Des Moines, Iowa – Living History and More
I spent a week in beautiful Des Moines, IA. We took a twenty-six mile side trip to Perry to see Henry Nelson’s amazing electric machine. The cabinetry is a work of art. Unfortunately no one knows how the machine produces electricity. Henry Nelson died unexpectedly before unveiling his invention. Currently, the current does not flow. While at the museum, we asked for recommendation about a place to eat in town. We were given a few, but chose Carla’s Cafe. It consisted of a dining counter with a few booths and tables. The cook was in the middle of it all and continually chatted with the customers. Both the food and the atmosphere were a delightful experience.
Directly outside of DeMoines there is a living history farm and town. Three working farms show life in the 1700, 1800s, and early 1900s. The 1700 farm shows how the Ioway people lived and what crops they grew. Their wigwams were covered with layers of thatch, keeping the interior temperatures at a comfortable 50ยบ F even during the coldest winter night. The 1800 farm demonstrated the pioneers who settled Iowa. They had planned to live in their log cabin houses for only a few years, but many extended their stay.