CEDAR RAPIDS - As buildings and businesses start to dry out in downtown Cedar Rapids, we're beginning to get our first look inside more of them. Many buildings still have pools of water and piles of mud on the The water did a lot of damage to just about every building near the water, but the real problem now is the mud.

Thick, smelly and sticky mud cakes just about everything inside many of the places that have served Cedar Rapids for decades.

Well known Cedar Rapids landmarks look fine on the outside, but inside, many look like landfills. The rush of water ruined the first floor of the Linn County Sheriff's Department and destroyed the 9-1-1 dispatch center.

"We're looking at exactly what we have. The future is bright as long as we continue to be positive," said Don Zeller, Linn County Sheriff.

The Sheriff's office saved most of its key documents, but lost a lot of equipment. Over at the County Courthouse, rushing water ripped away the street next to the building. The river soaked some records and files stored in the basement and caked others in mud.

"Sure, we're going to lose a good percentage of 'em, but we'll see what we can do to save them," said Lu Barron, Linn County Supervisor.

Just down the river, African American museum leaders believe most of their key artifacts survived. The front desk and gift shop suffered most of the damage.

"It could have been a lot worse," said Tom Moore, African American Museum.

A picture of respected Eastern Iowa community activist Aldeen Davis shows how high and how toxic the river water was inside the museum.

"It's bad stuff and we want to make sure we don't get it on us. Safety first," said Moore.

Even though all of these well-known buildings look fine on the outside, it will take weeks, months or even years to restore the inside.