tourism - Prairie Rivers of Iowa

Books for the byways

by Jeanie Hau | Oct 16, 2024

Hello byway readers!

The theme for the byway newsletter last month (be sure to sign up if you haven’t already) was “books on the byway” and there are a lot of them. I definitely did not have room to list them all and I realized that I don’t even have a complete “list” for either the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway or the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway. We were also given the option to list where to buy books on the byways or where to enjoy reading books while on the byways. With ~43 communities on the Lincoln Highway in Iowa, that would be a task for our tiny newsletter and even this tiny blog!

So what I will do is tell you about some of the newer books that are on my reading list, give you the local bookstores that I found and let you find your favorite café or park to read in! Check out our Lincoln Highway Activity Guide, our Lincoln Highway Recreation and Camping Guide, and our Iowa Valley Resources Map for ideas of places to enjoy a byway book.

The best recently published book about the Lincoln Highway is After Ike: On the Trail of the Century-Old Journey that Changed America by Michael Owens (2022). Everyone should grab this book and read it before the documentary comes out in 2025. Owens parallels the 1919 Military Convoy Trip with a trip that he takes on the Lincoln Highway (he actually took at least three trips to write the book and film the documentary). I have seen an early viewing of the documentary at the Lincoln Highway Association’s annual conference and it is fabulous.

The book that I am most excited about reading is Eric Steven Zimmer’s Red Earth Nation: A History of the Meskwaki Settlement (2024). Located in Tama County, Iowa, the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, is known as the Meskwaki Nation, or the “People of the Red Earth.” The Meskwaki Nation purchased an 80-acre parcel of land along the Iowa River in 1857, a parcel that has grown to more than 8,000 acres. Zimmer promises to explore the #Landback movement of Native nations through the Iowa Meskwaki Nation’s story.

The newest book to be published about the Amana Colonies that I am looking forward to reading is The Worldly Game: The Story of Baseball in the Amana Colonies by Monys A Hagen, edited by Peter Hoehnle, published by Penfield Books (2024). When baseball was first introduced to the Colonies, the elders deemed the sport forbidden (verboten). With little else to do the game quickly became the most popular sport of the seven colonies. When the automobile was introduced to the Colonies, the communities were suddenly introduced to the world and baseball’s popularity dwindled. Be sure to stop at the Iowa Baseball Museum of Norway just north of the Amana Colonies to get the full experience of the book.

Back Roads and Better Angels: A Journey into the Heart of American Democracy by Francis S. Barry (2024) focuses on a man and his wife who take the ultimate RV trip across America along the Lincoln Highway. Barry uses Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War as a guide to gain insight on American commonality amidst political divisions. I am hoping that this book is inspirational to a point that it can propel me through the 560 pages.

The Lincoln Highway in Iowa: A History by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby (2023). I must admit that I have this book but that I haven’t read it all the way through yet. It has functioned more as a source book for me to find an interesting place or story. Which makes it a great glove compartment book for a trip on the byway.

Brian Butko has written several books on the Lincoln Highway and kept that awesome blog from 2007-2022. What byway travelers are looking forward to most from Brian Butko is the book he is currently working on, Scouting the Lincoln Highway: Adventures on the 1928 Safety Tour in an REO Speed Wagon. And honestly, I am full of anticipation for his first novel, The Quarry, described as “a haunted historical mystery.” Will a certain historic highway be mentioned?…

Speaking of fiction, there is one little book that has brought much attention to the Lincoln Highway in the last two years. That is a not-so-little book by Amor Towles titled, The Lincoln Highway, 2021. And… there is a movie in the works! Towles is an expert storyteller and although I haven’t read this one yet, I am a huge fan of his style and twists that can change the view of what is really happening. Talking about exposure, I just found out that the book has been produced in Spanish, Swedish, Italian, German, and Chinese.

Another fiction book that I found with a setting of the Lincoln Highway is Niland Corner by Paul Berge, 2021. Berge is an aviation writer and this quick little story is sure to put a smile on your face as a story weaves around its environment.

