Grinnell (/ɡrɪˈnɛl/ grin-EL) is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States.

[3] It is best known for being the home of Grinnell College, as well as being the location of the Merchants' National Bank building, designed by famous architect Louis Sullivan.

[10][11] One of the most famous events occurred in February 1859, when abolitionist John Brown, and 12 slaves he was helping escape to freedom, were hosted by J.

B. Grinnell's efforts to help slaves and end slavery, in 2013, the National Park Service included his gravesite at Hazelwood Cemetery on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom listings.

The Pioneer Company of 1846–1847 established the first route; from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City.

On June 17, 1882,[14] a violent, estimated, F5 tornado destroyed most of the college campus and much of the community with a death toll of 68, causing up to $1.3 million in total damages (in 1882 USD).

[30] In the spring of 2005, Grinnell embarked upon a renovation project to make its downtown area more inviting.

It encompassed new water mains, restoration of two-way traffic flow, brick crosswalks in the middle of each block, and more uniform parking spaces in front of downtown businesses.

A median strip at each intersection was designed with Grinnell's distinctive Jewel Box pattern.

[citation needed] Infrastructure upgrades and aesthetic renovations were also planned for the southern section of the downtown area, to include Commercial Street.

Central Park underwent a major makeover during the summer of 2016, relocating the gazebo and adding a bandstand, public restrooms, and a large group picnic enclosure.

Grinnell has several notable architectural landmarks:[36] Among them, includes the Merchants' National Bank, designed by architect Louis Sullivan in 1914.

It was the first of seven houses the Griffins designed for Iowa clients, six of which were built and the other five of which are in Mason City.

[39] Grinnell Farmers Market features locally grown produce, freshly baked goods, honey, jams, plants and flowers, and handmade crafts.

[citation needed] Grinnell Games is a weekend family sports festival.

Grinnell Games draws visitors from across the state with its family-friendly activities, sidewalk sales, live music, and a beer garden on Saturday night.

The Poweshiek County Chronicle Republican[40] – often referred to as the Poweshiek County CR or simply The CR – was created in January 2009 as the result of a merger of two newspapers serving other communities in Poweshiek County, the Brooklyn Chronicle and the Montezuma Republican; the Pennysaver, a shopper that had operated in Grinnell, continued, and the new newspaper began incorporating Grinnell news along with its existing coverage of rural Poweshiek County and its communities.

Iowa Valley Community College[45] also operates a satellite campus on the western edge of Grinnell.

GRMC was established in 1967 after the merger of two hospitals, one step in a century of providers joining to serve the community.

A wide range of photos and documents are available for viewing as part of Digital Grinnell[48] and the Poweshiek History Preservation Project.

The building remains in service today as the headquarters for the Grinnell Area Arts Council.

[34] The library also has many eco-friendly structures like clerestory for natural light, flooring and furniture made from recycled materials, water-saving fixtures, permeable pavers, and native landscaping.

[53] The Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center[54] is open during the summer months.

People responded enthusiastically; donations included a rope bed, a hair wreath, and the twisted bell clapper from the ruins of the first High School, which had burned.

Located at 927 Broad Street, the Stew houses spaces for ceramics, woodworking, 3D printing, metal working, laser engraving, and much more.

[63] The airport provides private and charter flights, and saw an average of 114 aircraft operations per week during 2019.

The Ahrens Foundation focuses on quality of life, health, and parks and recreation through overseeing its own property and collaborating with partner institutions.

The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation[66] serves as an umbrella organization for smaller nonprofits in the Grinnell area and helps with their financial management.

Mid Iowa Community Action[67] is a private nonprofit that seeks to help those affected by poverty.