But Iowans don't pay much mind to the nickname of Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts. They know who the real Duke was. Clyde Morrison, the local druggist, and his wife, Mary, a tiny, lively redhead who hated housework. Priscilla Steenhoek, the manager of the Birthplace, offers no such existentialism. Perhaps because they sometimes fret they are lost between the self-important coasts and seen as part of the great flat middle, Iowans take special pride in parochial landmarks.
West Bend claims to have the largest grotto in the world and Iowa City the smallest.
Schaler bills itself as the Popcorn Capital of the World, and Strawberry Point offers the world's largest sculpted strawberry. Adair residents remind visitors that their town is the home of the West's first train robbery, led by Jesse James. Before the Winterset Chamber of Commerce purchased and restored the Wayne house, and opened it to the public five years ago, the area was promoting itself as the site where the first Delicious Apple was propagated in 1860. It was too late to acquire all the good Wayne memorabilia. The actor, who died in 1979, had already donated his personal collection of Kachina western dolls and his movie spurs, saddle, Colt.