Coralville, Iowa is a city located in Johnson County. It is part of the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city has a population of 22,318 as of the 2020 census. It is a suburb of Iowa City. There are several things to do in Coralville.
Historic Gaslight Village
When you visit the Historic Gaslight Village in Coralville, Iowa, you’re taking the opportunity to step back in time. The area features Victorian-era and rustic California-style homes, as well as restaurants and shops. Walking tours of the area are popular, and they’re free.
Gaslight Village is located on nearly two acres of hilly grounds. It is part of the city’s Historic North Side. There are four buildings in the village, with the oldest one, the Charles Berryhill Mansion, dating back to the late 1860s, on the National Register of Historic Places. The two other buildings are more rustic in character and were inspired by creative architecture that emerged in northern California during the 1940s.
Black created the village in the 1950s, and his goal was to provide a haven for artists and writers. Some of his neighbors included Kurt Vonnegut, Gene Wilder, and Kurt Vonnegut. According to some former residents, John Cheever and Philip Roth have also resided at the Village.
Museum of Natural History
The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum located on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa. It was first established as the Iowa Cabinet of Natural History in 1858 by the Iowa General Assembly. Today, it houses collections of fossils, reptiles, insects, plants, and more.
Founded in 1858, the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History holds over 115,000 specimens from all over the world. In fact, this museum was once famous for displaying Philippine artifacts during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Located on the University of Iowa campus, the museum continues to change and evolve for future generations of researchers, while maintaining its historic aura.
The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History offers a trip through 500 million years of history. The museum features fossils preserved over centuries, a rock collection, and education and recreation programs. Visitors can also take part in pottery workshops and purchase souvenirs. Admission to the museum is free.
The Macbride Hall Museum has more than one million specimens in its permanent collection. It was founded in 1858 and is the oldest university museum west of the Mississippi River. Its collections rank with the best in North America. The specimens are from University-directed expeditions to diverse regions of the world, as well as private donations from numerous individuals. The museum has collected materials from locations as diverse as the Arctic Sea, the Fiji Islands, and New Zealand.
Biosphere Discovery Hub
If you’re looking for a unique way to learn more about environmental research, Coralville, Iowa’s Biosphere Discovery Hub is a great place to start. This museum showcases environmental research at the University of Iowa and serves as an exhibition space and working classroom with educational tools.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. It has tons of cool exhibits, including a huge learning lab and a music and art studio. It’s free, which makes it an excellent way to spend a couple of hours while you’re in the area.
The Biosphere Discovery Hub includes exhibits on the changing landscape of Iowa over the last 10,000 years. You can also see over 1,000 species of birds in the William and Eleanor Hageboeck Hall of Birds. The Biosphere Discovery Hub is also home to the historic Old Capitol, which served as the state’s first capitol from 1846 to 1865. It has been beautifully restored, with period-decorated rooms. The Old Capitol leads public outreach programs, educational programming, exhibitions, and academic scholarship.
Lake Macbride State Park
Lake Macbride State Park in Johnson County, Iowa, is a state park with two units centered around 900-acre Lake Macbride. It is named for Iowa conservationist Thomas Huston Macbride. It is a popular destination for nature-loving families, couples, and individuals.
During the summer months, the park is open to the public. The lake has a boat ramp and a marina. Visitors can rent boats and sailboats and enjoy the water. There are seven boat ramps at the park, and the Iowa Sailing Club offers lessons on sailboats.
Construction of Lake Macbride began in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and it was dedicated to the public in 1937. The park gets its name from a naming contest held by the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce. The winner suggested naming the park for the distinguished Iowa botanist Dr. Thomas Huston Macbride. The state park has two campgrounds: one is modern with fifty campsites, 37 with electrical hookups. It also has restrooms, showers, and a trailer dump station.
Lake Macbride State Park offers excellent fishing opportunities. The eight-hundred-acre lake is home to a variety of fish species, including the prized Kentucky spotted bass. There are also several accessible fishing jetties. One area is designated for 24-hour fishing.
There is also a 4.9-mile multi-use trail that traverses the north shoreline of the lake. This trail is popular with bikers as you rarely lose sight of the lake. Along the way, you can stop to enjoy views and read informative plaques about local wildlife.
The state park is a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It has a variety of hiking and biking trails, and many amenities. Visitors can also rent kayaks and paddleboats, and enjoy picnics by the lake. A beach area is also available for swimming and relaxing.
Lake Macbride State Park has a modern campground in the northern unit, off County Road F-16 west of Solon. Guests can also enjoy picnic areas and a lodge. There is also a primitive tent campground in the southern unit. Besides the swimming beach, the park also has boat ramps, picnic areas, and a frisbee golf course.