The Prairies of Iowa

When I got my own copy of the PBS documentary about the Lincoln Highway, one of the "extra" features was a report on a town called Woodbine, Iowa.  The residents there, trying to attract business off of US 30 (the modern "Lincoln Highway"), had re-paved their brick section of the old LH in town using the original bricks.  They had also established the Brickstreet Station, a coffee shop/LH souvenir shop.  Though it was not open when I went through town, I found it easily.

A few miles down the road, just outside of Logan, was the Museum of Religious Arts.  Its primary exhibit, the King of Kings wax museum, was actually on display at Florida's Sunken Gardens for many years before it was sold to people here.  The wax figures show significant scenes from the life of Jesus, and they are stunning in their beauty.  No pictures are allowed there.  The rest of the museum has religious art and a variety of donations from churches and individuals.  These include church equipment, furniture, and clothing from many denominations.  There are outdoor displays as well, including a "Calvary Hill" with three crosses and a pond where the "walking on the water" is portrayed with metal sculptures.  For people of faith, it is a must-see.

My next stop was the Harrison County Historic Village/Loess Hills Museum in Missouri Valley.  This is actually an Iowa Welcome Center, but it has buildings from the 1840s and 50s, an extensive Lincoln Highway exhibit, and information about the Loess (pronounced "luss") Hills of the area.  The hills, made of a material like clay, only very dry, rise about 100-200 feet all around.  They erode easily, often making visible changes in the landscape during a single person's lifetime.  They also form beautiful cliffs in some places.

Council Bluffs, Iowa, just across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, got its name because Lewis and Clark met with local Indian leaders on the bluffs overlooking the river in the early part of their cross-country expedition.  The monument, with breathtaking views of the river and Omaha, is near the spot where these meetings took place.

Also in Council Bluffs, the Western Historic Trails Center is an Iowa Welcome Center that also serves as a museum of the westward expansion of the United States.  The Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails are featured in indoor and outdoor exhibits.




The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, named for a Nebraska senator, links Council Bluffs and Omaha for pedestrians and bicyclists.  It rises some 60 feet above the Missouri River, and its views are astounding.  The wind was whistling at 25-40 mph, so I didn't stay long, just long enough to get a pic or two.

Goodbye Iowa; hello Nebraska !