Random Iowa

While summer may now be officially over (especially weather-wise) we still have one more installment in our series documenting some of the cities along U.S. Route 30 in Iowa. Our last destination is Nevada, Iowa ! Like its central Iowa counterpart Madrid, which we also visited back in March , the pronunciation of Nevada is different from that of the well-known Western U.S. state . The county seat of Story County with almost 6,700 residents, Nevada proudly identifies itself as the "26th best small town in America"! 9 shots were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, with two added to the updated article on Wikipedia. Here are a couple of my favorites: Links Nevada, Iowa pictures on Wikimedia Commons Updated Nevada, Iowa article on Wikipedia City of Nevada official website

Has it really been this long since we've posted? Where did the summer go? Apologies to our loyal readers! The fourth stop on our U.S. Route 30 tour was the city of Lowden, Iowa! Incorporated in 1869 and yet another city of around 800 residents, Lowden showed evidence of a prosperous past and present with an impressive & well kept City Hall (built in 1902), a restored train depot, and even a disc golf course! 4 shots were uploaded to Wikmedia Commons, with two added to the updated article on Wikipedia. Here are a couple of my favorites: Links Lowden, Iowa pictures on Wikimedia Commons Updated Lowden, Iowa article on Wikipedia

The third stop on our trip along U.S. Route 30 was Wheatland, Iowa! Another smaller city (800 inhabitants as of 2000), it was certainly not quiet the evening we arrived, including an ice cream parlor off downtown that was particularly popular. Wheatland is also home to an old city hotel which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Unfortunately it currently appears to be in a state of disrepair, but certainly made for some interesting photos! 5 shots were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, with one added to the updated article on Wikipedia (one other photograph was already present). Here are a couple of my favorites: And here are a couple of the more artistic shots taken of the Wheatland City Hotel Links Wheatland, Iowa pictures on Wikimedia Commons Updated Wheatland, Iowa article on Wikipedia

Our second stop along U.S. Route 30 was the city of Calamus, Iowa! With a population of around 400 (as of 2000), we were unfortunate to arrive just after the end of their weekend summer festival! 5 shots were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, with two added to the updated article on WIkipedia. Here are a couple of my favorites: Links Calamus, Iowa pictures on Wikimedia Commons Updated Calamus, Iowa article on Wikipedia

The first in our series of cities located along U.S. Route 30, Grand Mound is a city of almost 700 people (as of 2000) located in Eastern Iowa, near the larger communities of De Witt & Clinton. Several things caught our eye in this city, including a neat city park, older style water tower and a building (previous City Hall perhaps?) from 1880. 9 shots were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, with one added to the updated article on Wikipedia (one other photograph was already present). Here are a couple of my favorites: Links Grand Mound, Iowa pictures on Wikimedia Commons Updated Grand Mound, Iowa article on Wikipedia

I'm happy to introduce our summer series of posts, which will be focused around the Iowa cities located along U.S. Route 30 ! Wikimedia Commons / Fredddie Running parallel to Interstate 80 from Missouri Valley in the West to Clinton in the East, this stretch of roadway was first designated in 1926, replacing the Lincoln Highway . Major communities along the route include Cedar Rapids , Ames & Carroll . Do you have any interesting facts around or memories of U.S. Route 30? Any suggestions on cities we should visit or sights we should photograph? We would love to hear about them via the comments section below or on Twitter ! Links Detailed information on U.S. Route 30 in Iowa