The U.S. Midwest has no shortage of charming small towns, many of which feature historic downtowns, offbeat roadside attractions, and friendly locals. Whether you’re setting off on a cross-country road trip or are just curious about hidden gems, these are the quirkiest small towns you should visit in the Midwest.
Lucas, Kansas
This farming community of just over 300 residents may be small, but its reputation for funky folk art reaches far across the Midwest. The “Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas” features a remarkable outdoor art installation called the “Garden of Eden,” created in 1907 by Civil War veteran S.P. Dinsmoor. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Lucas’ “Eden” includes sculptures and monuments, alongside Dinsmoor’s former cabin home.
The fantastic art in Lucas doesn’t stop there. Sponsored by the Grassroots Art Center, Bowl Plaza is a mosaic-adorned public restroom that was once named one of the best public restrooms in the United States. Meanwhile, Miller’s Park — a rest stop famous for its mini rock replicas of local landmarks — took Lucas residents Roy and Clara Miller decades to create. The art-centric town also houses an impressive collection of tiny replicas in its humorously named museum, the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things Museum.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Not up for the long flight to Europe? Americans craving a slice of the European lifestyle can head to Frankenmuth as a worthy alternative. You could easily mistake your location for Germany once you step foot in this Michigan town, which was settled by German immigrants in 1845. The sight of the Holz Brücke (wooden bridge) is the first sign you’ve arrived, while the charming Bavarian architecture, year-round German festivals (like the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest and the World Expo of Beer), and German cuisine served at many restaurants all add to the atmosphere. You can even attend a Sunday service at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church entirely in German.
Bentonsport, Iowa
Once a thriving port city on the Des Moines River in the 1840s, Bentonsport is now a sleepy village of only about 40 residents. Despite its tiny population, Bentonsport attracts visitors with its historic architecture and resident artisans, who sell their handmade goods in specialty shops around town. A typical visit to Bentonsport entails staying in a historic bed-and-breakfast or cottage, watching artists perfect their craft in their open workshops, tasting homemade fudge, strolling along the riverbanks or across the century-old iron bridge, and enjoying time in nature with a hike or canoe down the Des Moines River.
Metropolis, Illinois
DC Comics deemed Metropolis, Illinois, as Superman’s official hometown in 1972, and fans of the superhero have been flocking here ever since. The town of about 6,000 people is home to Superman Square, the site of a 15-foot-tall Superman Statue that looks over the city. (A statue of Lois Lane is also found a few blocks away.) The Super Museum — identifiable by the Man of Steel’s signature colors of blue, yellow, and red — is located across the street from the Superman Statue. Inside, visitors can pour over more than 70,000 artifacts, the largest collection of Superman memorabilia in the world. Every June, Metropolis hosts a Superman Celebration, complete with celebrity guests and throngs of costumed comic fans.
Henderson, Minnesota
This small Minnesota town with a population of less than 1,000 people has one big claim to fame: It was the filming location for Prince’s beloved music film Purple Rain. Fans often come here to pose with the Prince statue in Prince Garden, complete with purple benches and surrounded by purple flowers. Above the statue is a giant mural of the singer leaning against a red Corvette, a recreation of a scene from the 1984 movie. After Prince passed away in 2016, Henderson released a map outlining the many sites near the town where the movie’s scenes were filmed.
Ogallala, Nebraska
Looking to relive the days of the Wild West? Consider a visit to the former frontier town of Ogallala. In the 1870s, it was considered the most dangerous town in Nebraska, as Ogallala was the center of the cattle industry and frequented by rough-and-tumble cowboys herding their cattle through town. These cowboys gathered at the town’s saloons, where the alcohol flowed and the bullets flew.
However, present-day Ogallala is a far cry from its wild past — the quiet city of 5,000 residents welcomes visitors with a peaceful atmosphere and day trips to Lake McConaughy for fishing, boating, camping, and swimming. However, staying true to its roots, downtown’s Front Street caters to Wild West aficionados with 19th-century-style buildings, bars, cafes, and a general store.
Santa Claus, Indiana
This Indiana town’s festive name certainly provokes curiosity. Legend has it that when the town applied for a post office under its former name, Santa Fe, in 1856, the request was rejected because a nearby town had already claimed the name, and the townspeople were instructed to pick something else. As it was the holiday season, Santa Claus was suggested, and the name stuck.
To say the town has leaned into its name is perhaps an understatement: In Santa Claus, there are dozens of Santa Claus statues, a Christmas Lodge, a Christmas Store, Santa’s Candy Castle, and the Holiday World and Splash Safari theme park — attractions that altogether attract bring around 1 million visitors to the town year-round. A visit to Santa Claus during the holiday season will predictably coincide with the many events happening in this festive town.
Woodstock, Illinois
Located in McHenry County, 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Woodstock provides a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the Windy City. The Woodstock Square Historic District showcases stunning Victorian architecture, featured in landmarks such as the Woodstock Opera House, the Old Courthouse, and the Sheriff’s House. Adding to its historic charm, Woodstock was the former residence of director and actor Orson Welles, who attended the Todd School for Boys from 1926 to 1931 and performed at the city’s opera house at the age of 19. More recently, Woodstock’s quaint downtown was chosen as the filming location for the 1993 classic film Groundhog Day.
Jud, North Dakota
North Dakota has its fair share of small towns, but perhaps none are more vibrant than the tiny town of Jud. Made up of roughly 70 people, Jud makes a name for itself thanks to the artistic abilities of many of its residents. In an effort to spruce up the town, Jud’s talented painters took it upon themselves to decorate the outside of most of its houses, stores, garages, and bars with colorful murals. Aptly dubbed “the Village of Murals,” Jud features works that depict everything from cartoon characters and larger-than-life postage stamps to nature scenes and local images. A wander around this small town is like walking into an outdoor art museum.
Leader, Minnesota
Despite — or perhaps because of — its tiny size, Leader (population: 7) draws visitors from across the Midwest with one of the most unique events in the region. Though it may seem like a ghost town on weekdays at the local watering hole, the Bear’s Den comes alive during summer weekends with pig races that attract crowds of up to 500 people. On Friday and Saturday nights, patrons line up to pay the modest entrance fee and watch piglets race around the track at the local pig racing arena. Beyond the excitement of the track, the surrounding rural area features several state parks, with hiking and biking trails, camping, and horseback riding.
Casey, Illinois
Perhaps the official motto for Casey, Illinois, should be “bigger is better.” The town of 2,400 people claims 12 Guinness World Records for the “world’s largest” items, plus a dozen other so-called “Big Things,” all of which are displayed in or around the historic downtown. Among the record winners are the World’s Largest Wind Chime, Rocking Chair, Pitchfork, Mailbox, and Barber’s Pole, all made right in Casey. Stroll around town, and you’ll also run into the Big Cactus, A Big Ear of Corn, and the Big Taco — to name a few of the many unusually large attractions here.
Jim Bolin, a local businessman, was trying to think of a way to draw visitors to his small town with a unique attraction when he decided to go for a Guinness World Record. Bolin used piping sourced from his own business for the construction of the wind chime in 2009, and the momentum of his initial success has kept him going ever since. A visit to Casey is sure to result in many photo ops with these quirky record holders.
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