Dedicated in 1904, the three-story, red and white sandstone Sioux County Courthouse remains a splendid example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. A statue of Blind Justice tops the spire of its square 120-foot tower.
The business area downtown maintains a Dutch architectural theme, with six windmill replicas adorning Molen Garden in Windmill Park. Across the street Stadscentrum (meaning “City Center”) houses a Dutch street organ and wooden shoe carving equipment; contact the chamber of commerce for demonstration and tour information. The chamber office, located on Highway 10, is in a 76-foot-high reproduction of a windmill. The replica Vogel Old Mill graces the property of Diamond Vogel Paints.
During the tulip blooming season (mid-April to late May), the gardens at Tulip Town Bulb Co., 116 1st St. S.W., are open for viewing; phone (712) 737-3670. The annual Tulip Festival, held the third weekend in May, takes place along Central Avenue and around Windmill Park and the Courthouse lawn. Wooden shoe carving demonstrations are offered during the festival.
Children tired of car confinement can expend energy at a large wooden, castle-like playground, “Kinderspeelland,” in Veterans' Memorial Park on Iowa Avenue.
Visitor Centers
Orange City Chamber of Commerce 509 8th St. S.E. Orange City, IA 51041. Phone:(712)707-4510