The city of Bedford itself is a delight for any traveler who enjoys a trip down memory lane. We feature some of the best antique shopping in the region. You can talk a stroll on our historic red brick streets and enjoy the Victorian era architecture that has been lovingly restored in both our business district and residential areas. Check out the Conoco Station which is on the National Historic Register, recently renovated to house the Bedford Area Development Center. Then there is the Garland Hotel, also on the National Historic Register, which once housed a very special guest in Room 7...Jesse James!   Built in 1857, it is currently being restored with future planned use as an art gallery and guest rooms. The gift shop, furnished with antiques original to the hotel, is nearing completion and open for business now!  As the Taylor County Seat, another historic building that you will want to explore is our Courthouse. The "Majestic Lady with the White Crown" has been beautifully preserved for over 150 years, complete with her Seth Thomas clock!  Across the street is our city Library, a Carnegie Library with original oak woodwork and fireplace.

    
If you would like to dig deeper into our history, a visit to the Taylor County Historical Museum is a must! We have the honor of hosting the largest, most active museum south of Des Moines. It is located on over 4 acres of land, just outside town along Highway 2.  Along with the modern museum building, you will see a historic log cabin, a country schoolhouse, an old train depot and train tracks, complete with a caboose. The museum's latest addition, and many say its crown jewel, is the Lenox Round Barn. It was built in 1907 and was moved piece by piece to its new home at the museum when it began to deteriorate and nearly collapsed on its original site.

   
Bedford also has plenty of activities planned annually for folks of all ages to enjoy. The annual Iowa Harness Horsemen's Association Races at the Taylor County Fairgrounds are a thrill to any who enjoy the amazing speed and beauty of a race horse.  The Taylor County Fair is a traditional favorite, with professional bull riders, 4-H exhibits, and the demolition derby! The newest activity in town is the Across the Border Raid Bike Rally. The rally was such a big success with motorcycle enthusiasts in its finest year that it will become a new annual tradition, growing bigger and better with every year to come!

    
Two new additions to our downtown are the Ahrens Memory Garden and a mural on Court St. depicting a street screen of the Courthouse from times past.

    
These are just a few of the many reasons that come to mind that make Bedford a great destination!  Come on down and see us...we'll be happy to show you around!

 

For more information, call 712-523-3637 or visit Bedford Area Development on the web at www.bedford-iowa.com