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Just off I-35. . . What's in your backyard?
Album Description
What’s in your back yard? Primary sources are all around us, often in the most likely places. Two miles off the beaten path of Inter state 35, the Iowa Welcome Center and Dows Historic District showcase the past of a small agricultural town in North Central Iowa. Memorabilia are housed in this once busy depot built in 1896. This town of just 530 has three buildings on the National Register of Historic Sites.
The stop was part of our trip to Kansas City, MO and an inspiration for a future journal article, Just Off I-35. (LMC Connection 2014) The article includes tips and some curriculum ideas. Mary Johnson’s Insider Post A Field Trip Through Primary Sources was the inspiration for this album.
This album is a north to south journey of selected discoveries Just off I-35.
It would be fun to see this album grow. What’s in your back yard?
The Library of Congress and the Library’s web guide, State Digital Resources: Memory Projects, Online Encyclopedias, Historical & Cultural Materials Collections will help you discover many treasures.
Local HistoryClayton Jackson McGhie memorial, Duluth, Minnesota
Teaching Notes
In 1920 three African American men were lynched in the city of Duluth for a crime they did not commit. The Clayton Jackson McGhee Memorial honors these men in downtown Duluth through large relief sculptures of the three and a host of quotations alongside their story. The three men are memorialized in a downtown Duluth and at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice Montgomery Alabama.
The Minnesota dots on the Lynchings by State and Counties map represent the 1920 lynching of 3 Black circus workers. The mob action followed an alleged rape of white women in Duluth (Duluth is a port city in the extreme Southeast corner of St. Louis County, not where depicted by the dots.)
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2011631492/
Reference note
Contributor Names: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer
Created / Published: [between 1980 and 2006]
Subject Headings: - United States--Minnesota--Duluth
- America
- Civil Rights
- Memorials
Notes: - Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images.
- Memorial to the 1920 Duluth lynchings which occurred on June 15, 1920.
- Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.
- Credit line: Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
- Gift and purchase; Carol M. Highsmith; 2011; (DLC/PP-2011:124).
- Forms part of the Selects Series in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: highsm 13298 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/highsm.13298
Print of the Duluth lynching
[Rard Ira Bong, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left, wearing Congressional Medal of Honor
Teaching Notes
Superior Wisconsin is just across the Bong or Blatnik Bridge from Duluth.
The Bong museum and Veterans Center honors World War II flying ace and Wisconsin native Richard Bong,
The museum has a collection of planes, medals, artifacts about the homefront.
It’s a fascinating museum and an incredible story.
Hinckley Fire Museum
Teaching Notes
Hinckley, Minnesota, was destroyed by a huge firestorm in 1894. People fled Hinckley by train, hid in bodies of water (even wells) and did whatever necessary to survive. Yet, over 400 people died as the fire spread to surrounding communities including nearby western Wisconsin. The Hinckley fire museum is housed in an old depot. The horror is vividly described in Under a Flaming Sky by Dan Brown whose grandfather survived the fire. (Brown is the author of the Boys in the Boat)
Social Studies/History Science Hinkley Minnesota Fire Weather
James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN
Teaching Notes
One of the most majestic historic homes in St. Paul is the James J Hill House built by the the wealthy railroad developer. It is now Minnesota Historical Society property.
A home F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in is just a short walk away at 599 Summit Avenue. Social Studies/History James J Hill F Scott Fitzgerald Historic Homes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/mn0013/
Reference note
Contributor Names: Historic American Buildings Survey, creator
Created / Published: Documentation compiled after 1933
Subject Headings: - houses
- historic house museums
- Minnesota -- Ramsey County -- Saint Paul
Notes: - Significance: One of the show places of St. Paul at the turn of the twentieth century.
- Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-19
- Survey number: HABS MN-52
- Building/structure dates: 1889 Initial Construction
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Norwest Bank (designed by Louis Sullivan), horizontal view, Broadway, Owatonna, Minnesota
Teaching Notes
Norwest Bank (designed by Louis Sullivan), horizontal view, Broadway, Owatonna, Minnesota. The bank is home to majestic Prairie Style architecture, murals depicting Owatonna's agricultural past and stained glass.
