Susan's Travels, Tours + Trips

THE MOST FAMOUS (SMALL) WHITE HOUSE IN AMERICA: GRANT WOOD’S AMERICAN GOTHIC DRAWS VISITORS TO ELDON, IOWA. A dour farmer, wearing overalls and a jacket and clutching a pitchfork, poses rigidly next to a pinch-faced, apron-clad woman who gazes into the distance. Behind them is a modest white farmhouse whose second floor window has a pointed arch. Unlikely subjects for one of the most recognized paintings in the world, but this is what Grant Wood’s American Gothic has become since he painted it in 1930 for a competition at the Art Institute of Chicago. The painting entered the Institute’s permanent collection. The little farmhouse still stands in its original location in Eldon, Iowa, where Wood saw it (only once) during a brief stay. With its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and its donation in 1991 to the State Historical Society of Iowa by its last private owner, the house is secure. Now, visitors come from all over the world to spend time in Eldon, to see the place that inspired Wood’s masterpiece, and to make themselves a little part of its story.

GET IN THE SPIRIT AND PUT YOURSELF INTO THE PICTURE. Steps from the farmhouse is the American Gothic House Center, which contains displays about Grant Wood and the creation of the painting as well as a collection of the painting’s parodies. The Center generously lends various sizes of the apron, overalls, suit jacket and pitchfork to encourage visitors to pose in front of the house and create their own American Gothic portrait. To help personalize the portrait, visitors can substitute an implement of their own trade (in place of the pitchfork held by the man) or a piece of their own jewelry (in place of the broach worn by the woman).

American Gothic House Center Administrator Holly Berg said: “Most visitors are very excited at the opportunity to put themselves in the picture. Sometimes it takes a little coaxing to get a reluctant spouse or teenager involved, but once they don the costume they get in the spirit. It does amaze me the number of visitors that come prepared for their photos. One group of sisters came dressed in their father’s iconic overalls as a tribute to him. Another couple came as Batman and Robin and wrote in the guest book that they were from Gothic City (instead of Gotham). The stories, both touching and goofy, are endless! And though the parody photos are a fun experience, it is always interesting to see how many people notice something about the painting they didn’t realize until they put themselves in it — such as the daughter’s shoulder slightly behind the fathers, or her off to the side glance. It always ends up being a fun, but educational experience at the same time.”

AMERICAN GOTHIC HOUSE PARTICULARS. The American Gothic House is located at 300 American Gothic St. in Eldon, Iowa. Tours of the downstairs portion of the house are given the second Saturday of the month, April through October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Due to the historic features of the house and grounds, accessibility for visitors with limited mobility can be challenging. The adjacent American Gothic House Center, “photo-op” area, and parking lot are all accessible. For more information call (641) 652-3352 or email TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com. Admission to the Center is free. American Gothic by Thomas Hoving is an entertaining biography of the painting.

GRANT WOOD AROUND IOWA. Grant Wood (Feb. 13, 1891 – Feb. 12, 1942) is Iowa’s most famous artist. He was born on a farm near Anamosa but moved to Cedar Rapids when he was 10 years old after the death of his father. From then on, Wood lived most of his life in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, dying of cancer the day before his 51st birthday. In addition to the American Gothic House in Eldon, sites in Iowa connected with his life and works include the Grant Wood Gallery and Visitor Center in Anamosa; the Grant Wood Studio and Home in Cedar Rapids; Grant Wood’s House in Iowa City; and his gravesite in Riverside Cemetery in Anamosa. Grant Wood’s Iowa by Wende Elliott and William Balthazar Rose is a useful guide for those laying out a tour.

AND REMEMBER: “I had to go to France to appreciate Iowa.” — Grant Wood.

Susan Cohn is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association, Bay Area Travel Writers, and the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association. She may be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com. More of her stories may be found at http://ifwtwa.org/author/susan-cohn.