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Destination Heartland: A Guide to Discovering the Midwest's Remarkable Past
The Midwest's place at the crossroads of the nation makes it a rich travel destination for anyone interested in the history and heritage of the United States. Cynthia Clampitt's guide to heartland historical sites invites readers to live the past, whether it's watching a battlefield reenactment or wandering the grounds of an ancient Native American city. From the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to the Chinese American Museum, Clampitt uncovers the fascinating stories behind these quintessentially Midwestern places while offering valuable tips for getting the most out of your visit. She also ventures beyond the typical scope of guidebooks to include historic restaurants, small-town museums, and other overlooked gems perfect for turning that quick day trip into a leisurely itinerary. An informative handbook and introduction to the Midwest's colorful past, Destination Heartland provides travelers with a knowledgeable companion on the highways and backroads of history. States covered in the book: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2022
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Clampitt
16 books14 followersI am a writer and author, but I'm also a popular speaker, because I like talking at least as much as I like writing. My favorite topics are travel, food, history, and geography. Destination Heartland: A Guide to Discovering the Midwest's Remarkable Past is my newest work. Based on discoveries I made as I drove around the region, largely while researching my previous books, it was my way of sharing with others the things that delighted me. Of course, I couldn't see everything, but the book does include suggestions of how to make your own discoveries.
My previous book, Pigs, Pork, and Heartland Hogs: From Wild Boar to Baconfest, was released in October 2018. Like my previous book, Midwest Maize, Pigs is also a food history. I love the surprises and connections to our lives of food history, and it has become one of my favorite fields of study in the last 30 years.
My first book, Waltzing Australia, recounts my six-month, 20,000-mile journey around and across the land Down Under. It is crammed with information, as well as more than a few adventures. In 2010, it won the Mom's Choice Award for travel writing.
The blog listed below is the one I created for Waltzing Australia, and it continues to feature information and insights into Australia, as well as sharing adventures from return trips. But that's not my only blog. MidwestMaize.com focuses on my travels in the American Midwest, as I continue to research the factors that helped shape the region. I also have a blog titled The World's Fare (http://www.theworldsfare.org) for food history, food trivia, and travel to places other than Australia and the Midwest (37 countries and counting, so a fair bit of information there, as well).
For those who are interested in my speaking, the topics include histories of rum, corn, pigs, and the spice trade, plus travels in Australia and Mongolia. (And the spice trade presentation is actually kind of a hybrid -- spice trade history plus my travels in southern India.) You can find more info about the topics and where I'm presenting on my website.
Hope you'll join me for some of the fun, surprising adventure that both food history and world travel offer.
My previous book, Pigs, Pork, and Heartland Hogs: From Wild Boar to Baconfest, was released in October 2018. Like my previous book, Midwest Maize, Pigs is also a food history. I love the surprises and connections to our lives of food history, and it has become one of my favorite fields of study in the last 30 years.
My first book, Waltzing Australia, recounts my six-month, 20,000-mile journey around and across the land Down Under. It is crammed with information, as well as more than a few adventures. In 2010, it won the Mom's Choice Award for travel writing.
The blog listed below is the one I created for Waltzing Australia, and it continues to feature information and insights into Australia, as well as sharing adventures from return trips. But that's not my only blog. MidwestMaize.com focuses on my travels in the American Midwest, as I continue to research the factors that helped shape the region. I also have a blog titled The World's Fare (http://www.theworldsfare.org) for food history, food trivia, and travel to places other than Australia and the Midwest (37 countries and counting, so a fair bit of information there, as well).
For those who are interested in my speaking, the topics include histories of rum, corn, pigs, and the spice trade, plus travels in Australia and Mongolia. (And the spice trade presentation is actually kind of a hybrid -- spice trade history plus my travels in southern India.) You can find more info about the topics and where I'm presenting on my website.
Hope you'll join me for some of the fun, surprising adventure that both food history and world travel offer.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 5, 2022
This book was more than I expected. The author's love and enthusiasm for the Midwest comes out through the entire book. She explains why this area is important to explore and know its history. As she describes landmarks we can visit, she is detailed about the sites provide. This is a great resource to look at for traveling or even students wanting to research more. The author is thorough throughout the book.
