Taylor's Maid-Rite started way back in 1928 as the second franchise to license the Maid-Rite sandwich. In 1958 the current shop was built across the street from the original. It still looks very similar to the way it would have back then. We chowed down on a loose meat sandwich and picked-up a souvenir glass. Like many of our stops we had to talk about our Fiat, "Luigi", to the locals since they had never seen one in person. We bought our souvenir glass and we were back on the Lincoln.
Traveling the Lincoln Highway without any sort of agenda is an awesome way to relax. If you have one of those personalities where you are easily distracted you may not make it very far. That really isn't that big a deal as there is always something around the cor...SQUIRREL!
Where was I? Oh, Marshalltown. You can see many trains from the viaduct. The Union Pacific Railroad has an Electro Motive maintenance facility nearby.
The Marshall County Courthouse was dedicated in 1886 with the clock tower being completed in 1900. The limestone building was designed by John C. Cochrane. It was renovated in 1978.
At the intersection of the Lincoln Highway and the Jefferson Highway in Colo, Iowa sits 6 buildings on this historic site. The Reed/Niland Corner was a "one stop" business from 1923 until 1995. Travelers could get gas, something to eat, or rest for the night. Now the buildings have been restored to the way they were in the 40's and you can once again eat at Niland's Café or get a room at Colo Motel. The service station, Reed’s Standard Service Station, now restored closed in 1967.
The Lincoln Highway goes right past Iowa State University so we thought we would visit Elwood, the world's largest concrete gnome, at the Reiman Gardens. We also discovered that they have a nice little butterfly garden as well as a rotating displays in the conservatory. While we were there a display called Bio-Dome was set up to show an aquaponics garden.
Just north of Beaver on an old alignment of the Lincoln Highway you can find a couple of neat bridges. You can find them by setting your GPS to the intersection of B Avenue and 210 Street. To the right, crossing Beaver Creek, will be the last remaining Marsh rainbow arch bridge on the Lincoln Highway. Two miles to the left (west) of that intersection sits the "L" bridge. I had fun photographing these as the winds were gusting across the plains at up to 40 mph hour. You try holding a camera still in those conditions! I couldn't stop laughing; the Lincoln Highway can be absolute fun at times.
A little east of Grand Junction you can find the new Lion's Club Tree Park and Lincoln Highway Interpretive site. This park was still under construction when we visited but from here you can see bridges from 4 different periods of the Lincoln Highway. It is a good spot to learn about the Lincoln as well.
Originally a D-X Gas station from the 50's, Milo's Mobil in Grand Junction now has a number of Mobil Gas signs and pumps along with some Lincoln Highway signage. This makes Peg happy because she has always loved the symbol of Mobil; the PEGasus.
We stopped in Jefferson, Iowa for a restroom break. We chose to use the facilities in the Greene County Courthouse. This Beaux Arts style building, designed by Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson, was built in 1917. The stained glass skylight is amazing. The volunteers are happy to tell you that the courthouse was used in scenes from the 1996 movie "Twister."
In 1918, a statue of Abraham Lincoln was dedicated in honor of the Lincoln Highway.
The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower is a must see on the Lincoln. A glass elevator takes you to the top of this 165 foot tower. 14 cast bells from the world-famous Petit & Fritsen Bell Foundry in the Netherlands chime out the hour, quarter, and half-hour. The Heaviest bell weighs a whopping 5,630 pounds. From the observation deck you can see the entire town and beyond.
Leaving Jefferson, you cross a wonderful five-span Eureka Bridge. It was built in 1912 to span the Raccoon River. There is a park on the western side were you can drive to get a better view.
The James Edward Moss monuments outside of Scranton where originally placed in 1924. Sometime in the 1950's vandals made off with Lincoln's head. In 1993 one of the heads was found and used to cast new ones which were placed in 2001.
Get ready for some bumpy roads in Woodbine, Iowa. But this is a good type of bumpy since it is caused by the town preserving over a mile of original brick road of the Lincoln Highway. Be sure to visit Walker Street for some great old buildings.
Siebels' Department Store / Boyer Valley Bank building, also known as the Odd Fellows Building, was first started in 1878 and was later expanded in 1902. It is classified an Italianate style building.
The Woodbine Savings Bank building was originally built in 1891. The bank only lasted until 1931. Over the years it has been a general store, warehouse, barber shop, harness shop, grocery store, a restaurant and a bakery at various times on the first floor, while the second floor was a lodge hall, rooms for rent and offices for dentists, attorneys and doctors.
The Food Land store in Woodbine, Iowa started back in 1947. It's current location is its 4th and was built in 1969.
We arrived too late to visit the inside of the Harrison County Historical Village & Iowa Welcome Center in Missouri Valley, IA but the outside was a fun walk to do. You can find several Lincoln Highway items here.
A week of not shaving has left me a little scruffy.
It was a great trip and we thoroughly enjoyed the road, the people, and the scenery of the Lincoln Highway. As we dipped our toes into the Missouri River to briefly see Nebraska we had driven in 7 of the 13 states that the Lincoln Highway travels. We plan on doing the rest some day.
Don't miss our previous days along the Lincoln!
Lincoln Highway Day 1
Lincoln Highway Day 2
Lincoln Highway Day 3
Lincoln Highway Day 4
Lincoln Highway Day 5