The last book I will talk about here is An American Songline: A Musical Journey Along the Lincoln Highway by Cecelia K Otto, 2015. What a concept this book is based on! Cece traveled the Lincoln Highway (all of it) and gave concerts of vaudeville-era music in every state she passed through. The book follows her journey, “in which history and music come together to document and preserve a cherished part of American life.” Oh yes, and there is a CD of the music you’ll need also!

Here are the locally owned book venues that I was able to find on the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway . Send me the ones that I missed!

Dog-Eared Books in Ames

The Book Shoppe, Inc. in Boone

Swamp Fox Bookstore in uptown Marion

Next Page Books in Historic New Bohemia in Cedar Rapids

Along the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway I was able to find:

Amana Heritage Society Museum is the go-to place for books on the history of the Amanas.

Bumble Books in downtown Amana is taking on the environment by specializing in Print-On-Demand books by independent authors, they also sell new and used books.

Fireside Winery, just outside of Marengo, has a novel new Storyteller book club at the winery! They order their books from Dog-Eared Books in Ames!

Next Page Books New Bohemia Cedar Rapids Iowa

Let me know what books you are reading for the byways.

Let me know where you get your books on the byways.

And let me know where your favorite place to read your byway books is

A little piece of useless information about me:

Drake Hokanson’s 1988 book was a book I picked up back in 1989,

I didn’t know then what propelled me to do so….

See you on the byways!

Add to my book lists below!

Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway: This list includes Iowa specific books but does not include other state specific books that exist. Available at Lincoln Highway Trading Post: Buy here first to support the Lincoln Highway Association. If they do not have your book check your local bookstore as they can order and ship to you if the book is still in publication. Thrift sites may have a book that is out of publication.

Scouting the Lincoln Highway: Adventures on the 1928 Safety Tour in an REO Speed Wagon by Brian Butko, Not published yet

Red Earth Nation: A History of the Meskwaki Settlement by Eric Steven Zimmer, 2024, 358 pages

Back Roads and Better Angels: A Journey into the Heart of American Democracy by Francis S. Barry, 2024

Lincoln Highway: Discover America’s Forgotten Main Street by Publications International Ltd., 2023; 144 pages

The Lincoln Highway in Iowa: A History by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby, 2023; Iowa

After Ike: On the Trail of the Century-Old Journey that Changed America, Michael S. Owen, 2022; 224 pages; available at Trading Post

Greetings from the Lincoln Highway: A Road Trip Celebration of America’s First Coast-to-Coast Highway by Brian Butko (Centennial edition w/revised text and new images 2013, 2019) (3 total editions)

Ford Model T Coast to Coast: A Slow Drive across a Fast Country by Tom Cotter, 2018; 224 pages; available at Trading Post

An American Songline; The Book: A Musical Journey Along the Lincoln Highway by Cecelia Otto, 2015; 309 pages; available at Trading Post

Across the Continent by the Lincoln Highway by Effie Price Gladding, 2015; 120 pages

The Lincoln Highway: Photos Through Time, Brian Butko, 2013; 136 pages; available at Trading Post

Lincoln Highway Companion: A Guide to America’s First Coast-To-Coast Road, by Brian Butko, 2009; 193 pages

America’s First Highway by Greg Roza, 2009; ages 9-12; 32 pages

The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast from Times Square to the Golden Gate by Michael Wallis and Michael S. Williamson, 2007; 304 pages

Lincoln Highway: The Road My Father Traveled by D. Lowell Nissley, 2006; 212 pages

American Road: The Story of an Epic Transcontinental Journey at the Dawn of the Motor Age by Pete Davies, 2002; 274 pages

All the Way to Lincoln Way: A Coast to Coast Bicycle Odyssey by Bill Roe, 2000; 192 pages

The Pacesetter: The Untold Story of Carl G. Fisher by Jerry M. Fisher, 1998; 440 pages

Link Across America: A Story of the Historic Lincoln Highway by Mary Elizabeth Anderson and Randall F Ray, 1997; ages 7-13; 52 pages; available at Trading Post

