September 28 – October 1: We transversed Indiana and Illinois to get to Iowa, my LAST state of the 50 United States. We stopped for one night in Elkhart, Indiana at the RV/Manufactured Home (MH) Hall of Fame (in their parking lot for the night–better than Walmart!!) A couple of exhibits that caught my eye was a full model of how RVs are built as well as original futuristic ideas of MH living in the concept of stacking up the MHs in big apartment block layers — I thought it looked like something straight out of the book and movie, “Ready Player One!” I hope if we get back to this area, that we are here when we can take a tour of our RV manufacturer! That would be on Tue – Thu.
Tom’s college friend, Debby Reed, met us for a wonderful evening hanging out in Liv and then a great dinner in Elkhart.
Also, it was the first time I’ve seen a hitching post set up at the local hardware store for the Amish buggy and horse!
West Branch, Iowa: We stopped by the boyhood home of our 31st President, Herbert Hoover’s. His beginnings as a Quaker were a strong influence in his life. It is always enlightening to see how presidents’ started their lives! We’ve seen Lyndon B Johnson, FDR and Ronal Reagan (coming soon to a blog near you).
We camped 2 nights in Amana, Iowa: Amana and the subsequest 6 other villages nearby villages make up the Amana Colonies, where the history of 80 years of communal living continues in strong German heritage, farming and arts and crafts.
Wikipedia: The villages were built and settled by German Pietists, who were persecuted in their homeland by the German state government and the Lutheran Church. Calling themselves the True Inspiration Congregations, they first settled in New York near Buffalo in what is now the town of West Seneca. However, seeking more isolated surroundings, they moved to Iowa in 1856. They lived a communal life until 1932.
The Traveling Lounsburys 