Wednesday – August 20, 2014 Mostly sunny & 71 degrees in the morning
Lobby of the DeSoto House Hotel
In the morning, we checked out of the DeSoto House Hotel in Galena, Illinois and drove back across a bridge to see Ulysses S. Grant’s house. Our former president arrived in Galena in 1861 to work in his father’s leather store. He was so popular after the Civil War that his neighbors donated a house to him and his wife.
General & Mrs. Ulysses Grant’s House
We opted not to take a tour of the house or spend too much time there. We had a long driving day ahead of us. There were several other historic houses close by which were open to the public. They looked very interesting to explore. Galena looked like a place to return to and explore.
Historic House and Inn
We left Galena and in fifteen minutes we were crossing the Mississippi River over a narrow old iron bridge. It was exciting to drive over the famous river.
Bridge Over the Mississippi
View From the Bridge
On the other side of the river is the industrial city of Dubuque, Iowa. We drove down to the water front to see the Mississippi up close and to take some pictures.
River Boat on the Ole Miss
We spent the rest of the day driving across Iowa on Route 20 through unending cornfields. I really don’t have to write any more than that sentence. It says it all. The photographs don’t adequately capture the vast expanse of sky or the ribbon of road ahead of us which divided unending green fields.
Route 20 West
Farm & Cornfield
After several hours, Jeff saw a sign along the road for Cedar Rock in Quasqueton, Iowa. This was one of the private houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. We took the exit and drove about fourteen miles to The Walter House. It was small, but well worth the stop.
Exterior of the Walter House
Entrance
The Living Room
The Boat House
Lois, the manager, gave us a guided tour of the house and related the story of the house. It is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian designed houses and is entirely original. The architect had designed everything in the house: furniture, lightening, cabinets, kitchen ware, and dishes. On his frequent visits, F. L. Wright complained about anything which the Walters added to their home, so it is completely original.
Fun Ride!
After the tour, Lois gave us a ride back to the tourist office. She drove the John Deere tractor and we rode in the wagon. That was fun! When I asked Lois a question about farms we had passed, she exclaimed to her young assistant, “Hey Melissa! We’ve got a greenhorn here! She doesn’t know what a silo is!” Lois proceeded to tell me how to process corn into slurry for feed and recommended that we visit the John Deere factory in Waterloo, Iowa. “Just down the road,” she beamed. I thought that perhaps I could find a ‘Greenhorn’ tee-shirt there.
Back on Route 20
We asked Lois for a late lunch recommendation and she gave us directions to The First Street Deli in Independence. It was the closest town and it had three restaurants to choose from: Chinese, Mexican, & Deli. In this vast countryside, it was amazing how short fifteen or twenty miles became. We had good fresh sandwiches and then spent the rest of the afternoon driving.
Rain on the Road
Almost There – Where?
We arrived in Sioux City, Iowa about 7:00 in the evening. It was 82 degrees and humid when we stepped out of the car. We were very tired but glad to reach a destination. The Hilton Garden Inn was fully booked but there was an available room at the Hampton Inn in North Sioux City, South Dakota which was only twenty minutes away……
