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DAY 6 - GRINNELL TO CORALVILLE PATTERSON IOWA VALLEY RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
TRADING POST AMANA METEOR
The Patterson Trading Post was In 1875, the Great Iowa Meteor
located on the Iowa River about a mile (also known as the Detonating Meteor
from South Amana along the Iowa Val- or Amana Meteor) showered over the
ley Scenic Byway, and was a center Amana Colonies near Homestead. Over
of trade with the Meskwaki villages of 800 pounds of the meteorite was recov-
Chiefs Poweshiek and Wacoshashe from ered including several pieces weighing
1839–1843. At least one Meskwaki over 50 pounds. One of the largest
village, with an estimated population pieces is currently displayed at The
of nearly 1000 people, was located Amana Heritage Museum in the village
nearby. The village has not yet been of Amana. Visit http://www.amanaheri-
archaeologically identified, however an tage.org/ for more information.
archaeological survey of the trading post
area, sponsored by Iowa Valley Resource
Conservation and Development, Amana
Colonies Land Use District, and Amana
Heritage Society, is scheduled for later
this year. This project may shed some
light on the whereabouts of this village
and enable its long-term preservation.
Drawing of a trading post in Iowa. The 74-pound meteor that fell near Home-
stead in 1875.
