kathleenshaughnessy

I am writing my post on a very bittersweet day--late this afternoon, I will be driving out to Clutier for my fortieth site visit, the last out of the forty historic sites I am writing on. In addition to working on the write-up stage for the other thirty-nine sites, I conducted my third and final informational interview today, something that I've really enjoyed doing--getting to hear the passion from my interviewees when they talk about why they do what they do, as well as learning about how each person came from their background (of which there has been quite a variety!) to where they are now.

My role thus far in writing about forty of Iowa’s rural historic sites for the Iowa Valley RC&D’s Scenic Byway Tour has been an evolving amalgamation of journalist, historian, and tourist. Drives between my home in Iowa City and the various rural sites are long and scenic, winding around cornfields and pastures.