The Duke and Madison County Bridges

Not many actors spur the amount of patriotism, machoism, and just plain Grit (pardon the pun from the movie) as John Wayne. He inspires feelings of heroism. As I look to America’s 250th Birthday this weekend, I get a sense of pride to be an American. We found this to be especially true when Keith and I pulled up at of the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum in Winterset, Iowa. Right out front was a beautiful Freedom Rock.

The view in the front with depictions of John Wayne from his movie. Here is his quote, “My hope and prayer is that everyone know and love our country for what she really is, and what she stands for.”

Keith and I enjoyed walking through the museum. Enjoying viewing artifacts from John Wayne’s life and career was part of the fun. We had our picture taken. It was like we were from the cowboy days. My mom said it doesn’t look like us, but it was fun!

The home

We enjoyed our tour of John Wayne’s home. Here is what the website shares. “The life story of John Wayne began here in Winterset, Iowa. He was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, the son of Clyde and Mary Brown Morrison.”

His name I later learned was made to sound more patriotic and masculine. The website goes on. “Step back in time and picture the life of a young midwestern boy and his family near turn of the 20th century. The modest four-room home has been restored to reflect its appearance in 1907.”

The family moved around his dad. John Wayne’s family was a pharmacist. The Waynes they left Iowa for California in 1911. It was there that John Wayne obtained the nickname the Duke. The family farmed for a short while. But, the area was arid and crops didn’t do well. A short film in the museum shares how John Wayne was working at a studio in a props department when he was discovered, the rest is history!

Harvest Market & Madison County Courthouse

We found a great restaurant on the idyllic square the Harvest Market. It was quite lovely and tasty. The Madison County Courthouse was calling my name for a walk through. Built in 1876 the limestone courthouse had a beautiful wooden staircase.

If I had called ahead, I probably could have had an official tour. Next time.

The town square has been designated as a Historic District and offers a Hallmark kind of feeling.

Bridges of Madison County

This really was quite a Hollywood stop with John Wayne, and being home to the famous Bridges of Madison County. Made famous by the movie, there are six covered bridges to tour. We sadly only had time for the two on our way west to South Dakota. We stopped first at the Cedar Bridge. As my friend Sara Broer’s co-owner of the Midwest Travel Network explained, “Fun fact, this is the only covered bridge of the Madison County Bridges that you can drive through.”

After touring the bridge, drive through we did! The bridge was built in 1883 by Harvey P. Jones. 78 feet long and crossing Cedar Creek, it was moved in 1920 to its present location. I was impressed to learn Oprah Winfrey came to town in 1993, filming a show around the Cedar Bridge.

The version we saw was a renovated one, the original was renovated then fell to arson twice! This second replica was built in 2019.

I loved the Hogback Bridge originally built in 1884 also by Harvey P. Jones. Spanning 98 feet over the North River, it is named for the Hogback Ridge where the curve resembles a hog’s back.

My favorite thing in the bridge was the love poem.

Don’t you wish you knew the rest of the story?

Well at least I can give you an end to this one. We loved our visit to lovely Madison County, Iowa and want to do as Lisa Trudell, the other co-owner of the Midwest Travel Network is doing with the blog these days, do a look back. We want to come to this area again when we have more time to stay. Have you been? What was your takeaway.