The Lincoln Highway: Iowa by Gregory M. Franzwa, 1995; 187 pages Iowa

The Lincoln Highway: Main Street Across America by Drake Hokanson, 1988; 256 pages

The Lincoln Highway: The Story of a Crusade That Made Transportation History by Lincoln Highway Association, reprint of 1935 edition (reprints: 1995, 2018, 2022); 396-204 pages

The Complete Official Road Guide of the Lincoln Highway, reprint of 1924 edition (5^th Edition); 566 pages; available at Trading Post

The Complete Official Road Guide of the Lincoln Highway, reprint of 1916 edition (2^nd Edition)- print on demand with a leather cover through Walmart

The Complete Official Road Guide of the Lincoln Highway, reprint of 1915 edition (1^st edition of 5 editions); 160 pages

Pan-Pacific International Exposition Miniature View Book by Robert E. Reid, 1915; 66 pages; available at Trading Post

Hints to Transcontinental Tourists Traveling on the Lincoln Highway by FH Trego, reprint of 1914 edition; 12 pages; available at Trading Post

Lincoln Highway: Route Road Conditions and Directions by FH Trego, reprint of 1913 edition; 32 pages; available at Trading Post

Fiction: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, 2021

Fiction: Niland Corner by Paul Berge, 2021 Iowa

Iowa Valley Scenic Byway:

Red Earth Nation: A History of the Meskwaki Settlement by Eric Steven Zimmer, 2024

The Worldly Game: The Story of Baseball in the Amana Colonies by Monys A. Hagen, published by Penfield Books, 2024.

A Change and A Parting: My Story of Amana by Barbara Selzer Yambura and Eunice W. Bodine, 2022; 264 pages

A Century of Amana Life: Echoes of Elise by Jeremy H. Berger, 2020; 297 pages

Amana Colonies, Iowa, Images of America, 1932-1945 by Peter Hoehnle, 2016; 130 pages

The Inspirationists, 1714-1932 by Peter Hoehnle, 2015; 374 pages

The Amanas Yesterday by Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret, John Zug, 2013, 48 pages

German Recipes Old World Specialties and Photography from the Amana Colonies by Sue Roemig Goree and Joanne Asala, 2013; 128 pages

The Amana People: The History of a Religious Community by Peter Hoehnle, 2003; 96 pages

Village Voices, Stories from the Amana Colonies by Various Authors published by Free River Press, 1996

Ghost of the Amana Colonies by Lori Erickson, 1988; 172 pages

Amana Colonies by Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret and John Zug, 1985 (2^nd Edition)

Amana Today: A History of the Amana Colonies from 1932 to the Present by Lawrence L. Rettig, 1975; 249 pages

Historical Fiction by Melanie Dobson: Legacy of Love Series books 6 & 7: The Society, 2020; 320 pages and The Stranger, 2020; 299 pages

Historical Fiction by Judith McCoy Miller Home to Amana Series and Daughters of Amana Series, 2010-2014

‘Big Boy’ visits Belle Plaine by Jeff Morrison

by Prairie Rivers of Iowa | Sep 25, 2024

The Union Pacific’s No. 4014 “Big Boy” steam locomotive stops in downtown Belle Plaine, Iowa, on Thursday, September 5, 2024. The train’s trip across Iowa closely followed the Lincoln Highway. Photo by author.

BELLE PLAINE — Little boys love Big Boy. Big boys love Big Boy. On Thursday, hundreds of people turned out to see Big Boy.

“Big Boy” is the nickname of the 25 huge trains built in 1941 for the Union Pacific Railroad. The Omaha World-Herald introduced it as a “mastiff among puny terrier locomotives.” There are seven remaining in museums. That number used to be eight, but No. 4014 was pulled out of a California museum and restored in the 2010s. Five years after its initial excursion in 2019, the last Big Boy returned to Iowa as part of an eight-week, 10-state “Heartland of America Tour.”

John Sutherland, 75, of North Liberty was seeing Big Boy for the first time. “Railroading runs in my family’s blood. My grandfather worked for the Pullman-Standard Steel Car Co. and my great-grandfather was the line superintendent for the Michigan Central Railroad.” He’s not much of a train spotter, but the opportunity to see Big Boy was too good to pass up.

