The cache is placed in the Mines of Spain Recreation area with the permission of the Iowa DNR and the Cemetery owner.
Park in the designated area and go to the initial coordinates to find the location of the final. You need to walk to the final. DO NOT park on the road or its shoulders and DO NOT drive down the nearby service road.
You DO NOT have to go inside the fence to find the final.
The Civil War Soldier is Corporal David Hollingsworth Preston of Company E, 21st Iowa Infantry. He died from wounds suffered at the Battle of Vicksburg and his gravestone is the one with the small American Flag next to it. He is buried in the Preston Family Cemetery; along with his parents who were the first settlers (circa 1835) on the land we now call The Mines of Spain. Their homestead was called “Cottage Hill”. Iowa’s second oldest terquasquicentennial farm still remains after 180 years. The cemetery owner has much more information on the history of the family and the land in the Mines of Spain. If you have a serious interest in this please contact the CO. You can also visit the displays in the E B Lyons Nature Center.