June 7, 2022
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was around 2.5 stars for me.
While I liked the concept, the book felt repetitive and high-level at the same time. This is really a journey through the history of the Midwest starting with colonization. There is some touching on the history of Indigenous tribes in the area, but not much. The book is organized by historical thing - museum, park, restaurant, etc. throughout the Midwest. There's an emphasis on some of the first-settled areas in the area with information about each historical location or thing.
This is maybe a good book for history buffs who are interested in the region.
This book was around 2.5 stars for me.
While I liked the concept, the book felt repetitive and high-level at the same time. This is really a journey through the history of the Midwest starting with colonization. There is some touching on the history of Indigenous tribes in the area, but not much. The book is organized by historical thing - museum, park, restaurant, etc. throughout the Midwest. There's an emphasis on some of the first-settled areas in the area with information about each historical location or thing.
This is maybe a good book for history buffs who are interested in the region.
February 14, 2022
The Midwest is so rich in history and so intriguing. What’s even better is seeing history in real life and experiencing it for yourself. Destination Heartland is a wonderful book that is a map into Midwestern history that you, yourself can explore and live. It is very informative and tells you some of the Midwest’s story. I’ll personally be utilizing this book on our next Midwestern road trip.
Shoutout to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest, completely unbiased review.
Shoutout to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest, completely unbiased review.
April 30, 2022
Cynthia Clampitt’s Destination Heartland is the type of informative travel book one might logically expect from a university press. It’s not a list of places to see arranged by state and complete with addresses, prices, and hours. Instead, it’s a guide to learning and experiencing the history of one often overlooked region—the American Midwest.
Clampitt focuses on a new way of viewing history in each of her chapters. Chapter 1 provides a brief historical overview, speaking of Native Americans, traders and trappers, pioneers and settlers. Chapters 2-5 cover living history and open-air museums; vintage sites such as historic homes, frontier forts, and archaeological sites; larger sites that merit an extended stop to wander and explore, such as sites with multiple buildings or both indoor and outdoor components, and historic towns with multiple sites worth visiting; and places where one can experience history more first-hand, sometimes by participating in it oneself. This fifth chapter centers on military reenactments, frontier rendezvous, participating (for example, helping with sails on an 18th commercial sailing vessel on the Great Lakes), or volunteering. In Chapter 6, Clampitt introduces readers to historic sleeping and dining experiences, and in Chapter 7, she discusses a variety of ways those interested in historic travel adventures can discover more places than she can include in one book.
Although the author has chosen to arrange her material by ways for experiencing Midwestern history and offers enough history about each place to provide an idea of the place’s history and importance, she provides an appendix that lists places by state, including the page number where the reader can find that place discussed. Her chosen approach makes more interesting reading, but the appendix would be helpful for anyone planning a trip to one or two particular Midwestern states. Since Clampitt focuses on history, a brief second appendix lists Midwestern states by date of statehood.
Clampitt clearly explains her focus at the outset, pointing out that she makes no attempt to include non-historic sites. This is not a book for those readers who want to experience natural geographical wonders. Instead, in the author’s words, “Destination Heartland is a celebration of what is here and what has happened, as well as why it matters to Midwesterners, to the nation, and to the world.”
Although the book includes some black and white photos and is not intended as a coffee table book, more photos of the type used could help bring the history to life
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Illinois Press for an advance reader copy of this valuable addition to travel books.
Clampitt focuses on a new way of viewing history in each of her chapters. Chapter 1 provides a brief historical overview, speaking of Native Americans, traders and trappers, pioneers and settlers. Chapters 2-5 cover living history and open-air museums; vintage sites such as historic homes, frontier forts, and archaeological sites; larger sites that merit an extended stop to wander and explore, such as sites with multiple buildings or both indoor and outdoor components, and historic towns with multiple sites worth visiting; and places where one can experience history more first-hand, sometimes by participating in it oneself. This fifth chapter centers on military reenactments, frontier rendezvous, participating (for example, helping with sails on an 18th commercial sailing vessel on the Great Lakes), or volunteering. In Chapter 6, Clampitt introduces readers to historic sleeping and dining experiences, and in Chapter 7, she discusses a variety of ways those interested in historic travel adventures can discover more places than she can include in one book.
