The Boyhood Home of Artist Grant Wood

Grant Wood spent more of his life at this address than anywhere else. As a young artist, he experimented here with sculpture, stained glass, metalwork, and painting during a formative and prolific period of his career.

A long-standing rumor holds that Wood painted a mural for his mother somewhere inside the home. We brought in art conservators from Midwest Art Conservation to investigate, removing eight layers of paint dating back to an estimated 1912–1915 without locating it. Two further layers remain unexplored. We’ve reached the limit of what we’re able to pursue, and we’re reserving the right for the next owner to continue the search.

Built in 1900, the home borders the Coe College campus and offers three bedrooms and one bathroom. In 2010, it received a new kitchen, tile flooring, first-floor carpeting, a new roof, and new windows.

Its historical significance — to Cedar Rapids and to the broader art world — is difficult to overstate.

Additional information and detailed photos available by request. Thank you for your interest.