Introducing: the John Wayne museum

WINTERSET, Iowa -Thinkin’ about taking a vacation, pilgrim?

An Iowa economic development board has awarded a $400,000 grant to help build a museum that will honour the legendary actor John Wayne near his birthplace.

The Vision Iowa Board approved the grant Wednesday for the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, a $1.4 million project that will feature an interactive museum and learning centrehonouring the life and work of Wayne.

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The award is contingent on project supporters completing private fundraising.

Wayne was born as Marion Robert Morrison in 1907 in Winterset, where his father was a pharmacist. His family moved West when he was a boy.

The John Wayne Birthplace Society is raising money for the museum. It currently operates the modest home where Wayne was born. He died in 1979.