Remembering the Historic Iron Horse Inn
Once located at
207 E 4th Street,
Hermann, MO 65041
(scroll down to view contact information & additional pages)
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This beautiful Victorian home full of historic value, located only four blocks from the Missouri Riverfront in the quaint little town of Hermann, Missouri, sold in April, 2026. It had been well known as the Historic Iron Horse Inn.
The 1898 Queen Anne style home features 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, a formal dining room with a fireplace, kitchen and full basement, and a separate small cottage all situated on a landscaped oversized lot. At the time of sale it had enjoyed a 24-year legacy as a premiere inn in Hermann, Missouri. You are welcome to scroll through this Memorial Site to see the history of the inn and a glimpse of Hermann, as a ‘snapshot in time’.
A visit to the property today will startle you in that the vibrant landscaping and traditional room settings depicted here were greatly and intentionally altered by the present owners to meet their own visions. The purpose of this memorialized site is to give you insight as to a place in history when it was my home and a sanctuary for the plants and wildlife that I both cherished and honored, as well as when it was a place of respite for my inn guests and friends.
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Victorian Room master suite on ground floor, with a king-size antique reproduction bed.
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The antique walnut fireplace mantel in Victorian Room, is circa 1840’s and was carved by the first settler on this property, Henry German.
The large original oil painting “The Guardian Angel” hanging over the mantel is by my artist friend, the late Barbara Sparhawk who lived and had her art galleries in Big Sur and Carmel Valley, California. Since this incredible painting was a personal and prized gift from her to me at the time I moved from California, it was not included in the home sale and currenttly remains in my private gallery.
Jetted tub & shower in the Victorian Room bath. The exposed brick wall, adding charm to this area, is the inner layer of brick as this home was built with a double-brick wall construction. This adds greatly to the home’s insulation against the outdoor temperature.
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Victorian Room half bath in addition to tub and shower room shown above.
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Sweet Dreams Room on 1st Floor
Sweet Dreams Room with a queen bed, also at the ground floor level.
There are five doors in this room connecting it to these areas . . . the private bath, the closet, the entry hall, the adjacent dining room, and one to the outside back porch. This room could just as easily have served as a study or a home office.
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Sweet Dreams Room
Sweet Dreans Room Bath
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Upstairs Sitting Area
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2nd floor Captain’s Room with a knotty pine king-size sleigh bed and a reading nook in the tower area.
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Captain’s Room antique claw foot tub with a hoop-style curtain for showering.
Captain’s Room Bath
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Sitting Area between the Captain’s Room and the Sun Room, with a microwave for guests.
The Sun Room located in the second floor.
The Sun Room had a queen-size antique reproduction iron bed and a small electric fireplace-style heater to keep the room cozy.
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The Sun Room featured a duo-shower and a door that leads to an outside balcony area overlooking other historic buildings in the neighborhood and the backyard garden.
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The Sun Room had the shower and its half bath integrated into the bedroom itself with the shower at one end of the room and the sink and toilet area at the opposite end of the room behind a half partition wall.
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Stepping through this door onto a private balcony provided an overlook of the back gardens and a view of nearby historic Hermann buildings.
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The balcony off the Sun Room seated four.
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Looking from the Sun Room balcony with the fenced in backyard gardens and the second residence, The Tin Smith’s Cottage in view. Both the Main House and The Cottage had new metal roofs installed in 2014.
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Previously known as The Historic Iron Horse Inn it was sold with furnishings included. It was my vision to have it continue as a historical inn or that the new owners might enjoy it as a second home for family gatherings, or as a vacation property. With its commercial zoning, it had many possibilities.
Much of the original Victorian character and elements of the home were left intact, including wood floors, historic trim work inside and out, fireplaces, original pocket doors, a parlour with bay windows, transom windows, high ceilings, and unique fixtures.
The interesting layout of the upstairs offered a nice sitting area in the landing between two bedrooms, each with a private bath and one with a balcony overlooking the park-like backyard and some of Hermann’s historic buildings.