Although the author has chosen to arrange her material by ways for experiencing Midwestern history and offers enough history about each place to provide an idea of the place’s history and importance, she provides an appendix that lists places by state, including the page number where the reader can find that place discussed. Her chosen approach makes more interesting reading, but the appendix would be helpful for anyone planning a trip to one or two particular Midwestern states. Since Clampitt focuses on history, a brief second appendix lists Midwestern states by date of statehood.
Clampitt clearly explains her focus at the outset, pointing out that she makes no attempt to include non-historic sites. This is not a book for those readers who want to experience natural geographical wonders. Instead, in the author’s words, “Destination Heartland is a celebration of what is here and what has happened, as well as why it matters to Midwesterners, to the nation, and to the world.”
Although the book includes some black and white photos and is not intended as a coffee table book, more photos of the type used could help bring the history to life
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Illinois Press for an advance reader copy of this valuable addition to travel books.
March 2, 2022
This is a history and travel guide for the Heartland of America. It covers Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. I have been to each of these states but have only visited a few of the sites mentioned. This will appeal to the traveler who loves small towns, history and historical sites and niche interests like reenactments. The chapters are: Defining the Midwest, Witnessing History (Living history venues), Perusing History (Vintage sites, historic homes, museums), Exploring History (Historic towns), Experiencing History (reenacting, volunteering), Eating and Sleeping History (Historic Inns and Dining venues). This is well researched with a lot of information provided.
For me there are a few drawbacks resulting in a lower rating. There are some photos but only in black and white. I would like more photos and color would enhance the book (and sadly increase the costs). There are no maps. You would to rely on the internet or other travel books for a travel plan. The information is given by topic so this isn’t a book that you can easily lay out a road trip through a particular area. There is no information given on admissions or hours of operation for locations. They do have suggest visiting local information centers to seek out deals in the area.
My feelings overall are mixed. It gave me new ideas for places to visit and things to do but it is not the most user friendly requiring other resources beyond the book alone. This is the kind of book I would like for own state and surrounding areas. I like visiting living history sites, historic homes and local festivals. Things that I can do on weekends. Thank you to NetGalley and University of Illinois Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
For me there are a few drawbacks resulting in a lower rating. There are some photos but only in black and white. I would like more photos and color would enhance the book (and sadly increase the costs). There are no maps. You would to rely on the internet or other travel books for a travel plan. The information is given by topic so this isn’t a book that you can easily lay out a road trip through a particular area. There is no information given on admissions or hours of operation for locations. They do have suggest visiting local information centers to seek out deals in the area.
My feelings overall are mixed. It gave me new ideas for places to visit and things to do but it is not the most user friendly requiring other resources beyond the book alone. This is the kind of book I would like for own state and surrounding areas. I like visiting living history sites, historic homes and local festivals. Things that I can do on weekends. Thank you to NetGalley and University of Illinois Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2022
I was disappointed in this book, frankly, because my home state of Indiana is not well-represented (others are lacking, too - see below). None of the state's National Historic Landmarks are represented here (of which there are several, which can be toured), nor are any of the properties owned by the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites or Indiana Landmarks, both entities that have contributed a great deal in the past 30 years to the contemporary interpretation of the state. Indiana was actually settled basically from the south up...so a lot of history is in southern Indiana. All of the destinations listed here are Indianapolis and north. Here's a list of what could have been included:
Angel Mounds (mid-Mississippian archaeological site and NHL)
New Harmony, IN (site of two Utopian societies in the early 19th century and NHL)
Madison, IN (130+ blocks of historic architecture on the National Register, including several NHLs)
West Baden Springs Hotel (restored turn of the century domed hotel and National Historic Landmark Hotel)
TC Steele State Historic Site (historic artist's retreat and home, between Nashville and Bloomington, IN)
That's just off the top of my head. Wanted to like it, but what was left out in my home state just has me wondering what was left out in Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio (they each only had one more than Indiana).
