American Gothic House Center

Cindy Kokel

2023-12

Ok here comes the confession:I was looking for a spooky black goth house not realizing this is one of the most if not #1 paintings that has a huge cult parody following. Also very famous architecture. Once I figured it all out I was amazed and in awe that I was standing in front of the house where the famous picture was taken. Lots of history and photo opps. You can dress up for a fee and have your pic taken in front of the famous house, there are nature trails as well. There is a gift shop and a small area with more photos and history. The small area in the back of the gift shop is blocked by velvet ropes and there is a fee to get back there. *That's also where the *bathrooms are located and you have to pay the fee to use the restroom.* That was the only down side especially after our long drive. It's very beautiful there and lots of room to just roam around, get the kids and pets out of the car and have a really nice walk.

Conrad Law (Scanner)

2023-11

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Gary

2023-06

Very nice travel experience in South Central Iowa Town of Eldon. Nice museum witn nice displays and plenty of information on the house, painting and Grant Wood, the artist. The house is open to see, but the real attraction is the historic home. With your paid admission, you can get costuming and pitchfork to reprise the American Gothic painting.

Rebecca Starmer

2024-03

Inexpensive and a must-see if you're an Iowan or traveling through the state. American Gothic by Grant Wood is the most parodied painting in the world. You can use the costumes at the museum to create your own version. It's a great place to learn about the life and career of one of Iowa's favorite sons. The house is open, limited hours, over the summer.

Sara Luckritz

2023-06

We were in the area from out of town, so we decided to stop by... it was around 10 minutes to 1, and apparently they had an event in the morning so a woman shouted out the door to us they were closed until 1. We waited, mainly because we wanted to borrow a pitchfork for a picture (they also have costumes available to borrow at no cost), to see the museum. At 1, my mother, who is a senior citizen, asked to use the restroom... after being grilled that she would be going through the FREE museum, she was pointed in the right direction. We walked through the museum (it took about 5 minutes total... it's one room and very small) and then grabbed a pitchfork for some pictures outside in front of the house. They have a selfie station to use the timer on your phone to snap a shot or two. Returned our pitchfork and we were off. Super quick trip. I believe the house is available to tour during the summer (bottom floor, only), but it's just one of those neat roadside attractions... they also have a gift shop with the museum.

Rachel Speer

2023-07

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Mona Beth Flick

2020-06

I wanted to include this stop while working my road survey assignment in Iowa. As luck would have it? Our very last record was just 14 miles away. Worth the trip, even though the inside of the house is closed for viewing until September 14, 2019. Seeing that house made famous by Grant Wood made it worth it. Loved the grounds and the center.

Brad Kosar

2022-06

It was nice to see in person but not worth the drive as a specific destination. The house was surprisingly smaller than expected. Also, hard to get a good picture of the house without also capturing a neighboring mobile home in the background.Nice background information on both Grant Wood as well as the house itself.

Bob Massicotte

2024-05

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Isaac Rymar

2024-03

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Gary Jackson

2024-03

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august fds

2023-06

How do you go to Iowa and not see the house by Grant Wood? You can't go in most days, but it doesn't really matter because it's not famous for the interior. There was one woman in the visitor center. You basically have 3 panels of information to read with a kid's video being played really loudly on a loop. Bathrooms are for visitors only. You can take a pitchfork out for a photo. No one else was there when we visited. You have the option to watch a 30 min video. You drive thru a very rural neighborhood that seems very poor. The city should really market the house better and bring more tourism to the city.

Robert Schmidt

2023-07

You see a sign enough times and you think it’s a sign. I had no idea what American Gothic was, but the small brown signs were intriguing. I found myself in the small town of Eldon traveling between Ames, Iowa and St Louis. There is a Railroad museum on the main drag, closed when I passed through. The Gothic House is a short distance into a neighborhood. The house is featured in the background of the painting “American Gothic.” There is a gift shop, good informational signage and a fun photo opportunity. The gift shop was closed when I went but the house was still available to be seen. I wouldn’t miss it if I were in Eldon, having been transported back in time to relive my life.

Raychelle Bordelon

2023-08

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Daniel Randolph

2023-06

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Kevin Andrews

2022-06

We stumbled across this site while traveling through the southern half of Iowa. It is very nicely curated with everything you would ever want to know for an introduction to Grant Wood - his life, family and rural roots.It is worth the trip. I like traveling coast to coast in Iowa on Hwy 2. It's very relaxing as well as beautiful. On this route you will also find evidence that the last presidential election didn't occur as reported. Apparently, the news is slow to reach this portion of the state.Anyway, this is awfully special even for Iowa.

Rich Davidson

2022-06

Very well done for such a small place. Any fan of Americana should stop if in the area. We were on motorcycles and met a couple from Indonesia who said it was a must see for them.

Sara Peacock

2023-06

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Kristin Samson

2023-08

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Sean Flynn

2018-06

Thought they were closed for the day, with it being Memorial Day. Jumped out of the car to snap some photos then all of a sudden the CLOSED sign was flipped to OPEN. The little museum was pretty informative and you could dress the part and take your photo in front of the house if you wanted. Picked out a couple post cards then we were on our way.

Sheryl Ludwig

2023-06

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Bonny Koeber

2023-06

Important part of our American Art history. Iowa historic house site that was the backdrop for the American Gothic painting. The place is well kept. The gift shop will lend you a pitchfork for your own photographic version of the painting. This was closed when we were there.. so no pitchfork for us!Beautiful pollinator flowerbeds along the sidewalk leading to the gift store. We had a lovely time there.

Luis Peña

2023-06

I'd love to se it in spring for the great variety of flowers in front of the center, the place is very calm, peaceful, quiet and friendly, as soon as you turn left between the house and the center, there is a trail, across the other side of the town there is a river access, looking forward to go there next time I stop

Steven

2023-06

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Billy Bob

2024-05

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JP D

2024-04

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Kenneth M

2022-06

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Tony Mahieu

2021-06

We were on our way home from a long road trip and randomly saw this was on the way. We stopped briefly to check it out. The house is significantly smaller than I expected. Pretty cool to check it out though. Not sure I'd go out of my way too far to visit, but if you're in the area, check it out.

Kent Lewis

2023-06

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Darrin Craig

2024-05

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