Backbone State Park - 1920 & Strawberries

On  May 28, 1920 Backbone State Park near Strawberry Point was officially dedicated making it Iowa’s first and oldest state park.  Located in Delaware County, southeast of Strawberry Point and northeast of Lamont, with a Dundee address, the park was named after the narrow (and very steep) limestone ridge carved out by the river.  That ridge is known as the "Devil's Backbone."  The park is over 2000 acres of nature in the valley of the Maquoketa River is open for fishing, hikers (21 miles of trails), campers (over 100 campsites), and aa myriad of outdoor activities.  Lacking swimming pools in. the area, children in the 1950s and 60s were given swimming lessons in the river that flowed through the park.  All types of water activities share the waterways that run through the park. Views of the park and many available activities can be viewed in a Travel Iowa  video on YouTube.  Several entrances can get visitors into the park.  And if you go in one its easy to miss many other attractions so be sure to pick up a map of the park from the rangers.

During the Great Depression the Civilian Conservation Corps provided work and the park was the site of many CCC historic structures.  Many of the park's stone buildings were constructed by the CCC between 1933 and 1941.  Visitors to the area can tour the CCC museum and view the structures and collections.  Information about visiting can be found on the Iowa Department of Natural Resource's (DNR's) park's website.    Kristi Holl (a longtime Iowa resident now living in San Antonio, Texas) wrote a mystery that takes place in Backbone State Park.  The Haunting of Cabin 13 was first published 1987 by Atheneum; but now out of print.  The book might be available in library collections

On the way to the park, up highway 313, Old Mission Road, from Dubuque to Fort Atkinson (get out your maps) travelers will pass through Strawberry Point, the home of the World's Largest Strawberry.  The history of the town is included on the city's website.  

The large strawberry is located outside of the town's city hall and library.  

That strawberry is approximately 15 feet tall and 12 feet across. The fiberglass sculpture weighs 1430 pounds.  It was created by a local ad agency and erected in 1967.  
Founders originally wanted to name their town Franklin, Iowa but that request was denied as there was already a Franklin, Iowa, in Lee County.  So the founders settled on using a name associated with the location of an original geographic marker for the town.  It seems that early in the area's history  there was a road from Wisconsin to Fort Atkinson Iowa called the Mission Road.  The road was a neutral ground that the United States Army used to move the Winnebago tribe, under their protection, protecting the Winnebagos from the hostile Sac and Fox tribes.  The road was marked with one mile stakes.  One of those stakes was near a prominent patch of wild strawberries and this is where the town was located.  Thus the town of Strawberry Point was incorporated officially as Strawberry Point in December of 1887. 

There are no commercial fields of strawberries in Strawberry Point and the wild patch is long gone.  None are known to grow in the Backbone park area either but the Historic Franklin hotel serves a delicious strawberry shortcake (and strawberry pie) commemorating the town's connection. Travel through Strawberry Point, and make your way to historic Backbone State Park.

Photos on this site originated from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources resources, or the city of Strawberry Point.