PEARL BUTTON CLAM

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Owner:: Tractorpilot Message this owner
Released:: Sunday, August 24, 2014
Origin:: Illinois, United States
Recently Spotted:: Unknown Location

This is not collectible.

Use TB54DX2 to reference this item.

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Current Goal

I would like to travel west from the Mississippi River at Muscatine, IA to the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco (One of the prettiest places I have ever been). I would like to visit the redwood forests and then go down to the shore near Mendocino. Please post pictures along the way if possible.

About This Item

Pearl Button Clam

Muscatine, IA was, at one time, the button capital of the world with 37% of the world's buttons made in the quiet river town near the turn of the last century. In 1905 1.5 billion buttons were produced annually from several factories in Muscatine. This clamshell is one of many millions taken from the Mississippi and drilled full of holes to produce these so-called pearl buttons. The industry here littered the landscape with these odd souvenirs from around 1900 until the advent of plastic buttons finally extinguished it in the late 1950's. I thought it might be appropriate for this little shell to travel west to the pacific where abalone shells were sometimes used for the same function. Both abalone and freshwater clams have been in population decline for decades due to pollution, ocean acidification, and, in some cases overharvesting.

Gallery Images related to PEARL BUTTON CLAM

Pearl Button Clam

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Tracking History (200mi) View Map

3/29/2016	Durango Dale & P posted a note for it		Visit Log
TB is no longer in the cache. It would be nice if the cacher or cachers would follow up when taking a TB.
3/29/2016	Durango Dale & P marked it as missing		Visit Log
This is an automated message. This Trackable has been marked 'missing' by a cache owner or site administrator. Trackables are marked missing when it is determined that they are no longer located in the cache they are listed in or in the hands of the current holder. Review the most recent logs on this Trackable to learn more information about its current state.
6/12/2015	Durango Dale & P placed it in Where the Lilacs Grow	Iowa - 72.39 miles	Visit Log

6/7/2015	Durango Dale & P retrieved it from Canned Maple	Iowa	Visit Log
Here in my hometown (Washington,IA) was a button factory. The women in town would make extra money at home sewing buttons on a card for the factory. As I was growing up our family used a large empty lot for gardening here in town. We were always finding the old shells with holes in them. Time has change things for sure. Thanks. Will released the trackable shortly.
5/10/2015	listenlindahoney placed it in Canned Maple	Iowa - 42.16 miles	Visit Log
Dropped in Canned Maple
4/5/2015	listenlindahoney retrieved it from Appanoose County Black Diamond	Iowa	Visit Log
cool hiding spot
10/20/2014	rustybottoms placed it in Appanoose County Black Diamond	Iowa - 108.82 miles	Visit Log

9/21/2014	rustybottoms retrieved it from GIANT NANO	Illinois	Visit Log
found it and will be moving it along shortly thanks
8/27/2014	Tractorpilot placed it in GIANT NANO	Illinois	Visit Log
A new bug of mine dropped in my favorite cache! Move it on!
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