The Duke

We spent four nights on the west side of Des Moines during our camping and caching week. After three days of serious geocaching, we had completed what we had intended to do in that area. On the fourth day we decided to do a road trip through seven of the nearby counties to collect at least one geocache in each and to see the sites. As we headed south of I 80 we saw two signs that made our hearts beat a bit faster...Birthplace of John Wayne and Bridges of Madison County. We spent a bit of time investigating both, but chose to complete the road trip and come back the next morning before moving to the east side of Des Moines for the next camping and caching adventure.

We are both fans of John Wayne. Hubby has added the western channels to any cable package we order. We have not seen ALL his movies, but we have seen most of them, so an opportunity to go through a John Wayne Museum was a must do.

Winterset, Iowa

John Wayne Birthplace Museum

some of his movies we have seen

granite tiles donated by fans

The museum houses "the largest diversified exhibit of John Wayne artifacts in existence including original movie posters, film wardrobe, scripts, contracts, letters, artwork, and sculpture...

one of my favorites

his personal bookcase

wardrobe from The Sons of Katie Elder

True Grit

Fort Apache

...and even one of his last customized automobiles!" 

1972 Pontiac Grand Safari

photos of his three weddings

#1-Josephine Alicia Saenz

#2-Esperanza Baur

#3-Pilar Pallete

and his seven children

Michael, Mary, Patrick & Melinda with Josephine

Aissa. John and Marisa with Pilar

four-room house where Marion Robert Morrison was born

his father, Clyde, was a registered pharmacist

mother, Mary was a clerk at a pharmacy

the woman doctor who delivered 13 pound

Marion Robert

the health of his father brought about the move

to California in 1914

Marion (John Wayne), brother Robert, mother Mary, 

 father Clyde and dog Duke

The story of how Marion became John Wayne was new to us, and very interesting. He went to USC, pre-law, and played football until an injury curtailed his athletic career. He lost his athletic scholarship and had to drop out. Actor Tom Mix was a huge USC football fan and often hired the football players for odd jobs around the movie set. Because of his 6'4" frame, Marion was noticed by producers, especially John Ford, while being a prop boy. He was given bit parts and eventually the name John Wayne. He had two film roles in 1926, another in 1927,  a fourth in 1929, and a fifth in 1930 before starring in The Big Trail.

the cannon from the movie Alamo Artillery

You might wonder how this large collection of John Wayne artifacts are located in a small town in the middle of Iowa. Winterset has always been proud of this native son. In 1982 when his birthplace house was for sale, it was purchased and the John Wayne Birthplace Society was formed. The house was decorated in 1900's decor with photos and memorabilia. Every year on May 26, Winterset celebrated their native son's birthday. On his 100th birthday in 2007 his family joined the celebration and donated the statue that now stands in front of the museum. Also at the 100th birthday was a collector of all things John Wayne. He, Joseph Zuckschwerdt, was invited to join the board of directors and the idea of a museum became a priority for the town of Winterset with the blessing of John Wayne's family. The John Wayne Birthplace Museum grand opening occurred on May 26, 2015. It is the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to the American icon ~ John Wayne.

our purchases from our visit