The Iowa-Illinois portion of Big Boy’s 2024 trip followed trackage that was originally part of the Chicago & North Western Railroad and closely parallels U.S. Highway 30 and the Lincoln Highway. Its public stops were in Carroll, Belle Plaine and Grand Mound. Those stops doubled as service periods, since the world’s largest operating steam locomotive requires a high degree of maintenance.

George Kornstead of Iowa City was wearing a Hawkeye Model Railroad Club shirt. He grew up around the rail hub in Duluth and Superior. “Steam is incredible, it really is, to watch how back in the day when people were working on railroad, how hard it was and how intensive it was to keep steam available on the locomotive. Lot of work. The fireman really makes his money.”

Big Boy pulls into Belle Plaine with Lincoln Highway Mural in background

The World-Herald in 1941 said at the first Big Boy’s launch, “A single tender loading of coal would heat a six-room home for three years.” This Big Boy has been converted from using coal to using oil.

Steven Ritchie, 6, wore a “Big Boy” T-shirt. His father, Roger, said Steven has seen a lot of train videos and sings “the Big Boy song.” Andrew Schamberger of Hudson wore a C&NW T-shirt. His sister, Becca Scott of West Branch, loves the old steam engines.

According to the UP’s website, No. 4014 racked up a million miles of travel in its 20 years of original service in Wyoming and Utah. It’s nearly twice as long as a standard diesel locomotive and more than half the length of a Boeing 747 jet. The Big Boys “had a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which meant they had four wheels on the leading set of ‘pilot’ wheels which guided the engine, eight drivers, another set of eight drivers, and four wheels following which supported the rear of the locomotive,” the website says.

The Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” glistens during a light rain shower in downtown Belle Plaine, Iowa, on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Engine No. 4014 was built in 1941, decommissioned in 1961, and restored in time for the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad in 2019. Photo by author.

Big Boy’s visit was a way to connect with railroad history. Paul Duffy, 85, is from “Tama, really,” but now lives nearer Belle Plaine. He worked for the C&NW and then with UP after the two railroads merged. He had been stationed at multiple points along the railroad in Iowa through his career. His oldest of five daughters, Laurie Duffy, remembers going to the station in Tama with her children to wave at Paul as his train went by.

As Big Boy finally pulled into Belle Plaine 55 minutes after its scheduled arrival, the only rain in a week’s worth of weather showed up with it. It did not dampen the spirits of those who waited, although busloads of elementary school students were only able to get a short glimpse of the train before leaving.

On the other track, a modern UP train with a long line of double-stacked shipping containers prepared to resume its trip west. Freight trains have been going through Belle Plaine for more than a century and a half, and Thursday was no exception.

After the wheels had been greased up and spectators got their fill of pictures, Big Boy’s engineer pulled the whistle and rang the bell. The 83-year-old engine began to chug its way toward Cedar Rapids for the night.

Roll on, Big Boy, roll on.

My other work can be found on my website, Iowa Highway Ends, and its blog.

I am proud to be part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.

Jeff Morrison

From “Green Corn Dance” to “Powwow:” the Meskwaki Nation’s End of Summer Tradition

by Jeanie Hau | Aug 6, 2024

The Meskwaki Nation located in Tama County has celebrated the end of summer every year for over 100 years with the Meskwaki Annual Powwow. Family and friends travel from all over the country every year to participate in the Annual Powwow which features dancing, singing, handcrafts, food, games, and fun. Dance styles and content have evolved over the years but the reminiscing, reconnecting, and celebrating unity remains the focus of the event.

Meskwaki Powwow Facebook page

Before 1900, the Meskwaki Tribe would gather every fall during harvest to celebrate the harvest of the crop with a feast. The village was centrally located and the people would celebrate while making final preparations for the storing of the crop for the coming year. They called this celebration the “Green Corn Dance.”

