Thanks for supporting Gothic House Center

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community of Eldon and Wapello County for their support of our new American Gothic House Center. We had a successful grand opening Saturday, June 9, with about 300-350 visitors the day of the opening and another 350 since.

The enthusiasm for the facility and exhibit has been great. The committee responsible for raising the funds and grants for the building, the volunteers who signed up to help operate the gift shop, give tours and clean the facility, and the many visitors who have already stopped by show that there is a strong passion for Grant Wood and his American Gothic.

Visitors enjoy putting together the magnetic puzzles in the exhibit hall, putting on American Gothic costumes to take their own picture in front of the original house and watching the animated film “Dropping in on Grant Wood.”

A big thanks goes out to the contractors who worked so hard to have a parking lot, road and sidewalk done in time, the individuals who helped bake cookies for our opening reception, the many volunteers who raised the necessary funds to pay for this project (and continue to do so as new needs are discovered) and everyone who gave what they could — whether it was time, talent or money.

Thank you.

Jessica Strom

Great day planned at Gothic Days celebration

"ELDON — Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting will come alive today at the annual Gothic Days celebration."

New center a highlight of next weekend’s Eldon Gothic Days

"ELDON — This year, Eldon has twice as much to celebrate at Eldon Gothic Days. In addition to the traditional activities, supporters will celebrate the opening of the much anticipated visitor center."

Strom named Gothic House Visitors Center administrator

"ELDON — The American Gothic House Visitor Center has gained another friend — professional curator Jessi Strom."

Excitement growing in Eldon

"ELDON — Excitement is the only thing building faster than the construction crew at the Gothic House Visitor’s Center."

Construction of Gothic House Center under way

"ELDON — The building is going up “fast, fast, fast,” according to Brenda Kremer."

Gothic House Visitor's Center receives funding

"ELDON — What would have been “later” improvements for the American Gothic House Visitors Center will now be able to be done sooner thanks to the Iowa Legislature."

Wapello Co. Supervisors to look at Gothic House's 28E agreement between Eldon and county

"OTTUMWA — The American Gothic House in Eldon will be the main focus of the Wapello County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday."

Eldon receives $15,000 grant Visitor Center construction

"ELDON — A $15,000 grant has been awarded to the city of Eldon to help with the construction of the American Gothic Visitor Center."

Vacant 'American Gothic' house home to American art history

"Grant Wood's "American Gothic" is the most recognizable painting in the history of American art, which should make the modest Carpenter Gothic structure in the background the art world's most famous house."

'American Gothic': A Man, a Woman and a Pitchfork

"WHEN Steven Biel followed Route 16 (the ''American Gothic Parkway'') out of Eldon, Iowa, onto American Gothic Street to visit the source of his subject -- Grant Wood's painting -- it ''didn't occur'' to him at first to look at the house ''anywhere but straight on.''"

American Gothic

"In his home of Cedar Rapids, locals knew Grant Wood as the "town artist." A self-taught painter and devoted Iowan, Wood's early canvases, often meticulously rendered landscapes of fields of corn waving in the wind, showcased his love for his home state. But it's his most famous painting for which the majority of Americans will remember him. Need a hint? Here are four: a white house with a sloped roof, a sour-looking woman, a stern man... and a pitchfork."