America's Best History Spotlight

On this page we're going to Spotlight the lesser known historic sites and attractions that dot the history landscape across the USA and are worth a visit if you're in their area. And while they may be lesser known, some are very unique, and will be that rare find. You'll be, at times, on the ground floor, or maybe even know something others don't. It'll be fun. Visit them.

Field of Dreams Baseball Field

Field of Dreams, Iowa

For someone who considers the 1989 movie one of his two favorite movies, there may be some bias here. However, whatever bias you may read, might just fly out the car window as you wind past the corn and into the farm movie site known from the film forward as Field of Dreams. Yes, there are changes, no real past players come out of the corn after character Ray Kinsela built the field, but plenty of visitors do. Up to one hundred thousand come to the site each year. They play catch with their loved ones, or with strangers, they wander around the immaculate field and immediately recall how Moonlight Graham stepped over the baseline to save Kinsela's daughter, turning into the old men doctor he would, in real life, become. For those not into baseball, it might take you back to a more peaceful time. For those that love baseball, and you are in Iowa, it is a must see. Bring your glove.

Photo above: Field of Dreams Baseball Field from front porch of house, 2024, America's Best History.




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Info, What's There Now, History Nearby

Actors who starred in Field of Dreams Movie

Field of Dreams, Iowa

The field was built for the movie to slightly smaller outfield dimensions than most Major League ballparks. The field is 262 feet to the right field pole, 314 feet to deep center, and 281 feet to the left field pole. Thus, when Major League Baseball held the first Field of Dreams game there in 2021, another field was built in the corn behind left field. There was a second MLB game and more are expected.

Much of the success of a temporary movie ballpark turned into tourist attraction was the genuine storytelling of the movie itself. Up for three Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay), you can feel the atmosphere as you drive the same roads those winding car lights drove at the end of the movie. The three characters played by Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, and James Earl Jones drove home the story line with aplomb. And that's why it is such a draw thirty-five years later.

Image above: Three of the main characters of the film; Kevin Costner who played Ray Kinsela; Amy Madigan who played his wife Annie; and James Earl Jones who played Terrance Mann. Costner photo, 2003, SSgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr. (USAF). Madigan photo, 1989, Alan Light. Jones photo, 2013, Eva Rinaldi. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons C.C. 2.0. Below: Photo of the field at Field of Dreams Movie Site, Dyersville, Iowa, 2024, America's Best History.


Field of Dreams baseball field

Where Is It

The Field of Dreams Movie Site is located at 28995 Lansing Rd. Dyersville, Iowa 52040. In the middle of nowhere till you get there; in the middle of everywhere once you come.


Minute Walk in History



What is There Now


Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams Movie Set is a dream. There is the original house, the field, a gift shop, concession stands, and the ability for you, your grandson, and son to play baseball where the movie was filmed.

A house tour is available beginning 10 a.m. You can also actually stay in the actual house; it's costly, $2,200 per night.

Don't leave without walking in the corn, playing catch with friends or strangers, and if you're kinda dumb like me, running the bases.

When Open and How Much

The field is open sunrise to sunset. House tours begin at 10:00 a.m. There is a suggested donation of $20 to enter the site. It is open April 1 to October 31 each year.

Fees and hours are subject to change.

Websites
Field of Dreams Movie Site

History Nearby


Iowa contains some of the spectacular trails used by settlers to investigate and travel west, including the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail and the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. Other National Park Service sites include Herbert Hoover NHS as well as Effigy Mounds National Monument, which is a wonderful native American site with two hundred heritage mounds.



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