Then in the early 1900s, the smallpox epidemic ran through the village and the federal government burned the village homes to eradicate the disease. The government then built the settlement houses that were spread out across the land in hopes of preventing future diseases. This caused a separation of the population and the arrival of individual crop lands and various harvest times instead of a central common harvest.

CW Wright State Historical Society Wikiup

CW Wright, State Historical Society of Iowa

Powwow Lincoln Highway 1917 Meskwaki Nation

Meskwaki Powwow Facebook Page

To fill the missing sense of celebratory community, from 1902-1912, the Meskwaki Tribe gathered at the old village site and a new event was created but without the harvest. “Field Days” had replaced the “Green Corn Dance.”

“Field Days” became popular with more and more people from outside the settlement. The Meskwaki realized that they could share their culture with the outside world and possibly provide income for the settlement during this festive event and so in 1913 the Chief appointed 15 men to plan the celebration. These men changed the event name to “Powwow” and moved it to the current Powwow Grounds.

The Meskwaki Annual Powwow is now the largest event of its kind in the nation. It has only been canceled during World War II and during the Covid-19 outbreak of 2020/2021.

Meskwaki Powwow Facebook page

All are invited and encouraged to attend the Meskwaki Annual Powwow with open minds and open hearts to learn from the Meskwaki culture during this festive event. Various games, activities, and food vendors as well as traditional foods are available to all. Powwow etiquette is an important way to show your respect and to ease your comfort in an unfamiliar cultural environment. The celebration begins on Thursday August 8 and last for four days with Grand Entry beginning at 1 pm and 7 pm daily.

Meskwaki Powwow Facebook page

Meskwaki Powwow Facebook page

The Grand Entry can now be livestreamed if you can’t make it in person. New this year is the Bible’s Fatboy Powwow Highway Ride benefiting the Meskwaki Band Florida Trip; grab your cars and bikes and meet at the Meskwaki Travel Plaza 9:30 am Aug 10^th and ride the gravel-to-grounds route. What a way to celebrate the end of summer!

The Meskwaki Powwow Grounds are along both the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway and the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway.

Visit Prairie Rivers of Iowa for more Byway Buzz.

Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Iowa Prairie Rivers of Iowa

Freedom Rock Tour and a Liberty Rock on the Lincoln Highway and the Iowa Valley Byways

by Jeanie Hau | Jun 27, 2024

Hello byway travelers!

I am writing today from the National Lincoln Highway Association’s Annual Conference in Elkhart, Indiana! Since I am here all week I thought that I would share with you the feature that I submitted for the Iowa Byways monthly newsletter. If you would like to learn more about Iowa’s other byways be sure to sign up for the newsletter at: https://iowadot.gov/iowasbyways

It seems fitting that as we get ready to celebrate America’s Independence Day that we should celebrate the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway. The Iowa byway gained National Scenic Byway status in 2021 for the historical significance to our country as the first planned transcontinental highway across the United States.

On July 1, 1913 Carl Fisher’s coast-to-coast rock highway was officially named the Lincoln Highway after the 16^th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln Highway Association was officially incorporated and tasked with promoting the Lincoln Highway to local governments and the public. It was no coincidence that Lincoln, a martyr for freedom, was chosen by Henry Joy (the association’s first president) to represent the roadway. Lincoln was a martyr of freedom and the idea of having an improved road across the country that anyone could use to move about freely was the goal. The road soon became known as the “Main Street Across America” and an avenue to a new life for many.

The Lincoln Highway has another significant date in July and that is July 7, 1919 when the first of its kind Transcontinental Motor Convoy left Washington DC to meet up with the Lincoln Highway in Gettysburg and traverse the route. There were 81 military vehicles, 37 officers, and 258 enlisted men who began the trip. Not all of them made it the distance. The Convoy traveled through a muddy Iowa from July 22- July 28th. Read more on the Transcontinental Motor Convoy

Many of the 43 communities across Iowa’s Lincoln Highway choose the fourth of July as their community’s annual town celebration. Belle Plaine has held a July 4^th celebration for many years and good ol’ George Preston would even pull his two-headed pig in the parade. Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Highway Nitty Gritty has about the best name out there and highlights history through antique displays and shopping in the streets and local businesses. The larger towns of Clinton, Council Bluffs (at the historic General Dodge House), and Ames have annual celebrations as do some of the smaller towns like Logan. But the town that wants to really own the fourth of July is Marshalltown, the location of Iowa’s Veteran’s Home which also happens to be one of the largest Veteran’s Homes in the country.

