School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents

Last weekend a new exhibit opened at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch. Titled "School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents," it's on my radar for a family trip because it focuses on the early education of American Presidents from Hoover through George W. Bush.

I think my two grade schoolers would be curious to see what future presidents did when they were in elementary school. They'll be able to see them as young sports stars, choir members and musicians. The exhibit, which includes documents and photos drawn from the collections of the National Archives Presidential Libraries, also follows the future presidents into colleges and military academies.

 

Herbert Hoover (lower left) and his Stanford Surveying Squad.


Among the highlights:

• Discover why John F. Kennedy missed 65 of the term’s 88 days in kindergarten.
• See Richard Nixon with his childhood violin, and read his 8th grade autobiography. 
  
• Read what Harry Truman wrote in middle school about “Courage.”
  
• Peek at report cards for Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter.


• Learn which president, while in college, received offers to play professional football.

The exhibit will be on display through October 30, 2011.

Jessica O'Riley, Iowa Tourism Office

 

High Trestle Trail Grand Opening

This weekend marks the grand opening for the High Trestle Trail. The 25-mile trail connects the communities of Ankeny, Madrid, Sheldahl, Slater and Woodward. (And, for the record, four counties: Polk, Story , Boone and Dallas.)

The centerpiece of the trail is a 13-story high, half-mile long bridge (one of the world's largest!) that crosses the Des Moines River Valley. Built on abandoned railroad bridge piers, the bridge includes six scenic overlooks where riders can pause and enjoy the view.

More than eight years in the making, the $15 million project includes 20 public grants and nearly 1000 private donors. It is the newest addition to the 670-mile Central Iowa Trail System.

On Saturday, April 30, the five communities will roll out the red carpet during special grand opening festivities. Activities begin with breakfasts in Slater, Ankeny and Madrid, and end with live music in Slater. Most events will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Most are free and scheduled to take place rain or shine. Find more information at http://www.hightrestletrail.info/.

Fun fact: About one in five Iowans live within 30 minutes of the trail, and nearly one million live within an hour!

Jessica O'Riley, Iowa Tourism Office

How to NOT get lost finding Iowa Wineries and Breweries

This year’s Iowa Wine and Beer Directory has 100 listings. That’s a lot of wine and beer! Sure, you can probably find Iowa Wine and Beer at your local grocer or farmer’s market (and we definitely encourage you to buy some), but we’d also encourage you to visit one of their actual businesses. Lucky for you, it just got easier to do that.

The Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board just announced their new app. An enhanced version of the popular print directory, it contains all the wineries and breweries along with their contact information and amenities, plus additional photos and GPS navigation. With the new app, you can see where you are in Iowa, see where the nearest wineries and breweries are to you and get directions. If you lose your internet signal, have no fear, the app has static maps that will show you where the business is located.

Now, if you’ve visited wineries and breweries in the past and found that half the fun was getting lost in the Iowa countryside and discovering new places, then order the printed directory to bring along. Either way, I think you’ll enjoy the trip.

The app is available for free from the Apple App Store. The traditional Iowa Wine and Beer Directory is available at any Iowa Welcome Center, at any of the included wineries or breweries or for order online at http://www.iowawineandbeer.com/.


Colleen Murphy, Iowa Tourism Office

Deep Sea Bowling in Altoona

A day off from school seemed like the perfect opportunity for a family outing to Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill. Housed in the Bass Pro Shop, it's both a restaurant and bowling alley, but not your typical of either.

When we arrived, the lanes were full so we were given a pager that would buzz us when a lane became available. That gave us time to browse Bass Pro Shop. (You can wander throughout the store with the pager.) Our kids were fascinated with the giant aquarium and other animal displays. It really made the time pass quickly.
 

The 12-lane bowling alley is designed to feel as if you're under the ocean. Custom bowling balls feature mermaids, octupus and more. They have lightweight balls available for smaller children; ask at the check-in desk. The ball returns are shaped like sharks and alligators. The "dock" wooden lanes feature underwater scenery of sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and other saltwater animals. The undersea theme is carried over to the dining space with barnacled boats and other sea animals hanging from the ceiling.

Screens above each lane automatically keep track of scores. They also provide fun cartoons related to gutter balls, strikes, splits and spares. The lanes can be programmed to provide bumpers when less-experienced bowlers take a turn, and to remove them when seasoned bowlers are up.

Rates are per hour per lane (the screens provide a countdown so you know how much time you have remaining) and vary on time of day from $14.99 - $24.99 per hour. Lanes can accomodate up to 8 people. Shoe rental is $3.

