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Wintry Weather Wallops Winterset

The first serious snowstorm of the season swirls soundlessly, succumbing to the silent, steadfast scrutiny of the statue of hometown hero Marion Morrison.

Photo by John Gaps III, www.madhausgallery.com

John Wayne’s Wild Goose Now Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

John Wayne’s yacht the Wild Goose, a converted World War II-era minesweeper, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Read the news storyin the Orange County Daily Pilot here. Wild Goose information in the National Register can be viewed here.

A scale model of the Wild Goose as it appeared when owned by John Wayne is a part of our collection at the John Wayne Birthplace. It was unveiled at a ceremony at the 2011 John Wayne Birthday Celebration by Wayne’s daughter Aissa; see the photo and more information here.

KCCI-TV/Des Moines Coverage of the 2011 John Wayne Birthday Celebration

This story broadcast Friday, May 27th includes interviews with visitors and Claude Jarman, Jr. as well as a bit of background on Birthplace Executive Director Brian Downes. Click here or the image above to view.

WHO-TV/Des Moines Coverage of the 2011 John Wayne Birthday Celebration

This story broadcast May 28th includes interviews with cavalrymen and visitors. Click here or the image to view.

Birthplace Officials Present Trophy at the John Wayne Stakes at Prairie Meadows

John Wayne Birthplace board members Richard Grimes (left) and Marjorie Baker (third from left) join Birthplace Executive Director Brian Downes in presenting the trophy for the $70,000 John Wayne Stakes sprint for Iowa-breds at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, Iowa on May 14th. Jockey Terry Thompson (right) rode Mutti Blues through a light rain to win by 4-3/4 lengths.

John Wayne: American Exhibit at the Strategic Air & Space Museum

In conjunction with the John Wayne Birthplace, the Stategic Air & Space Museum just outside of Omaha, Nebraska on Interstate 80 will have an exhibit running from June 11–October 2, 2011 entitled John Wayne: American that showcases artifacts from his movies and personal life from one of the most impressive collections on John Wayne ever assembled. They’ll also have special showings of John Wayne’s military and patriotic themed movies throughout the summer. For more information call (402) 944-3100 or visit their web site at www.sasmuseum.com. Click the flyer image for a larger view.

Pie Squared: An All-American Celebration of Pie

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend this event from 12:30pm to 3pm on Saturday, May 28th, 2011 during the John Wayne Birthday Celebration that will feature “tastes” of homemade pie, and pie-themed entertainment throughout Winterset’s Courthouse Square. Attendees may purchase tickets for “tastes” of pie at $1.00 each to taste as many different pies as they like.

Pie Stations will be located at various merchants on the Square and tickets may be purchased in advance or on the afternoon of the event at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.

Pie Lovers—this event is for you! The homemade pies for the event are being furnished by local churches, and we all know how those church ladies can cook. So come and enjoy!

Items Added to the John Wayne Museum Benefit Dinner Auction

Michael Malone, hat maker to the stars, has crafted this exquisite replica of the campaign hat made famous by John Wayne in John Ford's cavalry trilogy. Correct in every detail, this item will be among the rare collectibles being auctioned at this year’s Birthplace Museum Benefit Dinner. Mr. Malone’s client list includes Tom Selleck, Willie Nelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Riders in the Sky, and even the Rolling Stones. (Find Michael Malone on Facebook here). See a larger image and other photos of the hat here. Join in the excitement as John Wayne’s daughter Aissa hosts a lively auction of many John Wayne and cavalry items, including an authentic McClellan saddle—the exact style as used in all of John Ford’s cavalry pictures, an authentic cavalry bugle, an original oil painting of Capt. Nathan Brittles, a John Wayne radio from the Bradford Exchange, a 1927 USC yearbook featuring young Marion Morrison and much, much more. Click here for more information.

Claude Jarman Jr. to Attend New Museum Benefit Dinner

Our very special guest of honor at this year’s John Wayne Birthplace Museum Benefit Dinner is Academy Award®-winning actor Claude Jarman Jr. After a nationwide talent search, he won the coveted role of Jody Baxter in The Yearling and, still in his teens, was selected by legendary director John Ford to play John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara's son, Trooper Jefferson Yorke, in Rio Grande. At the Museum Benefit Dinner Mr. Jarman will greet fans and admirers of this cavalry classic and discuss his experiences working alongside Wayne, O’Hara, Harry Carey, Jr., Ben Johnson and Victor McLaglen.

John Wayne’s son Ethan talks about TEAM DUKE, an athletic fundraising program that raises money for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation

Team Duke-Ethan Wayne from Team Duke on Vimeo.

