Groundbreaking ceremony held for Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center project

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Tuesday, November 3, Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett welcomed a crowd of approximately 80 people to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center to be constructed just south of Lansing on the Columbus Bridge property along the Great River Road. The Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center, a three-story, 10,000 square foot building situated between Village Creek and Columbus Road, will offer experiences and exhibits reflecting the  cultural, recreational, environmental and  historical significance of the Driftless Area, which encompasses northeast Iowa, southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and portions of northwest Illinois.
This location is known as the Driftless Area because of its unique topography including deep river valleys surrounded by limestone bluffs. The area was surrounded but never covered by a continental glacier, consequently having no glacial deposits. This lack of glaciation created topography unlike any other in the Midwest.
Janett introduced dignitaries present from several city and county boards, including the Allamakee County Conservation Board and Foundation Board, Allamakee County Board of Supervisors, Main Street Lansing, City of Lansing officials, Allamakee Tourism & Economic Development, Eastern Allamakee Community School District administrators, and project fundraising committee co-chairs. He thanked everyone for all the support that the various boards and individuals have offered since the beginning seeds of this project began in the late 1990s until now, including Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development. He also recognized past boards of supervisors and conservation board members who were instrumental in helping bring the project to fruition.
Speakers included Jane Regan, Iowa Mississippi River Parkway Commission and Conservation Foundation Board member; Larry Schellhammer, chairman of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors; and Mike Brennan, Mayor of Lansing. The groundbreaking concluded with a blessing by Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg, honorary co-chair of the campaign. The observation deck on the building will also be named for Msgr. Lechtenberg, who grew up and worked on the Mississippi River at Lansing as a young man.
Four Kee High School students were chosen as the official ground breakers for the building because the Center is looking forward to the future of Allamakee County and it is believed today’s students represent that future. Kee High School seniors Erin Rud, Nate Wood, Josh Yeoman and Ellie Cooper are the executive board members of the Kee High School Student Council and performed the groundbreaking honors.
Regan set the stage by creating an historical montage of what experiences the Mississippi River has offered throughout history, taking audience members through the days of glaciers, steamboats and fishing. The building will be nestled in the bluffs with a beautiful view of the Mississippi River. She described some of the interpretive displays designed by Split Rock studios, located north of St. Paul, MN. The interpretive displays will appeal to all ages and will provide visitors with a strong sense of this special place, the Driftless Area.
School children will utilize  the center for hands-on educational experiences. There will be a handicap accessible classroom on the lower level which will offer opportunities for small group gatherings. A display of the four glaciation periods will show how the glaciers split and moved around this area. In addition, wildlife displays, animal habitats, topographical maps and interactive designs will engage every visitor.
Regan stated that a 2013 survey of visitors and residents cited museums as being the most requested tourism stop, followed by more access to the river, more overlooks, and more places to stop and enjoy the river.
The Driftless Center will be open year-round, seven days a week to fulfill that need. Museum visitors will stay in the region longer and, thus, it is felt will significantly impact the growth of the economy. Allamakee County ranks 57th in the state of Iowa in size and population. Last year, visitors spent $40.12 million in Allamakee County, which provided $1.49 million in tax revenue. In terms of ranking for the most visited destinations in Iowa, that ranks Allamakee County at number 28 out of 99 counties.
Regan also recognized other representatives from the Mississippi River Parkway, Edith Pfeffer from Clinton and Sherry Kwamme from Ferryville WI. Pfeffer presented a check to the project as a donation from the Parkway Commission.
Schellhammer expressed pride in being a member of the Allamakee County Supervisors who have served as this project actually begins. Schellhammer stated, “Those who are blessed are those who are asked to give back; asked to give back to the future of the county. Displays will preserve legacy and history; we can be stewards by giving back to the community. This project is about the future. It is about the kids. We will pass along what is best to the next generation, as represented by the high schoolers who are here to turn the first shovel of dirt. This project began with the question, ‘What if?...’ That has brought us to the point we are at today. What does this project say to our kids? It represents a change in attitude. Good attitude is infectious. This new positive attitude will lift the community up. It says ‘Yes, we can, we will, we should and we are doing something.’ The people are in place, the ideas are in place. Now we need to see this to its completion. Fundraising for the final stages is critical. We can do this, we should do this. We will do this.”
Mayor Brennan praised the County Commission, Board of Supervisors and all the staff for their vision, persistence and passion. Brennan compared the passion of those involved to his alumni passion for Iowa State football. He said that with any great endeavor comes obstacles that need to be overcome, but with passion and persistence, the vision will become reality. Brennan stated, “We have to take advantage of every opportunity that comes along because we may never get the opportunity again. I want to be a part of those who make that vision happen. This is our opportunity to do something that might only happen once in a generation. This project will show the future that we care enough to preserve our legacy for them.”
Before the actual first shovelful of dirt was turned for the center, Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg offered a blessing centered on the theme “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” from Psalms.
Members of the Allamakee County Conservation Board include Dennis Blocker, Marilyn Clark, Jeanie Carroll, Dennis Koenig and Bill Moody. Conservation Foundation Board members responsible for fund raising for the Center include Dennis Blocker, Jeanie Carroll, David Duncklee, James Janett, Gary Krapfl, Jane M. Regan, Clem Schulte, Bill Shafer and Larry Shellhammer.
Campaign Leadership Campaign Co-chairs are Jane M. Regan and John Verdon, with Honorary Campaign Chairs being Mark Farley, Dan Gable, Gary and Karen Galema, and Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg.
Major Grant contributors to the project thus far include a REAP Grant, Allamakee County Community Foundation, National Scenic Byway Grants, Stream Bank Stabilization Grant, and Allamakee County Board of Supervisors. The Design and Build team includes the following: Martin Gardner Architecture from Marion/StrawberryPoint designed the building, with Fehr Graham of West Union serving as the engineering firm. Split Rock Studios of Minnesota will design the displays. The main contractors for the building will be Cresco Builders, Skyline Construction for civil work and  Shawver Well  for the geothermal system, with numerous sub-contractors.