Virtual Reward 4.0 - American Gothic
OFF THE ROAD ON U.S. Route 30 in eastern Iowa, hidden by trees and completely unannounced, Iowa’s little-known American Gothic Barn is a fully painted barn coated in color that would make Grant Wood proud.
Wood’s famous painting “American Gothic” is one of the most parodied pieces of art in modern American history. But if you don’t have time to see the real thing at the Art Institute of Chicago, you can see the next best thing in Mt Vernon, Iowa, where a barn-sized rendition of the classic work is hiding on a private farm.
The large replica of Wood’s painting covers the barn’s entire facade. The barn’s sides are painted to depict a bison in a prairie and an image of the Iowan countryside that inspired Wood throughout his life.
The American Gothic Barn wasn’t actually painted by the farmer who owns the property but was created by Mark Benesh, a local middle school art teacher, who was commissioned by the barn’s owner to replicate Wood’s masterpiece.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
**REQUIREMENT** I need to be provided with a 10 page single spaced thesis on the life and history of Grant Wood and his impact on Impressionism and post-Impressionism....JUST KIDDING. To claim a find, this location is so cool and unique, a simple CURRENT picture of you at the location is all that is required along with listing your favorite Grant Wood art piece. No old pictures from this location are allowed.
***Please be respectful of this location while you complete this virtual cache!!***