PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 147 



Only until recently has this attractive little village been visited by 

 the tourist, and since the advent of the automobile, many thousands tour 

 from Bellevue, the scene of the historic "Bellevue War" to Dubuque via 

 Tete des Morts the main charm of the drive. 



Due credit must be given Harper & Bros., New York publishers, for 

 bringing this section into the limelight and by reason of their extensive 

 write up some years ago, was one of the main incentives to promote 

 tourist travel in this beautiful and quaint village. 



This village has peculiarities strictly its own. The houses are adobu, 

 each separate and distinct in itself, no partition walls whatever, with a 

 generous garden patch and vineyard. 



The church (Roman Catholic) and convent are located on a high hill, 

 the twelve stations of the cross being brought into bold relief by reason 

 of the absence of foliage from the hill, and across the valley is the 

 Lutheran church which protests, but frowns not, but they beckon kindly 

 to each other, for the people live in peace and amity. 



The people of eastern Iowa and elsewhere are just beginning to awaken 

 to the priceless little gem in our midst and it is ever to be hoped that 

 care and foresight will preserve this historical antique from vandalism 

 and the restlessness of modern day methods. 



St. Donatus or Tete des Morts village should be preserved and not al- 

 lowed some few years hence to be merely a myth or a memory! 



It is historical ground where Hennepin, La Salle, La Motte, La Fevre 

 and other white men first set foot on Iowa soil the home of Iowa's first 

 white settlers, the burial ground of the Winnebagoes, a tribe only men- 

 tioned now, but once a large nation. Many of the marks and monuments 

 are distinctly visible at this time, the home of Potosi and Peosta and a 

 few Black Hawks forming a retreat and hiding place when pursued and 

 hounded by the whites. 



It is lavishly aided by nature with a vast and changing variety of 

 scenery, rocks, hills, springs, creeks, valleys and rivers which ever pre- 

 serve their originality and are not subject to duplications. 



It is ever to be regretted that Longfellow overlooked this treasure 

 ground ,and failed to immortalize it, so rich in tradition and history and 

 attraction, and given preference to many other places not nearly as his- 

 torical or attractive or by nature beautiful. 



PARK SITES ALONG UPPER DES MOINES VALLEY. 

 By James H. Lees, Geologist. 



At a time when the establishment of state parks is a prominent subject 

 of discussion among lovers of nature and those who are interested in the 

 conservation and improvement of our resources, both tangible and in- 

 tangible, it is natural that attention be directed toward the central and 

 chief watercourse of the state in the search for suitable sites for recrea- 

 tion centers. So the question arises as to the possibilities for lo>cating 

 parks, state, district, or county, along the valley of Des Moines river. A 