The 2010 John Wayne Birthday Celebration Was a Great Success!

A good time was had by all at the John Wayne Birthday Celebration held on May 28 & 29, 2010. Winterset’s Courthouse Square became the setting for a fabulous gathering of Jonh Wayne fans from far and wide.The weather was perfect! John Wayne’s daughter Aissa was here to dedicate the new outdoor location for the John Wayne bronze statue, meet and greet his fans, and sign prints of a portrait of Duke by her mother. An amazing collection of John Wayne memoriabilia was on display, and free John Wayne movies played at the Iowa Theatre right on the Square. The VIP Fundraising Event had nearly 200 attendees who noshed down on Mexican favorites, and the auction at the event raised $23,175 for the new John Wayne Museum and Learning Center. 25 vendors offered great food, western-related items, antiques, crafts, locally-produced wine and other items. The children had plenty of rides and inflatables to keep them entertained. Winterset’s firemen hosted a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning, horsedrawn wagon rides charmed visitors and locals alike, and Moe Bandy and his Americana Band got feet tapping and some up dancing. Topping the evening off was the giant 25-foot screen digital presentation of The Alamo under the glorious night sky. Click the image above or here for a slideshow from the event.

The 2011 John Wayne Birthday Celebration will be May 27 & 28, 2011. Save the date now and join us for another exciting gala event!

John Wayne Bronze Statue Relocated

The larger-than-life bronze statue of John Wayne that now adorns the grounds where the new Museum will be built is a magnet for shutterbugs. John Wayne fans visit constantly, cameras at the ready to take their photo next to this wonderful statue of America's movie icon. Click image above or here for a larger view.

Saddle Up Visits The John Wayne Birthplace

“Saddle Up with Dennis Browse” visited the Birthplace as a segment of their show. It includes a visual tour of the Birthplace home with Birthplace Board Vice President Joe Zuckschwerdt, a horseback ride down the Clark Tower Trail in Winterset’s City Park with Ginger Ryals, an interview with long-time Duke costumer Luster Bayless, and highlights of the John Wayne Birthday Celebration.

Learn more about “Saddle Up with Dennis Brouse” at http://saddleupwithdennisbrouse.com.

The Chicago Tribune Visits The John Wayne Birthplace

“Standing in the room where little baby Wayne took his first breath — a dim, back corner space about 8 feet wide and 15 feet long — brings an inevitable hush to the tourists who come from all 50 states and dozens of countries.”

Read the article by Josh Noel

Bill O’Reilly Says “John Wayne presented the truth about grit”

Host of the Fox News Channel show “The O’Reilly Factor” comments on the True Grit films in the New Haven (CT) Register: Click here

Patrick Wayne and Birthplace President Joe Zuckschwerdt at the 2010 Harvey Awards at the Jimmy Stewart Museum

Patrick Wayne (above, left) and his father John Wayne were honored with the first-ever father-son Harvey Award at the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Stewart’s hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania on October 23rd. John Wayne Birthplace President Joe Zuckschwerdt (above, right) was on hand, with an exhibit of John Wayne memorabilia that will be on display at the Stewart museum through November. John Wayne and Stewart were good friends and starred together in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence and The Shootist. Patrick Wayne played Stewart’s son in Shenandoah.

Special John Wayne Issue of American Cowboy—Win A Trip To The John Wayne Birthplace!

American Cowboy magazine is releasing a special issue devoted entirely to John Wayne, on newstands now (or you can purchase a copy online here).

American Cowboy is also sponsoring a special John Wayne Sweepstakes. You could win a trip for you and a friend to fly to Winterset, Iowa, get a private tour of the Birthplace, a two-night stay and a guided motor tour of the world-famous covered bridges of Madison County!

The contest is over. We will post information about the winner as soon as we get it.

Beautiful Weather for the 2010 Madison County Covered Bridge Festival

KG & The Ranger delight visitors to the 41st Annual Madison County Covered Bridge Festival October 9-10, 2010. Gorgeous weather in the 80s melded perfectly with their great harmonies of songs of the Old West—and some top-notch yodeling too!

Special Ceremony at the Birthplace Honors A U.S. Soldier Killed In Action

The Winterset Madisonian paper produced a nice article on a special ceremony held at the Birthplace. James Balsley mortared in place an engraved brick on a Birthplace walkway in memory of his son, 23-year-old U.S. Army private Michael Balsley, who was killed in action by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

Click here to view a full-size .pdf of the article.

Michael C. Balsley tribute page, created by his family.

