The Real Ushers Ferry
The "real" Ushers Ferry was not actually a town, but a ferry boat crossing located approximately a quarter of a mile up river from the current village site. The Usher family was among the earliest settlers in Linn County, with Dyer Usher arriving in the valley as early as 1836. He established a ferry across the Cedar River that operated until the 1860's. The Village features the home of Dyer's cousin, Henry A. Usher, the first landholder of the ground the village sits on today. Originally built near the site of Dyer's ferry landing, the house was moved to farmland Henry owned across the river near Covington. It was moved back to become part of the historical village in 1983.
Ushers Ferry Historic Village
Ushers Ferry Historic Village was created in 1973 by Cedar Rapids Parks Commissioner Stanislauv Reinis and opened to the public in 1975 as "Pioneer Village." It was renamed "Ushers Ferry Historic Village" in 1986. The Village operated as a Department of the City of Cedar Rapids under the Parks and Recreation Commissioner and was governed by a six member volunteer commission until 2007, when the City of Cedar Rapids restructured from a Commission to a City Manager form of government.
Ushers Ferry is operated by the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department and represented by one voting member of the Cedar Rapids Parks, Waterways and Recreation Commission, who makes recommendations regarding all Parks and Recreation Properties to the City Council.
Contact Information
Ushers Ferry Historic Village
5925 Seminole Valley Trail NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52411
Phone: 319-286-5763
Fax: 888-423-2122
Office Hours
Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
