Mount Vernon (Iowa)

In many respects, while they maintain separate identities, the histories of Mount Vernon and Cornell College are inextricably linked. Cornell was founded in 1853 as the Iowa Conference Seminary but, in 1857, it would be renamed after iron tycoon William Welsey Cornell, a distant cousin of Ezra Cornell (founded of Cornell University). As the college expanded, the town invariably also enjoyed the benefit. Today, many members of the faculty and staff at Cornell are also long-time residents and participants in the community, which gives the town a strong college feel. The entire Cornell campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mount Vernon has also historically benefited from its close proximity to Iowa City and Dubuque as it is the on the primary route between the two.

Mount Vernon is located primarily to the northwest of the intersection of Iowa Route 1 and US 30.

The primary method of travel within the city is car. However, many portions of the community are entirely walkable including the downtown area and Cornell campus.

• King Chapel

  address: 600 First Street SW
  Cornell's ornate original chapel, King Chapel is visible from Route 30 and is a point of pride for the community. Call ahead to see if the interior is open, which houses one of the largest pipe organs west of the Mississippi. The chapel has hosted a number of famous speakers including Booker T. Washington, Helen Keller, Carl Sandburg, Amelia Earhart, Milton Friedman and more recently, Barack Obama.

• The Silver Spider

  address: 117 1/2 1st St NW
  An eclectic shop full of gifts, jewelry and clothes. This is the sister shop to the one in Iowa City.

• Lincoln Cafe

  address: 117 First Street West
  One of Oprah's favorite places, the Lincoln Cafe serves high quality food.

• Fuel Nest

  address: 103 1st St E
  A coffee and espresso shop in downtown Mount Vernon, Fuel Nest offers a variety of coffee drinks for your pleasure.