Iowa: The Sty's the Limit!

you know after you've lived somewhere for a while you can end up learning a lot about the place stuff you never would have imagined take Iowa for instance well okay I know what you're thinking who cares about a state that has more vowels consonants in its name anyway besides when was the last time you told the kids hey let's vacation in Floyd County this summer well as a lifelong Iowan let me tell you something Iowa ain't that bad trust me hi I'm Evan bacon and I'm here to tell you in Iowa you're never far from food fauna in my case genealogy to prove it let's go on a road trip around the state for a few minutes are you ready hold on to your hats hi again everyone our trip starts here at Iowa's right hand side the mighty Mississippi for just a few miles upstream from Davenport an old river town with a history that goes back nearly two centuries Colonel George Davenport set up a fur trading post here in 1816 about 20 years later he built a federal-style mansion on Arsenal Island today it's a museum open to the public to learn more about the colonel the Bix Beiderbecke jazz festival or anything else going on in Davenport or the Quad Cities these days log on to visit Quad Cities com next stop Wolcott home of Iowa 80 the world's largest truck stop stimulate our local economy please stock up on souvenirs trinkets t-shirts our next stop west branch home of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum not far from this historic cottage President Hoover's brick place then it's on to Iowa City and Wilson's apple orchard where we pick a bag full of goodies for the road driving on to Eldon not far from a tumblin in southeastern Iowa it's where you'll find my pals at the American Gothic house the very place made famous by grant wood's 1931 painting we head up the road to Iowa's most popular tourist attraction the Amana cock is just north of i-80 but it's time to stop for a snack at the Quaker Oats plant near downtown cedar rapids the only place in the country that makes Captain Crunch cereal back on the road as we head to Dubuque in northeastern Iowa home of the historic Mathias Ham House one of my favorite places an Italianate architectural gem built in eighteen fifty six so far we've been touring Eastern Iowa but before we head to another part state let's pay tribute to Hollywood not far from Dubuque is Dyersville population 4035 home of the filming location for the famous 1989 movie Field of Dreams remember if you build it they will grunt bye now in northern I'm a Charles City for an advertising salesman coined the word tractor in 1903 the Floyd County Museum has a big collection of them and I take advantage next up clear lake and the surf ballroom inside of a last show for buddy holly and balance and the Big Bopper back in nineteen fifty-nine a plane crash claimed their lives the memory of rock and roll history lives on you Sioux City Way Out West where my genealogical hunt begins I stopped by the Pearl Street research center downtown treasure trove of local history and a nice staff there refers me to their stockyard records fortunately I end up in the wrong record group cattle but no pigs while I'm in Sioux City I check out the new Lewis and Clark interpretive center near downtown on the Missouri River Front the bicentennial of the expedition is underway be sure to log on to Sioux City 200.com for more information Eames home of Iowa State University whereby genealogy research continues its were on hot bacon men the campanile is use elegant bell tower for couples court and romances begin my folks met here back in 53 my wife Devin and I followed suit twenty years later some things never change I suppose kappa kneeling and well the end result on to Des Moines Iowa Scapa ttle and largest city where Mac meets this fall you'll be staying at the Marriott right in the middle of downtown you check into your room sure to specify whether you want smoked or non smoked you're probably asking yourself is there art in Iowa as their culture is there food answer to all these questions is yes and pass the butter don't miss out on Iowa's many public displays of art sure to challenge and inspire lively for debate critics of all persuasions Iowa has countless cultural opportunities as well ranging from LA live musical cinema dramatic performances of course we can't overlook I was outstanding educational opportunities and no matter how you get here by car playing train you're sure to find a diner or restaurant that's just right for you check ahead you'll find great places iowa listed in jane and michael stearns book road food especially if you like pie any kind of high the Stern's call Iowa high heaven and I have to agree in just a moment we'll give you the websites for more information about Mac in Des Moines this fall but right now I want you to hear from a very good friend Thank You Evan i'm gerry ham former state archivist of wisconsin and a founding member of mac i hope you've enjoyed our tour of the Hawkeye State and I urge you to visit Des Moines this fall so mark your calendars for the last week in October and Evan and I will see you there me you