Southeast Iowa Freedom Rock Tour

This Memorial Day, our Iowa Freedom Rock journey continued through southeast Iowa, where we visited the Freedom Rocks in Jefferson, Van Buren, Lee, Des Moines, Henry, and Louisa Counties.

One thing quickly became apparent during this trip — Civil War history runs deep throughout Southeast Iowa. Many of the stories featured on these rocks highlighted local soldiers, Medal of Honor recipients, military units, and communities that played important roles during the Civil War and beyond.

My kids standing next to the Lee County Freedom Rock
Memorial Day 2026

East Central Iowa Freedom Rock Tour

One of our family's favorite ways to explore the state of Iowa is by visiting the different county Iowa Freedom Rocks. All 99 counties in the state have a uniquely painted mural, showcasing local heroes and stories honoring area veterans painted by Iowa artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II. Here is a look at all of the county Freedom Rocks located in Eastern Iowa.

Central Iowa Freedom Rock Tour

One of our family's favorite ways to explore the state of Iowa is by visiting the different county Iowa Freedom Rocks. All 99 counties in the state have a uniquely painted mural, showcasing local heroes and stories honoring area veterans painted by Iowa artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II. Here is a look at all of the county Freedom Rocks located in Central Iowa.

North Central Iowa Freedom Rock Tour

Our family loves a good road trip and one of our family's traditions is to visit the different county Iowa Freedom Rocks across the state.  By the end of 2020, all 99 counties will have unique painted murals, showcasing local heroes and stories honoring area veterans painted by Iowa artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II.  Here is a look at all of the county Freedom Rocks located in North Central Iowa.

Freedom Rock Tour

It's the first of June and this is usually when I announce my new Comments for a Cause program.  But this month, I'm going to change things up and instead of choosing a new cause, I'm going to keep with donating $0.50 for every comment made on my blog to the Franklin County Freedom Rock.

Our family has gotten so excited about the Freedom Rock coming to our local county, that we have started going on our own Freedom Rock Tour in our local area so far, but are looking forward to checking out different county Freedom Rocks around the state of Iowa throughout the summer.

We've taken car rides twice in the last month to check out neighboring county Freedom Rocks.  One Sunday after church we took a Sunday drive over to Dows, Iowa, where the Wright County Freedom Rock is located.

Then on Memorial Day we went on a road-trip to Ackley, Iowa to see the Hardin County Freedom Rock

and over to Greene, Iowa to check out Butler County Freedom Rock.

I love how each Freedom Rock is unique, yet there is the same sense of pride and honor in each rock's artwork.  We also noticed that each rock has had an American flag "draped" over it.  We can't wait to continue our Freedom Rock Tour this summer!

Now that you have seen some of the completed county Freedom Rocks in Iowa, what do you first notice about each?  What do you like about these three county Freedom Rocks?  Remember to Comment for a Cause all month long to help us support our local Franklin County Freedom Rock!

Comments for a Cause - Franklin County Freedom Rock

We have had a beautiful start to the month of May here in Iowa and I'm excited to share with you about this month's Comments for a Cause program.  To start though, let's talk about last month's cause, the Ashland Community Foundation Fire Relief Fund.  In the month of April I had a total of 53 comments, creating a $26.50 donation to help ranchers from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado that lost livestock and their homesteads due to the wildfires.  Before I go on, I have to let you know that this part of the country has been given another brutal hit by Mother Nature.  Last week a devastating and unimaginable April snowstorm hit Kansas and Colorado, leaving over 20" of snow in many parts.  Ranchers were unprepared and the snow has killed cattle and damaged the area's wheat crop.  To learn more, please read my friend Nicole of Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom's latest post.

Now moving onto May, I'm excited to be helping a local cause, the Franklin County Freedom Rock.  During the month of May I'll be donating $0.50 for every comment made on my blog to assist with the cost of having my county's Freedom Rock painted.

The Franklin County, Iowa Freedom Rock is a part of a the Freedom Rock Tour, where artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, is painting Freedom Rocks in all of Iowa's 99 counties.  Back in 1999 Sorensen painted the very first and original Freedom Rock in rural Adair Conty as a way to honor America's veterans.  It became so popular, and so many people were moved by it that in 2013 he started the Freedom Rock Tour.  As of today, 59 county Freedom Rocks have been painted, and many more, like Franklin County's are ready and on the list to be painted next.  Sorensen is able to paint 10-12 Freedom Rocks a year and estimates the program will take 10 years to complete.

The Franklin County Freedom Rock was moved to its final resting spot at the end of February 2017 in Coulter, Iowa, at the trailhead of the Rolling Prairie Trail that goes from Coulter to Waverly, Iowa.  The 20 ton rock was donated by Martin Marietta of Mason City and moved courtesy of Dave's Crane Service of Union.  The rock will be painted in the future by Bubba Ray Sorensen in its own unique way that honors America's veterans.  So far the rock has had all donated costs and services, but a fund has been set up to pay for the painting of the rock.  I'm excited to help support my county's rock!

What I love about the Freedom Rock Tour is that it not only pays respect to Veterans, but many rocks have local ties to them and shares the faces of real, local veterans.  The original Freedom Rock even has ashes of veterans in the paint.  I also love the tourism aspect of the tour.  My family and I have checked out a few county Freedom Rocks and I hope to visit the original sometime soon.

And for those of you who aren't from Iowa, the Freedom Rock Tour is now going national!  Bubba Ray Sorensen is now setting out to paint Freedom Rocks in all 50 states.  He has rocks in Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin so far, and plans in place for the state of Washington's next.

Have you ever seen one of the Freedom Rocks before?  Have you ever been to the original Freedom Rock?  Remember to Comment for a Cause all month long!