The Beautiful Blackhawk Hotel & Downtown Cedar Falls

There is nothing like staying in a historic hotel!  I love the architecture and beauty of a hotel with class. The Blackhawk Hotel in downtown Cedar Falls fits the bill.  On a recent hosted stay, my husband Keith and I were in a lovely King Suite of this hotel built in 1870.

We dropped off our bags and enjoyed a stop at Cup of Joe. This fun coffee shop with a retro vibe is in downtown Cedar Falls.  I had a glass of ginger peach tea. I shared a banana everything cookie with Keith. Then we met with Kim Manning of the Cedar Falls CVB.  Kim shared information about fun places to stop in downtown Cedar Falls. Then we were off!

While there, we check out the College Hill Art Festival. Then we stopped by the Five Sullivan Brother’s Convention Center. There we attended the 100 Years of John Deere Tractor event.  We loved that there were John Deere tractors everywhere. We even saw one guy with a trailer in a parking lot with antique plows on his trailer. There was some trading going on somewhere!

Blackhawk Hotel History

I learned this was the second rendition of the Blackhawk Hotel in downtown Cedar Falls.  The first was originally built-in 1853. It was known as the “Winslow House”.  It was not as grand as the four-story Second Empire building, we stayed in. The first hotel was a wooden-framed stage-coach hotel. This hotel was located a block from the town’s first mill. It was beside the Cedar River that winds its way through Cedar Falls.

I found it interesting when I stopped at the Ice House Museum and read the historic stone plaque. Cedar Falls was once known as the “Garden City of Iowa”. Also, “The Red Cedar River, the mainstream in Iowa …it’s banks were formerly covered with groves of red cedar trees, from which it took its name”.

As far as the Blackhawk Hotel, the first hotel was renamed the Western in 1858 when an additional floor was added. The hotel was later renamed the Carter House, then it was destroyed by fire. Rebuilt in the 1870’s it changed to the current Second Empire style and became the Davis House.  The hotel was renamed the “Burr’s Hotel” when purchased by the Burr family.  The hotel changed looks in 1914, receiving an upgrade from architect John Ralston. He redesigned it with the current combination of Second Empire and Mission style architecture.

The Blackhawk Hotel Today

Today the Concierge Manager, Mary Hinman said the new motto is making the downtown more urban. With the cool downtown Cedar Falls vibe, the Blackhawk Hotel fits right in.  Mary shared, “I worked at the Blackhawk Hotel in college. Then came back two years ago as the Manager.  Now I am the Concierge Manager.”

This is a new job she described kind of like a caretaker.  Besides the Blackhawk Hotel she added the owners also have 3 apartment buildings with year leases and air BNB’s available as well.  “So, you can call for air BNB’s here too,” Mary added.  “They are brand new buildings and are fully furnished.”

Keith asked Mary if the Blackhawk has had any famous visitors.  “Not too long ago, Mayim Bialik the star of Blossom, and actress in Big Bang Theory.  Bill Clinton was here, and so was Huey Lewis and the News. John Hagen of the Texas Tenors is from here,” she said.

”Anabeth Gish also stays here and is from here too” Mary added.

Downtown Cedar Falls!

Close by the hotel is the historic theater formerly known as the Cotton Theater that was built-in 1910.  In 1994 the restored theater’s name was changed to the Oster Theater.  I loved the statue called Showtime created by Merle Blair and unveiled in 2013.  The statue begs for pictures taken beside it. Of course, I had to have mine!

Keith and I took a walk after the lovely European-style breakfast at the hotel. We peered into the windows of the downtown Cedar Falls stores.  We saw the plaque about poet Nancy Price and admired her art along the sidewalk in front of the hotel.  The art and architecture of downtown Cedar Falls is fun and eye-catching.

Farmer’s Market & Overman Park

Houses and buildings along the way to the nearby College Hill’s Farmer’s Market in downtown Cedar Falls were lovely.  The Cedar Falls Women’s Club looks to be a great place for rehearsal dinners and such! I want to come back and tour the Victorian Cedar Falls home and Carriage House Museum!

We were impressed by the Farmer’s Market and the variety of products offered.  Sampling some Farm House wine, I was taken with the Blues, a blue grape variety. We saw the freshest of vegetables and products from honey and more.

There was entertainment. The singer we heard was in front of a beautiful stage in Overman Park. In front of the City Hall, we noted a cool “Freedom Flame” a memorial to Cedar Falls Servicemen.

The Ice House Museum outside view was our final stop before heading to the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum. We were ready for the second leg of the 100-year celebration. The beautiful museum was built-in 1921 and tells the story of ice harvesting and the Cedar River.

For more information about great things to see and do in Cedar Falls, check out the Cedar Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau by logging onto their website.