American Gothic House

The American Gothic House is a residential building in the small town of Eldon, Iowa, featuring pointed windows, ornamental carvings, and a steeply sloped roof. The upper pointed arch opening shapes the front and gives the facade its defining character.

A carpenter erected the building in 1882 and used wood instead of the stone walls common in Europe to reproduce Gothic forms. This building method spread across the rural Midwest and produced affordable versions of European church architecture.

The building became known after Grant Wood chose it for a painting created in 1930, now one of the most widely referenced works. Visitors can pose in front of the house with props to recreate their own version of the famous image.

A visitor center offers background information on construction methods and provides objects for photography. Most guests spend about half an hour on site and use the outdoor area for pictures.

The artist saw the building during a drive through Iowa and made only a sketch of the facade before completing the painting in his studio. The two figures in the image came from his imagination and never stood in front of the house.

Location: Eldon

Inception: 1880s

Architectural style: Carpenter Gothic

Address: 300 American Gothic Street

GPS coordinates: 40.92140,-92.21360

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22