#7 – Go Gothic

Take your picture in front of the American Gothic House, one of the world’s most recognized images made famous by Iowa artist Grant Wood.

It is part of an American icon, but probably three-quarters of the country does not know it actually exists.  The house portrayed in Grant Wood’s American Gothic is located in southeast Iowa, in a town of less than one thousand people (as of the millennial census), Eldon.

#1 – Figure Out Where We’re Going

I probably should have done this awhile ago…

Pick up area information and the Ottumwa map free at the Ottumwa Chamber of Commerce, 217 East Main Street, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.

#39 – Gothic Days

Thoughts running through my mind as we made the twenty minute drive to Eldon, Iowa:

• It is the middle of June and 88 degrees according to the car thermostat. This has to be a pretty miserable to be dressed all in black, even if it is for a once-a-year event called Gothic Days.
• Why the hell is Gothic Days celebrated in a town of less than a thousand people, located fifteen miles from anything (with that anything being arguable)? Sure, the fairgrounds are there, but this makes no sense.
• Iowa has a gothic community? What will I find out about next, a BDSM group and a rub-and-tug?
• Why did my wife convince me to bring our son?

Join me after the jump to find out those answers and more…

Off the List – Giant Cock

We begin the tour off the list, actually, with the Red Rooster Rental.

Yes, somethings can not be seen anywhere else but Central Iowa. Such is the case where a company which apparently rents out RVs… using a giant chicken.