Burlington, Iowa, United States: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Looking for things to do in Burlington, Iowa? This Mississippi River city is a rewarding place to explore historic churches, a former movie theater, and the buildings of Heritage Hill Historic District. Neywo has a free audio guide for Burlington, Iowa, with six narrated places, so you can discover the city while walking at your own pace.

What to see in Burlington, Iowa

The most concentrated sightseeing route follows a group of historic buildings connected with Burlington’s religious, architectural, and cultural history. Together, they form a short walk through the Heritage Hill area.

Capitol Theater

The Capitol Theater opened in 1937 as both a movie theater and a venue for live performances. Its opening program was a screening of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, and the auditorium could seat 700 people.

Although the theater was designed with a stage, it was used for only about an hour during the grand opening and never again. The Capitol closed in March 1977, with Carrie, the Stephen King horror film, as its final screening. Today, it offers a glimpse into Burlington’s former entertainment scene.

First Congregational Church

First Congregational Church is one of Burlington’s formally recognized historic buildings. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a contributing property in the Heritage Hill Historic District.

Its place among the district’s historic buildings makes it an important stop for anyone interested in Burlington’s architecture and religious heritage.

St. Paul’s Catholic Church

St. Paul’s Catholic Church remains a worship site and forms part of Burlington’s Catholic heritage. The church and its rectory are contributing properties in the Heritage Hill Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Paul’s School was once part of the district as well, although the school building has since been demolished.

Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal Church, also known simply as Christ Church, is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. The historic building contributes to the character of Burlington’s Heritage Hill Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is one of several churches in the area that show how the city’s historic neighborhood developed around its religious communities.

German Methodist Episcopal Church

The German Methodist Episcopal Church is also known as St. Paul’s German Methodist Episcopal Church. It preserves the story of one of Burlington’s early German congregations, which was organized in 1845 with Reverend Sebastian Barth as its first pastor.

The congregation initially worshipped in a small frame house before moving to the basement of another church. A small brick church became its first permanent home in 1848. The present building was constructed from 1868 to 1869 in a Victorian Gothic style with Romanesque elements. Its exterior stone was quarried directly from the site.

The congregation gradually adapted as Burlington’s community changed. Services began to be held in English in 1905, and by 1916 all services were in English. After the German and American branches of the Methodist church merged in 1925, St. Paul’s congregation was disbanded and its members joined other Burlington congregations.

Saints John and Paul Catholic Church

Saints John and Paul Catholic Church is also known as Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church. It remains connected with worship and forms part of Burlington’s Catholic heritage.

The Church of St. John the Baptist in Burlington was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its former parish church building continues to be maintained as a worship site.

Explore Burlington with a free audio guide

For a Burlington, Iowa self-guided walking tour, Neywo’s route brings these historic places together in one walk: Heritage Hill: Steeples, Stone and a Movie Palace on the Mississippi. The walk covers 1.14 km, takes about 41 minutes, and includes five narrated stops: Capitol Theater, First Congregational Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Christ Episcopal Church, and German Methodist Episcopal Church.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it. You walk at your own pace, without a group and without a schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages.

Download Neywo and explore Burlington at your own pace

Download Neywo to try a free Burlington, Iowa audio guide and explore Heritage Hill with the city’s history playing as you arrive at each stop. Burlington has one walking tour, covering 1.14 km in 41 minutes with five narrated stops.

The route is designed as a simple, independent way to discover Burlington’s historic churches and former movie palace. There is no group to join and no schedule to follow: the app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace. You can also continue exploring Iowa and the wider United States with Neywo.