Plum Grove Historic Home

1030 Carroll St.
Iowa City, Iowa 52240 USA

Plum Grove Historic Home was the residence of Robert and Friendly Lucas and their family. The Lucas family was originally from Ohio where all seven of their children were born and where Robert worked his way up through the Ohio Legislature to eventually serve two terms as Governor of the State of Ohio—1832-1836. Robert was appointed by President Van Buren as the first governor of the Territory of Iowa in 1838 and served as governor until 1841. Today Plum Grove Historic Home sits on four acres of the original Lucas property and the seven-room, brick home is furnished to reflect the Lucas family’s residency in the 1840s-1850s. Free tours of the house offer a glimpse into the lives of the Lucas family and life in the Iowa Territory. Visitors to the site can also tour the historic vegetable and flower gardens which are both part of the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens as well as view exhibits about ongoing archaeological excavations.