Angel Mounds (mid-Mississippian archaeological site and NHL)
New Harmony, IN (site of two Utopian societies in the early 19th century and NHL)
Madison, IN (130+ blocks of historic architecture on the National Register, including several NHLs)
West Baden Springs Hotel (restored turn of the century domed hotel and National Historic Landmark Hotel)
TC Steele State Historic Site (historic artist's retreat and home, between Nashville and Bloomington, IN)
That's just off the top of my head. Wanted to like it, but what was left out in my home state just has me wondering what was left out in Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio (they each only had one more than Indiana).
April 10, 2022
Ms. Clampitt has a decent book here. It covers multiple states , often referred to as “the Midwest” Iowa , Illinois ,Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin andMinnesota .
There are museums, old functioning hotels, state parks, restaurants that are in the original old building, and of course , small , charming towns.
Living in Iowa, I was very familiar with many of her selections: the John Deere pavilion, Bill Cody museum and many others. I can say she is spot on in her description of those place I am familiar with and expect she is just as accurate with the ones I am not familiar with..
This won’t be a book for everyone though. If you are looking for “roadside attractions” such as water parks or theme parks …
Those aren’t here. This is a history trip. So , if you really like history, seeing how things used to be, want to learn about, say the Pony Express, this is your book. If you want to go to Six Flags, it is not.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
I do recommend.
There are museums, old functioning hotels, state parks, restaurants that are in the original old building, and of course , small , charming towns.
Living in Iowa, I was very familiar with many of her selections: the John Deere pavilion, Bill Cody museum and many others. I can say she is spot on in her description of those place I am familiar with and expect she is just as accurate with the ones I am not familiar with..
This won’t be a book for everyone though. If you are looking for “roadside attractions” such as water parks or theme parks …
Those aren’t here. This is a history trip. So , if you really like history, seeing how things used to be, want to learn about, say the Pony Express, this is your book. If you want to go to Six Flags, it is not.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
I do recommend.
June 2, 2022
Reading the book description gives one the impression that this is travel writing, but it is in fact, a travel guide, and a not a particularly good one at that.
For starters, the book is organized by type of thing (museum, living history, etc.), which not only makes the readers' eyes glaze over as one cries "Oh not _another_ museum" but also robs the reader of the ability to get a feel for a state by what is offered there. (There is an appendix at the end but that comes too little too late.) Furthermore, the descriptions of each location are both too long and too short: too short because they just barely touch on what to see in each location, but too long because there is a lot of "Facebook update" level travel writing (as in, "I saw this, it was cool.") Moreover, for a travel guide, there are remarkably few pictures or maps in this book.
On the whole, while I did get some great ideas for places to visit, I found Destination Heartland a sad disappointment.
For starters, the book is organized by type of thing (museum, living history, etc.), which not only makes the readers' eyes glaze over as one cries "Oh not _another_ museum" but also robs the reader of the ability to get a feel for a state by what is offered there. (There is an appendix at the end but that comes too little too late.) Furthermore, the descriptions of each location are both too long and too short: too short because they just barely touch on what to see in each location, but too long because there is a lot of "Facebook update" level travel writing (as in, "I saw this, it was cool.") Moreover, for a travel guide, there are remarkably few pictures or maps in this book.
On the whole, while I did get some great ideas for places to visit, I found Destination Heartland a sad disappointment.
February 11, 2022
I received this book on netgalley in return for an honest review.
Cynthia Clampitt's passion for the Midwest and it's history shine through in this travel guide. I personally wanted to see a bit more of the author behind the book rather than the slightly dry descriptions of the different areas, but maybe that's a preference for travelogue over guide book. The history elements are certainly interesting, and I learnt a lot about States that, as Cynthia herself says, are slightly forgotten about at times when compared to more fashionable areas on either coast.
I'd also have preferred more focus on the people rather than just the places.
I'd recommend the book for anyone either in the Midwest or planning a visit, but otherwise I'd perhaps steer clear.
Cynthia Clampitt's passion for the Midwest and it's history shine through in this travel guide. I personally wanted to see a bit more of the author behind the book rather than the slightly dry descriptions of the different areas, but maybe that's a preference for travelogue over guide book. The history elements are certainly interesting, and I learnt a lot about States that, as Cynthia herself says, are slightly forgotten about at times when compared to more fashionable areas on either coast.
