Historical Markers and War Memorials in Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Council Bluffs is the county seat for Pottawattamie County
Adjacent to Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Cass County(14) ► Harrison County(5) ► Mills County(5) ► Montgomery County(19) ► Shelby County(27) ► Douglas County, Nebraska(103) ► Sarpy County, Nebraska(13) ► Washington County, Nebraska(13) ►
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On Lafayette Avenue west of Oakland Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
"A king of men,
whose crown was love,
whose throne was gentleness."
This monument is to
commemorate the visit of
Abraham Lincoln
to Council Bluffs, Aug. 19, 1859
From this point he viewed
the extensive panorama of the . . . — — Map (db m241041) HM
Dedicated to the memory of the defenders of our flag. “Greater love hath no man.”
(reverse) Erected 1926 by Abe Lincoln’s Woman’s Relief Corps, No. 180, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1861-1865. — — Map (db m45066) HM
Teacher in the public schools
of Council Bluffs,
Lieutenant and Captain Co. B.
4th Iowa Infantry,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel
23rd Iowa Infantry.
[Dedicated] May 17, 1902 . . . — — Map (db m93985) HM WM
On Pearl Street, on the right when traveling south.
The Glory of their Spirit. When destiny demanded and country called, They in answer left our rolling hills and great river valley, and learned the arts of war. Then, on and beneath restless waves of the deep, in endless skies and across vast oceans . . . — — Map (db m44840) WM
Near East Pierce Street, 0.2 miles east of Canning Street, on the left when traveling east.
Through the efforts of General Dodge, as Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the foresight of Abraham Lincoln, Council Bluffs became the hub of the first Transcontinental Railroad. — — Map (db m82165) HM
On Dumfries Avenue, 1.5 miles south of Pioneer Trail, on the right when traveling south.
Hyde Park was a small farming community just west of here, founded in 1847 by Mormon pioneers. It was named for Orson Hyde, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who took up residence here when he returned that spring from . . . — — Map (db m93960) HM
On Pioneer Trail at Dumfries Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Pioneer Trail.
Some 10,000 goldseekers ferried the Missouri River at Council Bluffs in 1849. The settlement was "only a little Burg between two high bluffs," but over the next two decades it became the preferred "jumping off" point for thousands of overland . . . — — Map (db m93961) HM
On Oakland Avenue at Lafayette Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Oakland Avenue.
This historic cemetery of Kanesville (now Council Bluffs) was created as the resting place for the mortal remains of several hundred Mormon pioneers. From 1846 to 1853, thousands of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the . . . — — Map (db m93973) HM
Near U.S. Highway 275 (U.S. 275) 0.1 miles Iowa Highway 92 (State Highway 92).
One of the most remarkable infantry marches in American history began here in July 1846 with the mustering of the Mormon Battalion. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) responded to the request from President James K. . . . — — Map (db m22662) HM
This Boulder commemorates the early travel upon the Mormon Trail through Kanseville, now Council Bluffs and is dedicated to the memory of the throngs who crossed Iowa in advance of settlements. Here thousands of pioneers encamped awaiting pasturage . . . — — Map (db m45065) HM
French, Spanish, and British traders already controlled trade empires west of the Mississippi river when Lewis and Clark began the Expedition in 1804. but President Thomas Jefferson wanted the United States to control trade in the newly acquired . . . — — Map (db m45162) HM
On Pearl Street near 5th Street, on the right when traveling south.
The Historic Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail. Built in 1885 and in continuous use as a jail until 1969. Acquired by the Park Board in 1971 for preservation. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 by the United States . . . — — Map (db m44839) HM
On 3rd Street at Story Street, on the right when traveling east on 3rd Street.
Built by General Grenville M. Dodge in 1869 and designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of Interior of the National Park Service in 1963. Acquired as a museum through public donations and restored by the Council . . . — — Map (db m44838) HM
After traveling 68 days and 600 miles, it was time for the Corps of discovery to stop for a rest. On July 22, 1804, William Clark wrote, they camped on the east side of the Missouri River, about 10 miles above the mouth of the Platte River, on land . . . — — Map (db m45164) HM
The Western Historic Trails Center welcomes you to the story of America’s trails west. The trip across the county from the Mississippi to the Pacific required stamina and ingenuity to overcome the challenges of the landscape. Walk along the levee . . . — — Map (db m45161) HM
One of President Jefferson’s goals for this expedition was to seek out the native peoples and council with them. On July 28, 2804, the expedition passed this overlook area early in the morning and noted of this area “a bluff on the S.S. . . . — — Map (db m45111) HM
During late July and early August of 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled the length of the Missouri River that today is the boarder between Iowa and Nebraska. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark studied the river, forests, and prairies. . . . — — Map (db m45117) HM
In 1804-06, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led about 40 soldiers and boatmen on an epic journey. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned this “Corps of discovery” to find a route to the Pacific Ocean through the newly . . . — — Map (db m45116) HM
On U.S. 6/59 at Oakland Avenue, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 6/59.
To Our Armed Forces;
You go where we ask, never with complaint
You fight with honor, never demanding praise
You sacrifice greatly, never yielding courage
You always protect our freedoms, never will you fail
"Thank you"
Citizens of Oakland . . . — — Map (db m93776) WM
Near Interstate 80 at milepost 19,, 3.6 miles west of 298th Street (Iowa Highway 244), on the right when traveling west.
The Council Bluffs area was the scene of such important events in Iowa history as the explorations of Lewis and Clark, the Mormon Trail, the Missouri River steamboat traffic and the railroad industry. Francois Guittar established the first white . . . — — Map (db m224579) HM
Near Interstate 80 at milepost 19,, 2 miles east of Magnolia Road, on the right when traveling east.
The Council Bluffs area was the scene of such important events in Iowa history as the explorations of Lewis and Clark, the Mormon Trail, the Missouri River steamboat traffic and the railroad industry. Francois Guittar established the first white . . . — — Map (db m224580) HM