Milton Welcomes Travelers with New Historic Hills Scenic
Byway Experience
The Historic Hills Scenic Byway plays an important role in tourism throughout Davis County, including right here in Bloomfield. Bloomfield Main Street Executive Director Jennifer Cutler serves as a council member for the Historic Hills Scenic Byway and recently joined fellow council members to celebrate the installation of another interpretive sign along the byway.
These interpretive signs help tell the unique stories, history, and culture of communities located along the Historic Hills Scenic Byway, giving visitors a deeper connection to the places they explore. Bloomfield is also home to several of these signs, which highlight our community’s rich history and heritage.
The newest sign installation in Milton is another great example of the ongoing efforts to preserve and share the stories that make southeast Iowa special. Read below to learn more about this exciting project in Milton, Iowa.
MILTON, IOWA — Visitors traveling through southeast Iowa have an opportunity to
experience the stories that shaped the region with the installation of a new Historic Hills
Scenic Byway interpretive history panel in Milton. Located outside the historic Milton
train depot, the panel invites travelers to explore the community’s rich past, from early
settlement and education to the churches and people that helped define the town.
The Historic Hills Scenic Byway stretches 105 miles across southeast Iowa, connecting
travelers with scenic landscapes, historic communities, local attractions, and cultural
experiences. The new Milton panel is one of a growing series of self-guided interpretive
stops designed to encourage visitors to slow down, explore local communities, and
discover the history found throughout the Byway corridor.
Historic Hills Scenic Byway Coordinator Christina Hedstrom said the project reflects a
larger effort to strengthen heritage tourism and create meaningful visitor experiences
across the region.
“These panels help bring local history to life for travelers exploring southeast Iowa,” said
Hedstrom. “They create opportunities for visitors to connect with the stories, people, and
places that shaped our communities.”
The project highlights the growing interest in heritage tourism, which encourages
visitors to experience local history, culture, and community identity in a more personal
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 their museums, historic sites, parks, shops, and restaurants.
Hedstrom said the initiative would not have been possible without strong local
partnerships and community support.
“We’re excited to see the interpretive panel project come to Milton,” said Emily Starnes,
Villages of Van Buren’s executive director and Byway councilwoman. “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.”
Support for the project was provided by 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.