I'd also have preferred more focus on the people rather than just the places.
I'd recommend the book for anyone either in the Midwest or planning a visit, but otherwise I'd perhaps steer clear.
February 13, 2022
My opinion likely colored by my expectation that this was going to be more travel writing than travel guide. That said as a denizen of the Midwest whose spent no small amount of time at a number of the sites covered in the book, Cynthia nevertheless managed to introduce me to a number of places I had no idea existed and that I rushed to add to my to-visit list.
While her eye for places of interest is keen, I was not always engaged with the descriptions of her visits. It definitely serves more as a travel guide/reference than a book to immerse yourself in. That said, I found the short history of the region that begins the book to an excellent, succinct overview that I enjoyed immensely.
(Review copy obtained through NetGalley)
While her eye for places of interest is keen, I was not always engaged with the descriptions of her visits. It definitely serves more as a travel guide/reference than a book to immerse yourself in. That said, I found the short history of the region that begins the book to an excellent, succinct overview that I enjoyed immensely.
(Review copy obtained through NetGalley)
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April 27, 2022This book gives a little bit of history of the Midwest as well as providing different sites that you can visit. She does tell a little bit about the sites in the book as well as providing some of the background of the sites. She also tells you how to find historical sites that are open to visitors that one can visit when they will be in the area. I would recommend this book for any history buffs who either live or plan to visit the Midwest. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review from NetGalley.
May 6, 2022
Clampitt provides a quick overview of some places to visit and tour in the 12 states she labels as part of the Midwest. It’s not a comprehensive list, but serves to highlight many of the delightful historical attractions that are often overlooked. I have visited many of the sites she covers in the book so it was interesting to read her synopsis and recommendations.
I appreciate her writing this book since I have been a midwesterner for most of my life.
Thanks to NetGalley and the U of I press for the early read.
I appreciate her writing this book since I have been a midwesterner for most of my life.
Thanks to NetGalley and the U of I press for the early read.
December 18, 2022
A very useful travel guide to America’s mid-west, covering many historic sites and attractions. It’s not comprehensive, as the author tells us, but a compilation of those places she has personally visited on her travels. Not a book to read straight through (unless you like that sort of reading) but certainly one to dip in and out of, and certainly one I will refer to if I ever get a chance to travel in the area.
June 16, 2022
Great resource for people living in the Midwest who don’t want to travel to the coasts for vacation. Definitely perfect for history buffs, since all of the places focus on old buildings, history museums, etc. I loved the format of this book. The author writes about their trip to each location and includes little descriptions. I would have preferred for some maps to be included, but the pictures are nice too. Great range of information. Looking forward to doing some *local* travel!
September 2, 2022
What a fun and interesting read about the Midwest. I loved the thorough explanations of the area and side notes. I have been to several of these sites and the author certainly made me want to add more to my future travel plans!
September 28, 2022
This book gave me a lot of good ideas for my travels. It misses some places well worth visiting. For example, there was just a brief mention of Lindsborg, KS, but overall good and personal reviews. Her love of history and travel makes at interesting.
November 9, 2021
Come with me to visit remarkable places and learn wonderful things across the Greater Midwest -- the most under-appreciated region in the U.S. So many surprises.
July 24, 2022
Very interesting!
August 1, 2022
This was an interesting book. It contained information that I had not seen before. Easy to read and understand. Several new places to check out.
August 3, 2022
Nothing terribly new. Basically just a quick index of some common Midwestern historical sites, though an incomplete one. I noticed several obvious sites in Missouri were missing.
June 6, 2022
Tremendous resource of smart/education Midwest destinations. The ARC didn't have many pictures which is a huge negative to me. HOWEVER - the information on each location was just outstanding! As someone who plans travel, I was blown away by the information.
Great resource for campers & roadtrippers!
I received an ARC from Netgalley to help prepare my honest review.
Great resource for campers & roadtrippers!
I received an ARC from Netgalley to help prepare my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews