Historic Rivertown - Guttenberg, Iowa - Welcome Signs on Waymarking.com

Prairie La Porte, meaning "the door to the prairie," was the first name given to Guttenberg by French explorers in 1673. The Guttenberg area was a site of Sac and Fox campgrounds until 1823. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 transferred ownership to the United States and the Black Hawk Purchase of 1833 finally opened the area for legal settlement.

Guttenberg’s past is preserved today in the many limestone buildings built by German immigrants in the mid to late 1800’s. These beautiful structures were used for both residential and commercial purposes. Many are pre-Civil War era and are on the National Historic Register.

Guttenberg's riverfront location influenced early commercial development. The town first served as a focal point for westward settlement and as an early governmental and administrative center. It was the early location of the county seat between 1838-1843. Guttenberg served as a supply center for the general area until the Civil War when railroads and an interior road system combined to decrease Guttenberg's role as a market center.

The earliest businesses included general supply stores, blacksmith, wagon shops, and hotels. The loss of the county seat in 1843 slowed growth and the population declined. Economic revival began in 1845 with the influx of hundreds of German immigrants under the auspices of the Western Settlement Society of Cincinnati and continued with the development of the lead mining industry along Miners Creek.

The German immigration began in 1845 and by 1850 the town was quite sizable and nearly all German. The city takes its name from Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of movable type. A replica of a Bible he printed is on display at the public library.

Guttenberg incorporated in 1851. The influence of the German population was best indicated by the construction during the period between 1845 and 1865 for over one hundred stone buildings. The bluff limestone was easily obtained and good, local clay and lime for construction was available. Four large riverside warehouses opened and a large flourmill, stores, and hotels appeared during this period. The steamboat trade deposited merchandise and picked up farm produce, milled flour and lead ore.

Guttenberg experienced many floods, the most recent and devastating being in 1965. After this flood, a levee was built. Today, Guttenberg's population is 1,980 and it is the largest town in Clayton County.


Known for our beautiful fall foliage, our German and Swiss heritage and many activities associated with being on the west bank of the Mighty Mississippi River and near Lock and Dam #10, people of all ages and interests enjoy Clayton county in the northeast corner of Iowa.

Guttenberg is a historic town with an interesting mix of old and new. Enjoy beautiful River Park Drive and the 2-mile-long park; muse about being one of the eagles as they lazily soar overhead; visit the aquarium and Lockmaster's Museum; browse through the many and varied shops and eating establishments. You can also stroll along a walking tour of the many limestone buildings built by the Germain immigrants in the mid-to-late 1800s. Most have been restored and are being used as homes or businesses and are now on the National Historic Register. Come spend a day, a weekend or a lifetime with us!

To the south is North Buena Vista. On the way, notice signs for a toll ferry which runs in the summer time from the Turkey River Landing to Cassville, Wisconsin. Back on the Iowa Great River Road, Balltown and Sherrill have beautiful rolling vistas of farmland – and you shouldn’t miss Breitbach’s eatery in Balltown. To the north of Guttenberg are the towns of Clayton, McGregor and Marquette. Antiques, quaint shops, Saturday Farmer’s and Flea Markets, wonderful restaurants will tempt any wallet and satisfy any taste. Come on in and check out what’s up along the Mississippi River in Clayton County Iowa.

Type of community: Town

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/15/2011 biscuitt bunch visited it