Jessica O'Riley, Iowa Tourism Office

Nan Wood Graham: Beyond the Farmer's Daughter

Opened April 1, this year's American Gothic House exhibit is titled "Nan Wood Graham: Beyond the Farmer’s Daughter." The exhibition brings deserved focus to the life of American Gothic’s female model, Grant Wood’s sister and fellow artist Nan Wood Graham. The new display features an interactive audio component and Nan Wood Graham’s only original oil painting, on loan from the State Historical Society of Iowa.

Nan was a loyal advocate for her brother Grant, protecting his public image after his death by screening his would-be biographers, attending art openings in his honor, and keeping a watchful eye on the multitude of American Gothic parodies. She eventually wrote and published a biography of her brother titled "My Brother, Grant Wood." Nan’s insights into the childhood and artistic process of Iowa’s beloved artist provide a unique look at the artist—closer than we can normally come when studying art history.




 Though Nan Wood Graham is most well-known for her role in American Gothic , she led a full and exciting life of her own. Nan’s aunt once told her, “One artist in the family is enough.” Nan did not pursue a career as an artist, but continued to study art and practice creative hobbies. While recovering from tuberculosis in Oakdale Sanitarium, Nan learned leather tooling and later won prizes for her talents. Grant even invited her to teach at his artist colony in Stone City. Nan mastered the difficult technique of reverse painting on glass, and her glass paintings were exhibited in New York. She made one oil painting, "Boarding House Bath." The painting was likely inspired by the astounding characters Nan and her husband Ed lived with in various rooming houses around California.


Nan’s personality and delightful sense of humor shine brilliantly in an audio interview from the 1970s. Clips of this interview are available at the touch of a button in the new exhibit. While reading through exhibit text, visitors will find reference to audio clips where they can listen to Nan tell more about the topic.

Nan Wood Graham visited Eldon on several occasions and was an honored guest at the city’s annual Gothic Days celebration. Many locals met Nan during her lifetime, exchanged letters and gifts, and have photographs of her in their personal albums. A few of these items, as well as correspondence with Nan, will be on display.


Molly Moser, Administrator, American Gothic House Center

Detour to Dyersville

Opening day for baseball is always one of my favorite days. It means that spring is truly upon us and that Iowa will be in full bloom in no time. April 1 is the traditional opening day for one of the most famous baseball fields in the world that is located right here in Iowa. Let me give you a hint: "If you build it, he will come."

The Field of Dreams Movie Site is located in Dyersville, just a short drive west of Dubuque in the northeast corner of the state. I had a chance recently to visit the field for some pre-season fun. It was as perfect as I had remembered it from the last time I was there, except for the missing corn. Don’t worry about that, it will grow as the days warm up. The Field of Dreams Movie Site is a great place to run the bases, play catch or just sit in the sun and imagine the players taking the field.

Dyersville may be a small community, but it’s big on activities for a traveler. One of only 52 basilicas in the country, the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier boasts 64-stained glass windows and is more beautiful than I had imagined. I had lunch at Country Junction Restaurant where you’ll fill up on delicious foods and you must save room for dessert. Don’t worry, I don’t think calories count when you’re on vacation.

And a trip to Dyersville isn’t complete without checking out the National Farm Toy Museum. This museum offers an array of 10,000 farm toys, trucks, banks and other toys of interest to both the serious collector and casual visitor.

Sure, at the end of the day you’ll wonder, is this heaven? But rest assured you're still in Iowa. And when you venture outside of Dyersville, you’ll find the rest of Iowa makes you ask that same question.


Colleen Murphy, Iowa Tourism Office

We know you dig it

We dig Iowa and we know you do, too. So tell us what you like about Iowa at www.idigiowa.com. Each time you do, you'll be registered to win a monthly prize package. It's that easy!

We'll draw a winner each month from April through August. This month's package is courtesy of the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau and includes:

•Four (4) tickets to the Iowa Corn Indy 250 IZOD Indycar Series on June 25 at the Iowa Speedway


•Lunch for two at Shay’s Tea Room and Gifts (Hunter Mansion)


•$30 gift card from Okoboji Grill of Newton


•Gift basket from the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau


•$50 ethanol gas card courtesy of Iowa Corn Growers Association


The entire I Dig Iowa promotion will culminate at the Iowa State Fair on August 19 with a dig for prizes on the Grand Concourse.

Dig it?