A glimpse of the backyard garden prior to the sale. Too see more atchival photos of the gardens, scroll down to the links below and find “More from the Gardens’.
The Tin Smith’s Cottage
The second residence on the property, a cozy 364 sq ft studio/cottage that once served as the town’s tinsmith’s workshop, was used as my private ‘owners residence’ nestled in among the gardens of the back yard. It could have just as easily served as a caretaker’a unit, an office, an art studio, a writer’s hideaway, a yoga/meditation area, a guest cottage or as an additional source of rental income.
One open space for everything essential plus a separate full bath with a tub and shower!
The Tin Smith’s Cottage served as a private retreat while the main house received guests from around the nation. The garden-like fenced backyard was its own little peaceful sanctuary for reflection and renewal.
The ceiling of the cottage is a spacious 11 feet high in the front of the building sloped to 9.5 feet at the back. There are two high-quality casablanca fans with five lights each. The floors are wide-plank knotty pine and the walls were painted a relaxing moss green. The Cottage has central heating and air conditioning and a high-capacity water heater in the basement storage/garage area beneath.
The craftsman-style kitchenette had glass-front walnut-stained beadboard upper cabinets, beadboard lower cabinets with a white formica countertop, stainless steel double sink, a microwave oven, and a space for a dishwasher. There also was a small fridge and an induction heat countertop cooking appliance.
For more archival photos of the backyard and the inn gardens, please follow the “More from the Gardens” link at the bottom of this page.
Crape Myrtle Trees, are popular deciduous flowering trees known for their colorful, long-lasting blooms and attractive bark. They are relatively low-maintenance and thrive in warm, sunny climates, making them a favorite for many landscapes. This one has made a great beginning after appearing to die through the first two winters. Fortunately it has always come back, this last time with the old growth being only dormant until mid-Spring before budding out. It was being groomed to have three main trunks ti offer colorful foil to the other trees, but was unfortunately removed with most the other landscaping subsequent to the property’s sale, to my dismay. Keep in mind that the photos you’ll see here are from prior to the sale and represent a slice in time from my beloved memories of this gorgeous place I once lived. While these memories are precious, I’ve always lived in beautiful places and continue to do so even now. I only regret that the plants that I protected here were ultimately destroyed or discarded by the next owners. Something I did not fathom would occur.
This little deck off the kitchen was secluded by a dwarfed sassafrass tree and shaded by a tall white pine, that I had planted and nurtured, as well as a Linden tree already matured when I purchased the place. It was a perfect spot for a meal or glass of wine. Guests of the inn also enjoyed it’s intimate ambiance.
Some of the beautiful homes on the block.
The 100 block of East 4th Street used to be shaded entirely by large Linden trees (aka Basswood trees) planted by the first owners of my home, all along the avenue. They thrived for over a hundred years, then the City removed them one by one to make room for improved street paving and sidewalks. I preferred the shade trees and having a tree-lined lane to park my car in front of my home and for walking my dog. In my opinion the arbitrary removal of the trees detracted from the historical feel of this historic district neighborhood and was greatly disappointing to me, but was a thing I was not able to prevent, regrettably.
In the Historic District of Hermann, you are surrounded by a mixture of similar historic homes and bungalow style homes. Sitting on the front porch, I had a wonderful view from my park-like lawn with colorful flowerbeds, huge shade trees, as well as other numerous younger trees I added over the past two decades. The city amphitheatre is down the street and a local theater, restaurants, shops and a museum are just up the street.
Historic Iron Horse Inn had an amazing curb appeal with its flower gardens, gorgeous flowering trees, an old-fashioned lamppost, landscape lighting, reflecting globes, distinctive trim work, a covered front veranda with rockers, as well as an additional breakfast porch. When there were five Japanese Maple trees across the front lawn, a pink Crape Myrtle tree, and the Scotch Pine, all of which I had planted, I felt I was living in an enchanted forest. I also added low Mugo Pines bordering the front edge as all part of the grand plan for them to grow into a four foot high hedge. Most trees, flowers and shrubs were sadly removed after the sale.
