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

Birthplace of John Wayne 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

New Museum Property Cleared

New Museum Property Concrete Cleared

Heavy equipment was used to clear the last vestiges of the old gas station concrete on the property for the new John Wayne Birthplace Museum and Learning Center. The cleared ground was seeded with grass and a beautiful green space remains. The historic 1850 stone home of Madison County pioneer Thankful Robbins, which was old when John Wayne was born, sits to the south. The next step will be the construction once sufficient funds have been raised for the only museum in the world dedicated to John Wayne. More info on the new Museum.

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!

Iowa Theatre Marquee
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.

National VFW Auxiliary Members

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!

Dick & Julie Vice

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