Anamosa

City / town · Iowa

Anamosa

Best timeApr–Oct
From you
Nearest airportCID · 27 mi
On this page

Overview

Anamosa is a city in the Grant Wood Country region of Eastern Iowa. An epicenter of Grant Wood history, the city is famous for its connection to the famed artist. However, it is also has many other distinctions which can attract tourists of all types.

1 sights

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Anamosa

The National Motorcycle Museum

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 12°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Cedar Rapids)

Jan: 1.2 in rain1.2"Jan: high 30°F, low 12°F30°12°JanFeb: 1.3 in rain1.3"Feb: high 35°F, low 17°F35°17°FebMar: 2.1 in rain2.1"Mar: high 49°F, low 28°F49°28°MarApr: 4.0 in rain4"Apr: high 63°F, low 38°F63°38°AprMay: 4.7 in rain4.7"May: high 74°F, low 50°F74°50°MayJun: 5.7 in rain5.7"Jun: high 82°F, low 60°F82°60°JunJul: 4.5 in rain4.5"Jul: high 86°F, low 63°F86°63°JulAug: 4.4 in rain4.4"Aug: high 83°F, low 61°F83°61°AugSep: 4.0 in rain4"Sep: high 77°F, low 53°F77°53°SepOct: 3.0 in rain3"Oct: high 64°F, low 42°F64°42°OctNov: 2.2 in rain2.2"Nov: high 48°F, low 29°F48°29°NovDec: 1.7 in rain1.7"Dec: high 35°F, low 19°F35°19°Dec

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

  • From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
  • CID The Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids — 27 mi away. Directions
  • DBQ Dubuque Regional Airport, Dubuque — 35 mi away. Directions
  • DSM Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines — 129 mi away (major hub). Directions
Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Food for you

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    Understand

    Originally incorporated as "Lexington," legend has it that a traveling Native American family's daughter captured the town's heart. When the family left, the town was renamed "Anamosa" after her.

    Grant Wood was born in the area in 1891. His legacy of as a celebrated American artist helped give the community a strong identity and immortalized the area in his landscape paintings. He is buried within the city limits.

    Aside from Wood, Anamosa also is known for being the home of the Anamosa State Penitentiary, an architecturally significant structure built from local limestone, also known as the "White Palace of the West." It also has a connection with the motorcycle community as Anamosa is home of J&P Cycles and the National Motorcycle Museum.

    See

    See The National Motorcycle Museum

    ⚠ Last checked Sep 2020 — confirm before you go
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