Iowa Public Radio Interviews Executive Director Downes

Iowa Public Radio broadcast a report about the 2010 John Wayne Birthday Celebration on May 28, 2010. Our own executive Director Brian Downes was interviewed by IPR’s Rick Fredericksen. click the player below to listen (3.4MB .mp3 file, 3:40)

Birthplace Director Brian Downes Visits John Wayne’s Daughter Aissa

On a recent trip to the west coast, our own Brian Downes spent some time with Aissa Wayne, John Wayne’s daughter. An enthusiastic supporter of the John Wayne Birthplace, Aissa will be joining us for the John Wayne Birthday Celebration here in Winterset on May 28-29, 2010.

Executive Director Brian Downes on WHO-AM’s Jan Mikelson

John Wayne Birthplace Director Brian Downes was a guest on a recent program hosted by Jan Mickelson on WHO-AM radio in Des Moines. Brian and Jan talk about John Wayne, his Birthplace, the upcoming Birthday Celebration and The Alamo, and much more. Click the player below to listen. (26.9MB .mp3, 29:22)

Winterset Madisonian Features Signed Print from Maureen O’Hara in Cover Story on Museum Fundraising

Winterset’s local paper, the Madisonian, ran an article on their cover featuring a signed print from one of John Wayne's most beloved female co-stars, Maureen O'Hara. The accompanying story is about continuing efforts to raise funds for the new John Wayne Birthplace Museum, and recent purchases by Miss O’Hara and Winterset’s Farmers and Merchants State Bank of granite blocks for the Walk of Fame to lead from the Birthplace home to the new museum.

Click here or the image above for a .pdf version; click here for a larger image of the signed print.

Joe Zuckschwerdt Elected Birthplace Board President

With the 2010 new year comes election of officers for the Board of Directors of the Birthplace of John Wayne, and Joe Zuckschwerdt was elected President of the Board. Joe is an ethusiastic fan of John Wayne and an avid collector and has been a Director since mid-2007.

John Wayne still in the Harris Poll of America’s Favorite Movie Stars

The new Harris Poll is out and John Wayne is the seventh most favorite movie star in America. This is significant considering Wayne’s last movie was made in 1976, 34 years ago!

Harris Interactive has been conducting this poll for 16 years, and John Wayne is the only actor, living or dead, who has been on the list every single year.

Harris Poll of America’s Favorite Movie Stars

The Tribute Bricks have proven to be a very popular item, with over 350 so far. The area at the front steps is now filled, so work began on the walkway between the back door of the Birthplace home and the front sidewalk for new bricks. There’s still time for you to get yours!

More information on the Tribute Bricks

Western music legend and official cowboy poet of Texas Red Steagall is pictured with Birthplace Director Brian Downes. Birthplace Vice President Joe Zuckschwerdt, Downes and his sister Susan greeted many of the thousands of fans at our John Wayne Birthplace booth who attended Red's Cowboy Gathering in the Fort Worth Stockyards. www.redsteagall.com.

John Wayne Fan Gretchen Amerine Meets Birthplace Director Brian Downes

Gretchen Amerine, 10, of Dallas, Texas meets Brian. She's a lifelong John Wayne fan and her name is enshrined with a brick in the walkway at the Birthplace.

A great time was had during the 2009 Madison County Covered Bridge Festival October 10-11!

The Birthplace of John Wayne sponsored FREE movies on Saturday, October 10th at the Iowa Theatre on the Courthouse Square in Winterset, smack dab in the midst of the Covered Bridge Festival. Festival goers had an opportunity to see John Wayne (and Clint Eastwood) once again on the big screen!

At the Birthplace Welcome Center, visitors were entertained by the western song stylings and top-notch yodeling of KG & The Ranger all day Saturday during the Covered Bridge Festival.

Members of the National Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxilary visited the Birthplace on Setpember 28, 2009. Besides National VFW Auxilary President Jan Tittle, members included Rachel Bru, Donna Inderwich,Sandy Gray, Leanne Lemley, Marie Michelson, Mary Ann Ransford, Arlene Murray, Lois and Connie Bauer, Anna Marie Delavue, and Joanne Ketterer. Thanks for stopping by!

It was quite a surprise indeed for Dick Vice of Palmyra, New York when he and his wife Julie visited the Birthplace on August 20, 2009. Unbeknowst to Dick, Julie had arranged for the Walk of Fame granite block for the film Rooster Cogburn to be reserved for him as a birthday present! Dick declared there could have no better choice for a present for his birthday.

More information on the Walk of Fame granite blocks