Birthplace of John Wayne
Winterset, Iowa
Film star John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa, and the home in which it happened is on display. The simple wood frame, 4-room house is where the Hollywood legend entered the world as Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907. He lived here for three years. The house has been restored and maintained as it would have looked in 1907.
During our visit we saw one of the 15 eye patches John Wayne wore in the film True Grit. Others can be found around the US as part of other John Wayne tributes.
In 2010 the Birthplace got its very own statue of John Wayne, seven feet tall, made of bronze. A Wayne family member had commissioned it back in 1981, and after almost thirty years it was given to Winterset and erected outside of the birthplace on what would have been the Duke's 103rd birthday.
From the Birthplace of John Wayne web site: "Character was and is the defining quality of John Wayne. The new John Wayne Learning Center will develop programs and opportunities to teach the values of citizenship, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility and caring. New generations will discover what other generations already know -- the character quality of John Wayne."