Minnesota State Public School was once an orphanage and now a museum.
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017702675/
Reference note
Contributor Names: Margolies, John, photographer
Created / Published: 1988.
Subject Headings: - Banks--1980-1990
- Signs (Notices)--1980-1990
- United States--Minnesota--Owatonna
Genre: Slides--1980-1990.--Color
Notes: - Title, date and keywords based on information provided by the photographer.
- Margolies categories: Banks; Main Street.
- Purchase; John Margolies 2007 (DLC/PP-2007:125).
- Credit line: John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
- General information about the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.mrg
- Forms part of: John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008).
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: mrg 00561 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/mrg.00561
Skinning sheep. Hormel packing plant. Austin, Minnesota
Teaching Notes
Austin is best known as the headquarters Hormel Meat Packing industry. Tourists can visit the delightful and fun SPAM museum. Visitors will learn about about the important role Spam played in WW II and its continuing world wide popularity.
Austin Minnesota Hormel Meat Packing Spam Social Studies/History
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017812803/
Reference note
Contributor Names: Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer
Created / Published: 1941 July.
Subject Headings: - United States--Minnesota--Mower County--Austin
Genre: Safety film negatives
Notes: - Title and other information from caption card.
- Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944.
- More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsaowi
- Temp. note: usf34batch7
- Film copy on SIS roll 10, frame 272.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: fsa 8c19752 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8c19752
Outing Club dock, Clear Lake, IA
Teaching Notes
Clear Lake, Iowa has been a vacation spot for decades. (Photo: The lake in 1908)
Clear Lake is also home to the Surf Ballroom, the spot where Buddy Holly played his final concert before his plane crashed just outside of Clear Lake. The Surf looks as it did in the 50's and is still home to concerts and dances, including a winter dance party honoring Buddy Holly. Photo: crash wreckage
Stars over Clear Lake is historical fiction partially set at the Surf Ballroom during World War II. The story line features a local girl and German POW at Camp Algona a German Priosoner of War Camp west of Clear Lake and I-35. Stars over Clear Lake .
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2013645039/
Reference note
Summary: Postcard shows man sitting on the shoreline of Clear Lake with the docks and boats lining the shore.
Contributor Names: Mench, Phil, copyright claimant
Created / Published: c1908.
Subject Headings: - Outing Club (Clear Lake, Iowa)--Facilities--1900-1910
- Boat clubs--Iowa--Clear Lake--1900-1910
- Piers & wharves--Iowa--Clear Lake--1900-1910
- Clear Lake (Iowa)
- United States--Iowa--Clear Lake
Notes: - H114466 U.S. Copyright Office.
- Title from item.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ds 02386 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.02386
Arthur L. Rule House, 11 South Rock Glen, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, IA
Teaching Notes
The Rule house is one of the many Prairie Style homes included on a historic walking tour.
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/ia0104/
Reference note
Contributor Names: Historic American Buildings Survey, creator
Created / Published: Documentation compiled after 1933
Subject Headings: - houses
- Iowa -- Cerro Gordo County -- Mason City
Notes: - Significance: Integral part of Mason City's first planned community development, which grew to represent the largest cluster of Prairie Style houses in America. Primary planner and developer of the area, known as Rock Crest/Rock Glen, was the noted architect Griffen. The Rule House is one of only 5 houses (out of a planned 16) built completely to Griffin's plans.
- Survey number: HABS IA-57
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Liberty Memorial, 100 West Twenty-sixth Street, Kansas City, Jackson County, MO
Teaching Notes
Kansas City, Missouri offers varied historic sites and museums. The National World War I museum has a wide range of galleries, exhibits and educational offerings
The American Negro Baseball league museum in a historic African-American neighborhood honors the rich history of the Negro Leagues. Kansas City baseball museum pays tribute to the Negro Leagues
The Arabia steamboat museum exhibits artifacts excavated from the site of a packet boat that sunk in the Missouri River just outside of Kansas City. It’s a fascinating look at household goods, clothing, kitchen supplies and everything else needed by settlers west of the Missouri River. https://www.1856.com/
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/mo1855
Reference note
Contributor Names: Historic American Buildings Survey, creator
Mogonigle, Harold Van Buren
White & White
City of Kansas City
Olmsted Brothers
Kessler & Hare & Hare
Hool & Johnson
Foch, Ferdinand
Beatty, Earl
Pershing, John J
Diaz, Armando
Jacques
Coolidge, Calvin
Long, Robert Alexander
American Legion
Aitken, Robert
Amateis, Edmond
Westlake Construction Company
Civil Works Administration
Tagliabue, Angelo
John Donnelly, Inc.
