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All 2 Winterset Attractions »

Birthplace of John Wayne

Winterset, IA 50273
515-462-1044
Ranked #2 of 2 attractions in Winterset
4.0 of 5 stars 14 Reviews
Type: Historic Sites
Description: A visit to the Duke's four-room boyhood home is a must for his fans.
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14 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    6
    4
    3
    1
    0
Date Rating
Des Moines, Iowa
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 May 2012

Interesting and short tour... not expensive to get in though... I wouldnt travel to see it but if you're in the area - check it out!

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Defiance, Missouri
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 May 2012

I never was a fan of the Duke, although my husband and grandfather are...but she really made him come to life!

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Des Moines, Iowa
Contributor
19 reviews 19 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 April 2012

but nothing to brag about. Sure wouldn't go out of my way to visit.

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Hayward, Wisconsin
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 April 2012

More of a museum to his acting career than to his birthplace. Some original furnishings and molding etc, but the feature is many artifacts from his acting career. Disappointing not to be able to take photos inside.

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See 2 more reviews by nomad21k for Winterset
Huxley, Iowa
Senior Contributor
34 reviews 34 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 April 2012

This is one dinky home, but amazingly what a treasure! It's well taken care of and the docents are friendly, knowledgeable and just plain ol' nice people. I would recommend this to everyone.

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Montello, Wisconsin
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 March 2012

This is a very cool old castle like tower! The tower is located in City Park in Winterset, but be aware, it is at the south end. We didn't know how far it was to the tower so decided to hike back the path. This is a gravel/dirt road that is open in the spring and summer to car travel... More

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Topeka, Kansas
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 February 2012
1
person found this review helpful

I had no idea John Wayne and his family lived in such a tiny home! It was extremely interesting to view all the memorabilia from John Wayne's life. I am very slow about visiting something like this because I want to see, read, and experience everything. The pictures of his family and life experiences were special. I think you see... More

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See 2 more reviews by Ann1969 for Winterset
Ames, Iowa, United States
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 January 2012

It's not a show stopper, but it's a decent educational experience

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Des Moines, Iowa
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 December 2011

Very smal house where John Wayne was born. The admission price is not very much, but I still feel like I wasted my money. There is only a few rooms. It is a self guided tour and there is some John Wayne posters from the movies he made. Over all I was not very impressed

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Vinton, Iowa
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 November 2011

The gift shop is fabulous and the tour guides are very knowledgeable. It's great to have the Wayne family support this attraction also. The townspeople worked very hard to get all the letters from co-stars and other american personalities. This attraction makes me proud to be an Iowan. The city park in Winterset has a fun maze. As well as... More

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