Here's some shots from Iowa. The first group were taken around the lovely Amana towns. Carol will have something in her pages about the history of this place, so I won't repeat that here. Yet again, we found a place just brimming with photographic possibilities. Too bad I didn't do much with them. The next few are from Mason City, a town of surprising architectural quality. The last three are from Clear Lake. We also toured a Frank LLoyd Wright house n Iowa called Cedar Rock. You can see my photo essay about that one here.

 

I think these are tiger lillies. The Amanas are full of flower gardens.

This is obviously pretty whimsical, but there are some spectacular furniture makers in Amana. We may come back here to furnish our next house.

Here's a pompous, pseudo-arty shot of an old barn. Again, nothing spectacular, but you might find it pleasing.

Same barn, different light.

Wow, this one is really stuffy.

I'm fairly happy with my curent digital photo workflow, but I am decidedly unhappy with my black & white conversions of color images. A Hasselblad loaded with black & white film would have done far better than this.

This is the Park Hotel, in Mason City, that Frank Lloyd Wright designed around 1905. It was successful until the 1950's, when people stopped accepting shared bathrooms.

The hotel is falling to pieces. It was recently handed over to a foundation that promises to restore it.

There was originally a bank attached to the hotel. The first floor of it has been ruined by waves of "improvements."

Check out this typical Wright detailing on the columns.

This is the Stockman House, designed by Wright, and erected in 1908. It's one of his earliest Prarie homes, and is quite wonderful. Many Arts & Crafts touches inside.

Here, Carol pretends to be someone lucky enough to own a Wright house, happily welcoming guests.

Another view of the Stockman House. The design originated with an article Wright did for Ladies Home Journal in 1903, describing a "fireproof" house.

This one is right across the street, and was designed by one of the Prarie disciples, Walter Burley Griffin.

Another view of the Griffin designed building.

Perhaps the Surf Ball Room in Clear Lake triggers your memory: This is the last place that Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper played before they were killed.

The current owners rescued it from a developer who planned to make it into office space (!!!). They restored it, and now use it for musical acts.

Check out this entrance. It kind of gives you chills to walk in here and think about the history of the place. It's become a sort of minor shrine to those three.