Polachek, John
Brinley, D Putnam
Guerin, Jules
MacMorris, Daniel
Jenkins, F Lynn
Hancock, Walter
Hyde, Arthur
Bircsak, Edgar F
Olmsted, Frederick Law
Delk, Edward Buehler
Carrier-Belleuse, Pierre
Gourguet, Auguste-Francois
Sterling Bronze Company
Liberty Memorial Association
Kimball, Thomas
Architectural & Historical Research, LLC, contractor
ASAI Architects, contractor
Kumar, Rebecca, transmitter
Gutowski, John W, photographer
Millstein, Cydney E, historian
Created / Published: Documentation compiled after 1933
Subject Headings: - memorials
- high-rise buildings
- stone buildings (limestone)
- concrete block buildings
- war (World War I)
- commemoration
- city planning
- City Beautiful movement
- landscape architects
- veterans' organizations
- military organizations
- war (World War II)
- building deterioration
- civic improvement
- competitions
- Works Progress Administration
- Missouri -- Jackson County -- Kansas City
Notes: - Significance: Liberty Memorial vividly exemplifies the fulfillment of city planning concepts, combining monumentally scaled Beaux Arts Classicism envisioned by some of the nations most notable and diverse delineators of the City Beautiful movement working in the early twentieth century. Liberty Memorial's complex of limestone buildings, together with the towering shaft, vast sculpture, bas-reliefs, decorative bronze art, and dramatic open vistas, all contribute to its power and distinction. Today it stands as one of the most important landmarks in Kansas City and one of the most commanding memorial sites in the nation. Moreover, Liberty Memorial remains one of the nation's most compelling monuments to those who sacrificed their lives during World War I and a remembrance of those who survived. Its dramatic combination of elements envisioned by architects, landscape architects, artists, and city leaders, is not only a momentous tribute to those veterans but also an important expression of American memorial architecture of the early twentieth century. Additionally, the Liberty Memorial houses the only public World War I museum in the United States.
- Survey number: HABS MO-1936
- Building/structure dates: 1923-1938 Initial Construction
- Building/structure dates: 1994 Subsequent Work
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Harry S. Truman House, 219 North Delaware Street, Independence, Jackson County, MO
Teaching Notes
The Harry S Truman home and Presidential Library are in Independence, just west of Kansas City.
Harry S. Truman House, 219 North Delaware Street, Independence, Jackson County, MO.
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/mo0415/
Reference note
Contributor Names: Historic American Buildings Survey, creator
Boucher, Jack E, photographer
Created / Published: Documentation compiled after 1933
Subject Headings: - houses
- U.S. Presidents
- domestic life
- laundry rooms
- music rooms
- dadoes
- cupboards
- china cabinets
- porches
- fireplace
- clapboard siding
- Missouri -- Jackson County -- Independence
Notes: - Photograph #67 was not received.
- Significance: Home of President Harry S. Truman
- Survey number: HABS MO-1175
- National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 78001650
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Texas: Church of Alamo, San Antonio de Bexar
Teaching Notes
We all have an image of the Alamo in our minds. This drawing gives a different look. https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3a00000/3a02000/3a02000/3a02085r.jpg
Did you know the Alamo is quite small and one of San Antonio’s many missions?
Church of Alamo, San Antonio de Bexar. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2002725348/
Reference note
Created / Published: 1844.
Notes: - Illus. in: The Illustrated London News, 1844.
- This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id: cph 3a02085 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a02085