State of Iowa

The town of Iowa City, Iowa, is home to the impressive World’s Largest Wooden Nickel.

During the summer of 2020, my dad and I went on a road trip to witness the aftermath of a powerful storm known as a derecho in Iowa. Along the way, we saw the effects of the storm, like flattened cornfields, damaged trees, destroyed interstate signs, and even silos that had been moved. Despite these storm-related sights, we also made some detours to places unrelated to the weather. One of our stops was in Iowa City, where we had the opportunity to see the World’s Largest Wooden Nickel.

Brief History of the Location

If you’re thinking about visiting the World’s Largest Wooden Nickel, get ready for an amazing experience! This enormous wooden coin can be found in a horse pasture along Dubuque Street NE, just a short distance down the hill into the river valley north of I-80.

The World’s Largest Wooden Nickel is a true marvel, measuring an impressive 16 feet in diameter. It was skillfully created by Jim Glasgow and his friends over a period of approximately six months in 2006. They carefully cut treated 6×6-inch southern yellow pine and connected them using eight stainless steel supporting rods that were drilled through the centers.

Following a fantastic design by Iowa City poet/cartoonist David Morice, they applied a full-size paper stencil to the front of the wooden coin. Using a special routing technique, they brought the image of a buffalo and the letters to life, filling them in with India ink. To ensure the nickel’s stability, a strong steel band was used to secure it into a perfect 16-foot diameter circle. This remarkable wooden nickel is proudly displayed between two telephone poles for everyone to admire.

If this article interests you, read about other Iowa roadside attractions I have visited or browse through all the roadside attractions I have been to.

Location

3246-3248 Iowa River Corridor Trail, Iowa City, IA 52240

Visit Iowa City Press-Citizen for more information about the location.

The World’s Largest Wooden Nickel in Iowa is an incredible roadside attraction that you shouldn’t miss. For those who enjoy roadside wonders, make sure to add it to your must-visit list. And please remember to be respectful of this attraction and not damage it.

Hakes, D. (2019, September 10). Years after protest, World’s Largest Wooden Nickel endures. Press-Citizen. Retrieved from https://www.press-citizen.com/story/life/2019/09/10/years-after-protest-worlds-largest-wooden-nickel-endures/2215088001/