All this talk of freedom and veterans brings us to the topic of this month’s newsletter, Iowa’s Freedom Rocks. The first Iowa Freedom Rock was painted in Adair County in 1999. Artist, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II wanted to give veterans unique recognition on Memorial Day. Eventually Bubba began a Freedom Rock Tour, where his goal was to paint a Freedom Rock in every county honoring the history and veterans who had connections to the county. Bubba has even started a 50 State Freedom Rock Tour. There is now a Freedom Rock in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties, a 100^th one in Altoona, and a Liberty Rock in the Lincoln Highway community of Glidden. Read more about this special rock, Freedom Rocks along the byways and other byway events in the July newsletter!

Safe Travels!

Iowa’s Scenic Byway Coordinators

The Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway traverses through 13 Iowa counties. Of those 13 counties, five of the communities are home to their counties’ Freedom Rock but there is another rock that is on the Lincoln Highway that is not a Freedom Rock. It is the Glidden Liberty Rock. The Carroll County Freedom Rock was complete when the community of Glidden approached Bubba wanting their own rock. The fact that Glidden has ties to the beginning of WWI and the end of WWII inspired the artist to say yes. The Glidden Liberty Rock portrays Merle Hay, the first Iowan and one of the first three Americans killed in WWI, the “Enola Gay” plane that dropped the bomb to end WWII, injured veteran Ralph Neppel, and a Vietnam Vet Donald Sparks, MIA.

Liberty Rock in Glidden on the Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway Freedom Rock Tour also includes: Clinton County (Clinton), Cedar County, Linn County (the 99^th rock completed), Benton County, Tama County (features Meskwaki Code Talkers), Marshall County (Marshalltown), Story County, Boone County (Boone) , Greene County (Jefferson), Crawford County , Harrison County (Lincoln Highway/Loess Hills Interpretive Center), and Pottawattamie County (Lewis & Clark Trail).

Located in the Gateway Park & Preserve in Marengo, the Iowa County Freedom Rock is protected beneath a lighted pavilion. One side of the rock features Marengo born Marine Sgt. Major Bradley Kasal. Kasal was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic action during a firefight in which he was severely injured during Operation Phantom Fury in the Gulf War. Williamsburg native, Eugene Ely, an aviation pioneer who was credited with the first shipboard aircraft take-off and landing is featured beneath the American flag. Army Air Force veteran Dr Burns Byram is also featured on the rock. Byram would fly his restored military plane, “Tangerine” low over the town of Marengo to announce that the doctor had arrived. Other Iowa Valley Scenic Byway counties include the Benton County Freedom Rock which features Army, Navy, and Air Corps heroes and the Tama County Freedom Rock which features the Meskwaki Code Talkers.

I hope you have enjoyed this Lincoln Highway and Iowa Valley Freedom Rock Tour. Have a wonderful July and I will see you on the byway!!

Where Was I on the byway? Part 1

by Jeanie Hau | May 16, 2024

“Where Was I on they byway?” began as a post on our Facebook page that was telling people, “Hey look what famous Lincoln Highway Café is open again!” Since I began work as the byway coordinator for the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, there was speculation as to whether or not the beloved Cronk’s Café in Denison was gone forever or if the new owners would save the tradition. I had seen the Cronk’s sign lit up on a previous trip, but the restaurant wasn’t open. On this trip it was open and what better way to announce to our followers than with a good old fashioned hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy (or pork in this case)? The post was very popular, most people knew where I was and they were just as excited as I was that Cronk’s would live on in the form of Cronk’s Café American and Mexican Restaurant.

