My 2019 Great Lakes Road Trip Part 12B

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 12 – Saturday August 3 (Continued)

Now I headed some 85 miles southeast on SR-163/US-63 to visit the Airpower Museum located in Ottumwa, IA.  I found that the Airpower Museum is actually several miles west of Ottumwa, at the Antique Airfield which is near Blakesburg, IA.  The museum is housed in a small building with aviation displays, artifacts and memorabilia dating from the early 1900s.  There is also a single small hanger adjacent to the museum building that contains several airplanes in various stages of repair or restoration.

For some of you mini-series buffs, Ottumwa happens to be the hometown of the TV series “M*A*S*H” character “Radar.”  This loveable character played the part of MASH 4077’s company clerk, and pretty much ran the outfit, until he was shipped home and replaced by another MASH character “Max Klinger.”  I was one of millions of Americans who laughed their way thru 11 fun-filled seasons with all of the MASH 4077 characters.

Next I headed northeast on US-63/SR-92/22 to visit the Old Capital Museum located in Iowa City, IA. This museum is housed in what originally was the Iowa’s second Territorial Capital building.  The first Iowa Territorial Capital was actually established in Detroit, MI as part of the Wisconsin Territory (1834-1838).  The first Iowa Capital Building was in Burlington, IA (1839-1841), the second was Iowa City (1841-1849), and the third was Des Moines (1849-present).  When the capital of Iowa was moved to Des Moines, the Old Capital Building became the first permanent building of the University of Iowa.  The university has expanded over the years, and the museum now sits on a hill in the middle of a four-block park-like area (the Pentacrest) of the University of Iowa campus.  The museum displays many exhibits, artifacts and memorabilia related to the early history of the capital building, the university, and the state of Iowa from as far back as the mid-1800s. 

Since I was going to spend the night there in Iowa City, I just had to take the time to check out the site of what is said to be the World’s Largest Wooden Nickel.  Measuring 12’ across and tipping the scale at 4000 pounds, this unique wooden monument is said to have been erected in 2006 as a protest against Johnson county officials’ decision to raise speed limits in the area.  The half-dollar size wooden nickel I have at home is a joke, but this roadside Icon seems like a good example of a non-violent protest to me.

Now it was time for Greta (my Garmin) to take me to the motel there in Iowa City.  After I got checked in at the motel, I headed over to Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack for a plate of their delicious (falling-off-the-bone tender) St. Louis Ribs with baked beans, cole slaw, and a slice of their homemade honey-butter cornbread.  Boy was that YUMMMY!  This was a meal to remember, and the best thing about it is, I will be remembering it again tomorrow evening.

—–To Be Continued—–

Tags: #Roadtrip, Airpower Museum, Ottumwas IA