Winterset

Town and administrative headquarters of Madison County, south-central Iowa; population (1996 est) 4,200. It is a trade centre in a wheat and livestock producing region.

The first courthouse was erected in 1857. This building was replaced in 1868–69 but the second courthouse was burnt down in 1875. The present courthouse, with an elaborate dome, was built on the same site. Designed by Andrew Piquenard, architect of the capitol buildings of the states of Iowa and Illinois, it is on the national register of historic places, as is the North River stone schoolhouse of 1874. Winterset Arts Centre is in a house from 1854, which was a safe haven on the underground railroad, an escape route for runaway slaves. Winterset was the birthplace in 1907 of the actor John Wayne. The birthplace house, restored to its 1907 state, is open to the public. Winterset hosts the annual Covered Bridge Festival.