth bass, bluegills and catfish. Fremont County Golf Course is a 9-hole, par-36 course measuring 3,205 yards from the back tees. These different options give you several concrete starting points for planning your trip, without limiting yourself to a single theme.
Explore more destinations: Percival, Henry County, Scott, Kossuth County, Jackson, Shelby, Winnebago County, Adair County.
For the broader travel overview: Iowa.
