Places exploringwithesch Wants to Go

This long unused shot tower on the Mississippi remains a point of pride for a small city in Iowa.

Two hula hoops appeared on the tree after a storm, and the collection kept growing.

Eight feet in diameter and more than 24 feet around.

This simple home was the beginning of a long journey for the iconic Western film star.

The “American Gothic" artist's largest works hang in an Iowa State University library.

The notorious couple camped at this site after a bloody shootout with police.

This remote island in Iowa was abandoned after being devastated by flood.

The remains of a bustling turn-of-the-century park built to showcase the wonders of electricity.

Lured here by the promise of tens of thousands in gold, Jesse James started a quintessentially American trend of robbing trains in-motion.

A small burial plot formerly stranded in the middle of a road.

While there are no actual snakes in the history of this crooked road, there may be a number of dead horses.

The Iowa state contender for largest pan in the world oddly only comes in second or so.

Millions of dollars worth of sculpture decorate this Iowa city center.

A mysteriously dark cemetery monument fuels stories and legends galore.

An eclectic assortment of medieval architecture in a small Iowa town.

The World's Largest Bull.

A hidden barn-sized rendition of Grant Wood's most famous, and most parodied, painting.

A pop-culture attraction outside of Dyersville, Iowa, hits a home run.

The world’s largest truck stop includes a barber shop, chiropractor, and a huge museum with antique trucks.

A single artist is behind these large-scale models made of hundreds of thousands of two-inch wooden matchsticks.

For just a few bucks, this Iowa funicular will let you feel like an 1800s fat cat.

An old town theater converted into a celebration of the hobo legacy.

Home with Gothic windows featured in a famous painting.

A place of great reverence for Trekkies everywhere, a hero's future birthplace.