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The four-room house where John Wayne was born 100 years ago is a popular tourist attraction
The four-room house where John Wayne was born 100 years ago is a popular tourist attraction
photo by:Doug Wells

Remembering John Wayne

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Visit www.johnwaynebirthplace.org or call (515) 462-1044 for more information.

by Lisa Lavia Ryan
Years before Marion Robert Morrison became actor John Wayne, he already had a claim to fame in his hometown of Winterset, Iowa. It happened 100 years ago, in the wee hours of May 26, 1907.

“He weighed 13 pounds—the biggest baby in the area!” says Elinor “Buzz” Walters, who has lived in Winterset (pop. 4,768) for nearly 50 years and today guides tours of the house in which the movie-star-to-be was born. The four-room home where Wayne spent his first three years now attracts visitors from around the world.

The John Wayne Birthplace Society, a local non-profit organization, purchased the home in 1980 and opened it to the public a short time later.

“There continues to be a demand to see where he was born, even from younger people,” Walters says. “His movies made such an impression with people that they want to know everything about him, starting with where he came from.”

Tours begin in the home’s kitchen, which looks much like it would have in the early 1900s. Wayne’s pharmacist father, Clyde, and mother, Mary, moved their family to Earlham, 12 miles north of Winterset, when Marion was a toddler because Clyde had purchased a drugstore there. In 1911, the family relocated to Glendale, Calif., where young Marion was nicknamed “Big Duke” by neighbors because he never was seen without his terrier, Little Duke.

“Naturally, he preferred the name ‘Duke’ to the name ‘Marion,’ and it stuck,” Walters says. Once he got his foot in the movie business, Marion changed his name to the more masculine “John Wayne” in the 1930s.

In the home’s parlor and adjoining rooms are hundreds of photographs, posters and other memorabilia featuring the Hollywood actor and his life. Walters is especially fond of a note from former President Ronald Reagan, who visited the birthplace in 1984, five years after Wayne’s death.

“Ronald Reagan went right over and signed the guest book with his address as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.,” she says. “He was probably our most famous visitor.”

The attraction—open seven days a week, year-round (except holidays)—draws visitors from each of the 50 states as well as several countries.

“I’ve always wanted to come here, ever since I knew about it,” says Debbie Durbin of Custer, Wash., who made the trip with her husband, Tim. “I was very close to my grandfather, and he was not impressed by anyone but John Wayne. I remember watching his movies with my grandfather, and being here reminds me of those days.”

Tim Durbin, who worked in the visit during a business trip to LeMars, Iowa, says Wayne represents a “piece of Americana. The persona of John Wayne is huge.”

Walters agrees. “When people come through here it’s almost as if they’re walking into a church,” she says. “For them, there was no bigger hero than John Wayne.”

Lisa Lavia Ryan is a freelance writer in Urbandale, Iowa.

first appeared: 5/20/2007



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I love reading anything in reference to my favorite movie star, John Wayne! This article has a large mistake in it as it refers to him as Marion Robert Morrison. In fact it should have read instead " Marion Michael Morrison" . Just thought you may want to keep the records straight. Love your magizine, it comes each week in my weekly newspaper. Thank you for allowing me to make comment on this article.
JaniceFox
5/25/07 2:03 AM
John Wayne was only big in statue. Wayne was a true american coward.
Remembering John Wayne(story) forgot to remember the WWWll years when Mr Wayne dodged the draft, refused to serve in the military and even used his lawyers to keep him out of the military service when he was classified as 1A. Wayne deserves to be remembered for what he really was- A COWARD.
George Jones
webster
5/27/07 9:54 AM
John Wayne was only big in statue. Wayne was a true american coward.
Remembering John Wayne(story) forgot to remember the WWWll years when Mr Wayne dodged the draft, refused to serve in the military and even used his lawyers to keep him out of the military service when he was classified as 1A. Wayne deserves to be remembered for what he really was- A COWARD.
George Jones
webster
5/27/07 9:54 AM
this guy needs to get his facts right and he doesn't know that the war department told him not to enlist and that he was doing a better job there of keeping up moral and the spirits as well of our home people, and as well as our militaty, and most people don't know it but the Duke wanted to enlist, and the Duke saved my life too and wish he were still around to tell him, he has always stood for justice, thanks Lewis
Lewis
5/28/07 12:05 AM
I was surprised that there was no mention of John Wayne's brother, Bob (Robert) Morrison. My late husband and Bob were brother in laws, as they had both married sisters, prior to my marriage.Bob paid many visits to our home, and he and my husband were best of friends. This all happened in Long Beach, Ca. Before I had met Bob he was a Long Beach lifeguard. His mother also resided in Long Beach. She had remarried after the death of her husband, and was know to me as Mrs. Preen. While her husband and mine would be out fishing on our boat, she was staying with me at our apt. in Long Beach. I had an infant daughter, and she enjoyed visiting.

I have a picture taken in Oct. 1945 with Bob and his wife Georgianna and my to-be husband Edwin Creider. We were at the Villa Riviera celebrating my engagement. Bob was a fine person, and spent lots of time with his nephews, Patrick and Michael Wayne. We had four daughters, and each time I gave birth Bob was there shortly after with a toy for the baby. Very thoughtful.

Thank you for the article.

Jean
Jean
5/30/07 4:10 PM
According to imdb.com, John Wayne was born in 1907. The U.S. got involved in WWII in 1941. This means he would have been 34 years old at the time. During peace time, the military doesn't even accept recruits over 31. Of course all that changes when we go to war. Considering that the majority of new recruits were probably between 21 and 25, I can believe that a 34 year old may have been turned down for military service for medical reasons. I think the whole argument of weather he dodged the draft or used lawyers to fight the government is irrelevant given that he was basically already too old for military service in 1941.
gflorko
6/8/07 8:37 PM

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