Visitors traveling through southeast Iowa now have a new stop to add to their journey, as a newly installed Historic Hills Scenic Byway interpretive history panel in Milton invites travelers to explore the community’s rich past.
Located outside the historic Milton train depot in Van Buren County, the panel covers the stories that shaped the town — from early settlement and education to the churches and people who helped define the community over the years. The installation is part of a growing series of self-guided interpretive stops along the byway designed to encourage visitors to slow down, step out of the car, and discover the history woven throughout the region.
The Historic Hills Scenic Byway stretches 105 miles across southeast Iowa, connecting travelers with scenic landscapes, historic communities, local attractions, and cultural experiences.
Byway Coordinator Christina Hedstrom said the Milton panel reflects a broader effort to strengthen heritage tourism and create meaningful visitor experiences across the corridor. “These panels help bring local history to life for travelers exploring southeast Iowa,” Hedstrom said. “They create opportunities for visitors to connect with the stories, people, and places that shaped our communities.”
The project taps into the growing interest in heritage tourism — travel that encourages visitors to experience local history, culture, and community identity in a more personal and immersive way. By placing interpretive panels in communities along the route, the Historic Hills Scenic Byway hopes to inspire travelers to spend more time exploring southeast Iowa’s small towns and the museums, historic sites, parks, shops, and restaurants that make each one unique.
Emily Starnes, Executive Director of the Villages of Van Buren and a Byway councilwoman, said the project is a meaningful addition to the communities along the route. “We’re excited to see the interpretive panel project come to Milton,” Starnes said. “It helps communities along the Historic Hills Scenic Byway preserve local stories and celebrate their heritage while enriching the visitor experience throughout the Villages of Van Buren.”
Hedstrom said the initiative would not have been possible without strong local partnerships and community support. The project received support from Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development, Travel Iowa, the Van Buren Foundation, the Davis County Community Foundation, Van Buren County Conservation, the Community Foundation of Van Buren County, the State Historical Society of Iowa, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative, Wapello County Foundation, Access Energy Cooperative, Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative, and numerous community members.
