Pella, Iowa - Largest Dutch Windmill In The U.S.

Our visit to the delightful city of Pella was not complete without seeing the huge windmill in town. There are many windmills throughout the city, but you know you have seen the "big one" when you first glimpse it from the town square. There is a gift shop on the main level, and tours are offered. Just a block or so away is a musical clock with moving figures that is similar to those found in Europe. [John Holmes, 10/07/2009]

I've lived near Pella all my life and watch annually as the town grows 10x in size during the Tulip Time Festival each Spring. You can watch the parades, street sweepers in Dutch costume, booths and local music. Visitors can also tour the working windmill and travel to the top (handicapped accessible). Just don't pick one of the hundreds of tulips unless you want a $100 fine!

Every Thursday throughout the year the downtown comes alive with street vendors and music. Nearly every building, down to the Wal-Mart store-front, has a Dutch facade. Just don't get too excited about the canal. While it adds a nice touch to the new Molengracht downtown area, it's basically a glorified ditch.

Also in Pella: The Pella historical village which contains the childhood home of Sheriff Wyatt Earp. [Lynnette Van Wyngarden, 04/04/2008]

The largest working Dutch windmill in the U.S. Just finished - it is 135 feet to the top of the blades. Cost $3.5 million dollars. Tours started in May of 2002. [Scott Kilborn, 06/02/2002]

Pella is a very unique old Dutch town. On the square there all the buildings have dutch fronts. In the middle of the square there is a large tulip toren. The people of Pella (as the rumor goes) are planning to build a dutch canal also! Some of the streets in Pella are all brick. Pella also has a large Tulip Festival every May to celebrate their heritage. [Kevin and Tracy Dickel, 06/17/1997]