Category: Trips

Galesburg Illinois

Old Main on the campus of Knox College in Galesburg IL was the site of the fifth of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, on October 7, 1858.
Steven A. Douglas said: Equality among the different states is a cardinal principle upon which all our institutions rest.
To which Abraham Lincoln replied: He is blowing out the moral lights around us who contends that whoever wants slaves has a right to hold them.
Birthplace of author and historian Carl Sandburg, who wrote a biography of Abraham Lincoln.
Sandburg’s ashes are buried under this rock.
Sculpture of Carl Sandburg

Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk

Riverside IA

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry once wrote that Captain Kirk was born in a small town in Iowa. In 1985, Riverside IA claimed to be that town, and since then have erected a marker on the spot of Captain Kirk’s future birth. City lightposts display banners of the major characters of the series, and there is a museum (The Voyage Home Museum) with a fair amount of memorabilia. They have a Trek Fest celebration every year that draws thousands to this tiny town. There is also a Captain Kirk statue!

This marks the spot where Captain Kirk will be born.
Outside of the Voyage Home Museum
In the captain’s chair
Front viewing screen
In the Transporter
Gorn from the Arena episode of the original Star Trek series
This is the actual desk from Star Trek The Next Generation series that Data sits at

Washington Iowa

The State Theater in Washington, Iowa is the oldest movie theater in the world. It has been showing movies continuously since 1897!
The Blair House, across the street from the State Theater, was built in 1881.

American Gothic

Eldon IA

Grant Wood painted American Gothic in 1930, depicting a Midwestern farmer and his wife or daughter standing in front of their Carpenter Gothic style home. It is one of the most famous American paintings of the 20th century and is frequently referenced in popular culture.
The house is located in Eldon Iowa, and is available for…
…reenactors!
The subjects of the painting many years later.
American Gothic is considered the most parodied painting in the world.
Grant Wood, the artist
Wood also painted Paul Revere’s Ride.