The John Deere Historic Site is located near Dixon which is where Ronald Reagan's boyhood home is located. They visited there in August. You can read about it here.
The folks said that the John Deere Historic Site was fun and educational. The tour includes the archeological site. In 1963, college students found the exact location where John Deere built his blacksmith shop. This is where he made the self-scouring steel plow. The plow did not have to be wiped off constantly like other plows. The first year he sold one, the second year he sold two. Business picked up after that.
This is the original blacksmith shop. This area is behind glass. The area is marked so that visitors can see what was in each "hole". |
The next stop is a replica of the blacksmith shop where a blacksmith does a very good demonstration.
Plows |
Mama did not take any photos of the inside of the house because 1) she only had her cell phone and the battery was running low and 2) none of the furnishings inside the house belonged to the Deere family. The furnishings are not even what they would have had because the furniture was from the East and not from here. The only thing that Mama wishes she would have taken a photo of was a doll that was found inside one of the walls of the house. It was a very small doll that must have belonged to one of the Deere girls.
The final stop on the tour was the gift shop. The folks bought a magnet that was made by the blacksmith.
Handmade magnet |
Mama didn't think there would be many people at the John Deere site, but it was packed. Their tour had 50 people in it. A tour bus full of people showed up as they were leaving, so it seems to be a popular place to visit.
The price of the tour is $5. The folks were probably there for two hours or more. The folks are very happy that they went.
FYI: Did you know that John Deere's wife's maiden name was Lamb? Mama thought it was cute that her name was Lamb and his was Deere.
Joey,
The Greyhound Whose Sock Monkey Lost An Arm Today
That John Deere fellow was very clever, that's for sure! I'm glad your parents got to see that site. Did they go to the Isabel Bloom place, too? I think it's near the John Deere tour.
ReplyDeleteBunny
Your mom and dad find the best places to visit, Joey! Sorry about your sock monkey. He probably deserved it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating place to visit. I think I would have loved to see the blacksmith making things.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, will sock monkey require surgery?
Dip Bridge and Elliot x
Sock monkey ..will it be "rest in peace" or will it be "get well soon"?
ReplyDeleteThat John Deere museum sounds great. Joey and Scout, thanks for sharing!
Hi Y'all!
ReplyDeleteSounds like your folks had a fun time.
Sorry to hear about your monkey's injury. Is it in the hospital?
Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
That looks like fun! Mum used to drive a John Deere tractor! (Glad I wasn't around to see that....) Deccy x
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