Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa.

I haven't posted for a few weeks because Diggory and I went on vacation!  We went "home" to Iowa for fourteen whole days to visit family and to basically relive my childhood through the eyes of my now almost eighteen month old son.  It was a fantastic trip for so many reasons, and I was a little sad to return to this "home" in Washington, DC.  But, alas, daddy didn't come with us to Iowa and we missed him so, so, so very much.  We just couldn't stay gone forever!

Before we arrived in Iowa, I made a list of some museums and historic sites that I wanted to visit.  We didn't make it to all of them...had to set aside plenty of time to play with rocks in the driveway, swing in the hammock, and ride tractors on the farm...but we did make it to three places that were at the top of my list.  

First, we packed up a picnic lunch and headed up the road a few miles with Grandma and Grandpa P. and Uncle Erik to Story City, Iowa.  After we fixed sandwiches and cleaned up, we walked a few paces down to the antique carousel!  A more comprehensive history is online, but suffice it to say here, that the carousel was built in 1913 by the Herschell-Spillman Company in New York and is complimented by a 1936 Wurlitzer Military Band organ.  After traveling the area for several years, the carousel found a permanent home in Story City's North Park in 1938.  It was restored in the early 1980s and was rededicated in 1982.  I have tons of memories of riding the carousel as a child, at family reunions, after swimming at the nearby pool, and before trips to Dairy Queen by my grandma and grandpa Peterson.  I have to admit that I did tear up a little bit when the carousel took off for Diggory's first ride.  I was sentimental, and I was a little freaked out...I forgot how fast it spins!  Holy moly!  Hold on tight!

After we took our rides (Diggory went twice because Grandma wanted to ride with him too!), we browsed the old pictures and display cases with original parts not used in the restoration.  I also thought to myself, "I wonder if I can find any pictures of Erik and I on the carousel when we were little."  Before Diggory and I flew back to D.C., I spent an evening digging through old pictures, and look what I found!  A picture of me on the same carousel rooster!  Wowzers!  I guess it was meant to be!

Diggory with momma on the Story City carousel, 2012.

Momma with cousin Kelly on the carousel, circa 1987.

Uncle Erik reading the interpretive panels and historic documents.

Grandpa admiring the historic photographs and awaiting Diggory's final spin on the carousel.

Display case of historic artifacts and original carousel pieces and parts.  The can of wasp spray behind the plaque is a classy touch.

A few days later, Diggory and I were joined by Grandma P. and Grandma Becky at the Gilbert Community Historical Society Museum.  It's in my hometown and just opened a year ago or so.  I had been really wanting to go and check it out.  It was actually really fascinating.  I'm a bit of a history nerd, so I always tried to pay attention to my grandparent's stories about the people and places of their past.  I recognized a lot of the names in the early photographs, but I definitely learned a lot of new tidbits.  For example, Hezekiah Gilbert moved to the area in 1867 and donated land to extend the railroad to and through the town.  He was also the first postmaster.  There was also a "real" Charles Mathews and Joseph Shepard, as in Mathews Drive (the main drag) and Shepard Street, on the west side of town.  

There are tons of framed photographs and a room of historic artifacts that temporarily rotate to represent different aspects of life throughout the town's history.  I also really enjoyed browsing through the racks of Gilbert High School yearbooks, which range from 1916 through the early 2000s.  Here (below), is an image from 1972 (I think).  My dad is in the front row on the right.  I am so proud of him for wearing jeans and not those awful striped pants.  Because it was Tuesday, we just HAD to walk up to the Open Flame for burger night.  Grandpa Doug joined us and we had a wee of a time.    

Grandpa K.P. in high school, wearing jeans, thank goodness.

For our final museum-ish outing, Diggory and I went with Grandma Becky, and Poppy and Nonnie (daddy's grandpa and grandma) to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.  It was super fun, and the weather was beautiful.  They have made a lot of improvements since the last time I was there...or at least it seemed that way, I haven't been there since junior high, fifteen years ago at least.  Everything is super stroller and kid friendly, as you would assume, and it's very clean and easy to navigate.  Diggory's favorites were the otters, wallabies, giraffes, and goats.  I thought he would have been totally enthralled with the seals and sea lion show, but he was much more interested in the adorable blonde three year old sitting next to him.  I swear he's got a thing for blondes.    

Diggory and the otters.

Diggory pointing out the wallaby.

Diggory feeding the goats with Grandma.  Thank goodness for hand sanitizer.

I was super excited to take Diggory to feed the goats and the calves.  He "sort of" figured it out.  I only bought one cup of livestock feed (for $1), and that was probably a good decision.  He decided that feeding them (or trying to feed them) rocks was also a good idea.  I thought it was interesting that they now have you feed the goats through little cut outs in the fence.  I had a distinct memory of being IN the goat pen when I was little.  And a distinct memory of a goat being IN Erik's stroller.  So, here (below) is a photo of my momma, Erik, and I feeding the goats at the zoo when were were little.  Very little...I think Erik must have been less than a year old, which would make me three-ish.  And look, the goat is IN the stroller.  Too cute.

Momma (me, in the pink raincoat), with Uncle Erik (my little brother), and Grandma P. (My momma, isn't she pretty!), at the zoo, circa 1986.

Grandma Becky, Diggory, Nonnie and Poppy watching the giraffe feeding at the zoo, 2012.

We covered a lot of ground, ate lunch (Diggory had corn dog nuggets), and took a spin through the new Discovery Center, complete with rainforest and aviary, before browsing the gift shop and heading home.  I hope Diggory remembers all the fun we had, and if not, I'll at least be sure to show him the pictures when he's older.  

Oh, gosh.  I almost forgot!  We also went to the Iowa State Fair with Grandpa and Grandma P.!  I suppose it could be considered a historical attraction in and of itself, but there is an Iowa State Fair Museum and Gallery that we visited for the first time, with the express intention of including it in this blog post.  Silly me, how could I forget?!  

Located north and east of Pioneer Hall, the museum building and gallery showcase iconic fair sights and attractions.  From the annual butter cow sculptures and livestock weigh-ins to staged train locomotive collisions (video from 1932 here) and chicken calling competitions, the historic photographs and interactive displays aim to bring the history of the fair to life.  The train collision videos from the 1920s and 1930s were fascinating, for sure, but I was more drawn to the rows of rocking chairs on the museum's front porch.  Excellent for people watching and good for the soul.

Neither the Deets Historical Museum building or the Kenyon Gallery have public restrooms, but they are air-conditioned and handicap/stroller accessible.  Restrooms can be found in several other nearby buildings.

Diggory and Grandpa K.P. watching the train locomotive collisions.

Spending a few quiet moments, and escaping the crowds, sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch of the Iowa State Fair Museum.

All in all, a most excellent trip to Iowa, and a few sights and museums ticked off my "to visit with Diggory" list.  We'll be back next summer for round two for sure, if not before.