Throughout May, KTVO is taking a look at historical places around the Heartland.
ELDON, IOWA -- On Monday, KTVO visited the unique farmhouse that inspired the creation of an American masterpiece. The location is now a tourist attraction.
Grant Wood's 1930 painting "American Gothic" was created after he saw the second-floor window design on a house in Eldon, Iowa. The artwork features Wood's sister, standing alongside his dentist as they portrayed a farmer and his wife.
KTVO spoke with Jessica Strom, the Administrator for the American Gothic House Center.
"As soon as Grant Wood saw this huge gothic window on this tiny little white house, he was somewhat amused by it. He was later quoted, calling it "pretentious" for this tiny house to have a fancy, large gothic window. And he decided he wanted to do a portrait of who he imagined would live in a house like that," Strom said.
She said the painting is a symbol of Americana itself.
"It reminds people of their grandparents or great-grandparents, or uncles and aunts. And they can see those old photographs of these family members and they look all serious like that. And so it reminds them of those values that were kind of instilled into our ancestors," Strom said.
For more information about the site, just visit the website for the American Gothic House in Eldon.
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