Month: August 2024
An Unlikely Scenario
On the surface it seemed like an unlikely scenario for success. A barber from Iowa striking oil and building one of the largest companies in…
The Town Grump of Readlyn, Iowa
When you enter Readlyn, Iowa you will find a sign that proclaims it has 857 friendly people and one old grump. I just had to…
Colorado Springs
Today we may rely on the latest advancements in science and medicine to help cure disease. Of course, in the 1800s, science provided some answers,…
James’ Peak
You’ve perhaps never heard of James’ Peak. It’s more accurate to say you’ve heard of the mountain, but you simply don’t know it by that…
A Discovered Peak
As Lewis and Clark headed west and north in 1803 to explore the newly acquire Louisiana Purchase, another explorer headed to the southwestern reaches of…
Fort Belmont
If you drive Interstate 90 through Jackson, Minnesota you’ll see a fort near the freeway. Take the exit and explore the place an you’ll find…
A Community That Built Their Own Fort
In the 1850s and 1860s there had been skirmishes between Native Americans and settlers in the area of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Those tensions…
Pilot Rock
In the days before GPS or maps, you needed landmarks to find your way. Just south of Cherokee, Iowa you’ll find one such place. It’s…
The Sanford Museum
One family can make a difference. Stop in Cherokee, Iowa and you’ll find a museum and planetarium all there because one family wanted to honor…
Wolf Point
It just stands to reason that a place named Wolf Point must have something to do with wolves somewhere in its background. That is the…