Can you spot the inn?
The Eitmann-Messner Amphitheater is not only a fantastic outdoor venue for concerts, festivals and other special events, it’s gorgeous to see all year round.
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Historic Hermann, Missouri
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Step back in time to small town living on tree-lined streets, in a place that the ‘World Atlas’ has named one of Missouri’s friendliest towns. You’ll enjoy strolling down to the riverside for a picnic, wine-tasting or dining at the wineries or golfing at a nearby country club. The many community features Hermann has to offer include city parks, a municipal swimming pool, grocery stores, unique boutique shops, convenience stores, restaurants, gourmet coffee shops, gas stations, churches, museums, local hospital, a modern senior center with a public well-equipped fitness center, public transportation services, a local volunteer fire department, schools K-12, and a public library with an art gallery.
What the Chamber of Commerce says about Hermann schools . . . “Here in the Greater Hermann Area, we are incredibly fortunate to have an education system that doesn’t just teach our kids, but truly invests in them. Our teachers, staff, and administrators give their all, and our community supports them every step of the way.
It’s easy to take for granted that our schools are strong, but the truth is, they’re one of our greatest assets — and they’re at the heart of our future. A healthy, growing school enrollment is a sign of a thriving community. More families in our district mean more energy in our neighborhoods, more volunteers at local events, and a stronger future workforce.
That’s why our work in economic development is so important. Attracting new residents, creating jobs, and building housing options doesn’t just strengthen our economy — it directly supports the vitality of our schools. And when our schools thrive, the whole community thrives.
So as the buses roll, the classrooms fill, and night lights flicker on, let’s remember how lucky we are — and how important it is to keep building the kind of community where families want to live, learn, and grow.”
To see more photos of Hermann, Missouri, be sure to visit the link: ‘Small Town Living’ at the bottom of this page. To learn additional information about Hermann visit the Welcome Center website at www.VisitHermann.com or the city website at www.HermannMO.com
Hermann’s Heritage
Originally founded by German settlers in the mid 1800’s, Hermann is known for its rich German heritage characterized by the annual Maifest and month-long Oktoberfest celebrations, the downtown historic district where mostly original brick buildings hug the sidewalks in traditional German style, and a great number of wineries which has earned Hermann the title of “Missouri Wine Country.” One New York Times article described Hermann saying “The village, particularly its 10-block historic section, is neither a restoration nor a museum-piece setting; it is a living, working community passed down from the early 19th century with its architecture and style largely intact.”
Designated as “Missouri’s Most Beautiful Town”, Hermann is an idyllic, almost magical small town along the Missouri River. The unparalleled scenic beauty of the area is characterized by steep hills, cliffs, and low valleys, providing breathtaking views from any point. Drive, walk, or take the trolley through the town and you will immediately feel the Old World charm of the historic buildings and the small town friendliness of the residents and local business owners. While nestled in its own private nook, Hermann is in an ideal location because of its centrality in the state. The town is only an hour from Jefferson City and Columbia, 90 minutes from Saint Louis, and 2.5 hours from Kansas City. This boosts the thriving tourism industry as well as provides residents with the country lifestyle while having easy access to the amenities of the city. People from all over the state, country, and even world come to visit and move to Hermann to experience its natural beauty, small town friendliness, and of course- the wine!
This property was sold fully furnished with most of the items you see in the pictures included! Later the new owners resold or disposed much of what you’ll see in these photos. Sometimes things just don’t happen the way you think they’re going to go.
I will always cherish my memories of this home I shared with my loyal patrons of the inn and, for a time, I will keep this site up, as well as a few social media sites such as the Historic Iron Horse Inn Facebook Page, in remembrance to what was.
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricIronHorseInn.
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