As Mississippi river towns go McGregor, Iowa has seen its wild times in the past. The area was a haven for ancient Indians, early explorers, soldiers along an 1800’s military road, the flamboyant riverboat gambler and circus entrepreneurs it was also the small town I peddled on my tricycle when I was 5 years old.

 

 

Detours in the main highway, and a modern gambling boat in Marquette, Iowa, the next town up, had threatened to take all but the town’s pride.  Fortunately new residents, that love the history, have moved in to revive McGregor.  One such couple is Jim and Linda Boeke, proprietors of River Junction Trade Co. a manufacturer and dealer in 19^th Century Dry Goods.  On the main street side-by-side buildings have been restored to hold the women’s and the men’s collection for this company which sells to movie and television production companies and civil war re-enactors looking for recreations of the “real McCoy”.  Jim told us that they do most of their business over the internet and by catalog, and that the stores are mainly a hobby.  A visitor could walk in at the 21^st century and stroll out looking every bit the part of the 19^th century – authentic right down to their skivvies!

 

To order one of their catalogues for $10.00 (well worth it) go to www.riverjunction.com

or ring them up at (563)873-2387.  They do take 21^st century plastic.

 

Now, as for the wild times…in school we were taught that an ancient people constructed the extensive mounds that are now a part of Effigy Mounds National Monument Park; Zebulon Pike climbed a river bluff for a better view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers and thus gave us the first Pike’s Peak; the 1800’s soldiers traveled the early military road that wound from Dubuque, Iowa to Fort Crawford across the river in Wisconsin; and evidence remains of the river boat era with buildings named for men such as Diamond Jim Brady.  Finally tales are still told about the two brothers, while spending the summer vacation with a relative, decided to pass the time by putting on a circus (price of admission 1 pin!) thus the first Ringling Brothers Circus – as un official as it was, the residence of McGregor still clung on to these brushes with the past as our reason for importance.

 

As a BlueHighways find I would rate it a 9 with loads of Bed and Breakfasts, nice restaurants (Twisted Chicken), antique shops, and of course River Junction Trade Company.  Nice sidewalks for riding tricycles on also!

 

See you on the BlueHighways!

Denise

adventures@bluehighwaystv.com