This Facebook post of the bridge and asking, “Where am I on the byway,” was an impulsive live post as I was doing sign inventory on the byway. Bridges on the byway are so beautiful in whatever form or shape they are in, and people love them! Everyone knew that I was at the Wapsi Bridges between Calamus and Wheatland. I learned from followers that the bridges had been closed since the 1990s and that there were holes in the steel underneath that were big enough for a person to get through. The bridges here are actually a series of three bridges. Funding is secured for the replacement of the middle bridge (with a wider decking) and the county is currently seeking funding for the western-most bridge. A Pony Truss bridge is at the eastern side of the section of roadway and will not be restored as a roadway. It will be wonderful to open this stretch of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway to drivers again! I also learned that there was an amusement park here!!

Wheatland Calamus bridge over Wapsi River

Pony-tress bridge over the wheatland calamus bridge

Where was I on the byway that I saw this guy?

I had gotten a kick out of this guy when I toured this museum. Our friend had his dental work (yes, real teeth) done in a historical dentist chair at one of the many buildings on site. A 1928 Lincoln Highway marker is at its original location here tucked near a lilac shrub. There are many buildings to check out from the 1800s, hiking trails, a video presentation, a gift shop, and a weekly farmer’s market from May to October. The highlight is at the top of the hill where you can stand on the ridge by the Lincoln Highway metal railing and take a selfie viewing the Lewis and Clark Trail, the Western Skies Scenic Byway, the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway and the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway!

So where was I?

I was at the Harrison County Iowa Welcome Center and Historical Museum!

Harrison county welcome center museum display

Harrison County Welcome Center Lincoln Highway bridge model

Welcome Center Selfie Station on Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway National Scenic Byway

This post was the first regular Wednesday, “Where Was I on the byway?” Alas, our followers did know exactly where I was!! : Answer to yesterday’s “Where Was I on the byway?” is atop the hill ridge between Ogden and Boone in the Des Moines River Valley. Seven Oaks Recreation – Boone IA is located on the same ridge about a 1/2 mile south on Hwy 30. (photo credit of Seven Oaks goes to Jeff Robak posting in I grew up in Iowa!).

This post was one of my favorites although highly controversial in the Lincoln Highway world. I thought it was incredibly interesting and educational and hopefully I opened some minds.

Here is the post: I am always checking the Lincoln Highway Association map to see where any concrete Lincoln Highway markers are. I had to do some searching to find these two, but I found them! Where was I?

The comments were of surprise (the surprise emoji) and shock and I quickly learned why. I will answer the “Where Was I?” first.

Wednesday’s Where Was I on the byway? …was Carlyle Memorials in Denison, IA.

The three original concrete Lincoln Highway markers lay on the ground on the west side of the building and according to the National Lincoln Highway Association map, at one time served as a wheel block for parking. This unique use for the damaged markers does allow for a good study in how they were constructed. You can see that the colors were all created separately and laid in the posts. This also shows us that the color is IN the concrete. If you have an original marker on your property, do not use paint to touch it up. A good power-wash is all that is needed to refresh it!

I also learned from followers that the 1913 cornerstone was from the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church/School from Denison. Carlyle Memorials is storing it for them as they have often done for other Denison residents.

I may be frowned upon by some in the Lincoln Highway Association for my opinion, but I say to, “Value what you have as you have it.” In 1928 there were 2,436 markers installed by the Boy Scouts at approximately 1 mile apart. As time continues to pass many of the markers have been lost and rarely can you find one in the original location. The markers at Carlyle Memorials could have ended up buried in the ground on a farmer’s land somewhere or (more likely) in a DOT’s dumpsite. They aren’t missing. They are right there for you to discover (with the owner’s permission) where you can see how they were made to last 104 years along a highway. I would like to add that the owners are 3^rd generation small business owners and completely respect and honor their history and the history of the Lincoln Highway.

With that, I will end this blogpost. I am enjoying the “Where Was I on the byway?” postings and learning from you, the readers. I hope to give you a fairly accurate count of how many 1928 markers that Iowa still has in the coming year (it is over 30). Keep following me and I will see you on the byway!

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