Found donut in Davenport Iowa. #Shantyboat

Found donut in Davenport Iowa. #Shantyboat via Instagram

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“How do you pay for this?”

If you have a little bit to spare, and thing…

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Full moon over the river in a sketchy night ride on the river. #Shantyboat

Full moon over the river in a sketchy night ride…

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Got a mile down river with the #Shantyboat and Freddie Mercury broke down again. Limping back to Green Gables.

Got a mile down river with the #Shantyboat and Freddie…

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Mike of Green Gables Marina puts the finishing touches on Freddie, readying the #Shantyboat to get back underway after a one-week repair vacation.

Mike of Green Gables Marina puts the finishing touches on…

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Somehow in this crazy mixed up world I interview people for my art project and they give ME gifts. #Shantyboat #applebread #localhoney #bananabread #unexpectedgifts

Somehow in this crazy mixed up world I interview people…

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Though I’d heard of the ritual, my first time getting coined. It is hard to be an anti-authoritarian when they are such badass dudes and have such cool tchotchkes. #Shantyboat #secrethandshake #freedrinks #gettingcoined #rescuedivers #retiredcops

Though I’d heard of the ritual, my first time getting…

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Steve Ebel, Mississippi River diver shows off his scull boat. #Shantyboat

Steve Ebel, Mississippi River diver shows off his scull boat.…

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Secret History interviewee Rhonda Anderson talks about keeping bees. #Shantyboat

Secret History interviewee Rhonda Anderson talks about keeping bees. #Shantyboat…

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The deer are so tame here in Illinois they stick their heads right through the wall to be petted. #Shantyboat #friendlydeer

The deer are so tame here in Illinois they stick…

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Off across the river in the Donboat to an interview in Hanpton IL. #Shantyboat

Off across the river in the Donboat to an interview…

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Audio orgasm: listening to both a recording of our July thunderstorm and the music of Gillian Welsh on our old radio when a train passes by outside and the Moka pot begins to bubble. #auralpleasure #allthethings #Shantyboat #breakfastmagic #soundoftrains #coffeesweetcoffee

Audio orgasm: listening to both a recording of our July…

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Secret History interview with former correctional officer Dave Rogers of Cordova IL. #Shantyboat

Secret History interview with former correctional officer Dave Rogers of…

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Banjo on the Shantyboat.

Banjo on the #Shantyboat. Regram from Todd Meziner @tmizener

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Gifts from Secret History interviewee Dave Rogers, buttons made from mussel shells, the drilled shells, river reading material.

Gifts from Secret History interviewee Dave Rogers, buttons made from…

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Are you good at finding things? The Shantyboat is dead in the water until we find a stainless steel drive shaft from a 1978 Mercury 200 20hp short shaft serial num 4821859. Total length 25-1/4 inches. If you find one that fits, I’ll owe you a bottle of Dr Thunders Peachy Fire Whiskey.

Are you good at finding things? The #Shantyboat is dead…

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Shantyboat ship’s log: “Ships mate Stacey Marie Garcia left forward bunk window open. Consequences unknown at this time.”

#Shantyboat ship's log: "Ships mate Stacey Marie Garcia left forward…

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Secret History in Dispatch Argus. #Shantyboat @gooddoghazel

Secret History in Dispatch Argus. #Shantyboat @gooddoghazel

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Big Dave and Holly’s in Le Claire. Yum.

Big Dave and Holly's in Le Claire. Yum. #Shantyboat

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A Day of Danger, A Time of Troubles

An Aggressively Friendly Man. Big Big Waves. Serious Engine Trouble.…

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Secret History press work with Tony Watt of the Moline Dispatch-Argus on the Shantyboat.

Secret History press work with Tony Watt of the Moline…

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Finally a way to indicate to #Shantyboat visitors that we are open (or not) for business. #sometimeswesleep #sometimesweeat #sometimesweretiredofquestions #naptime #hiding #samefivequestions

Finally a way to indicate to #Shantyboat visitors that we…

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Cleat hitch with a Flemish Flake mooring the #Shantyboat. Plus @gooddoghazel

Cleat hitch with a Flemish Flake mooring the #Shantyboat. Plus…

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Night alone on the #Shantyboat baking oatmeal cookies and watching The Apartment with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. #Billywilder #oscarwinner #academyaward #1960 #oldfilms #movietears #beamensch #blackandwhitemovies #cookies4one

Night alone on the #Shantyboat baking oatmeal cookies and watching…

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Green Gables Marina in Le Claire #iowa on the back porch of the #Shantyboat. Great scene for some banjo and and a cigar. Lock and dam number 14 in the distance.

Green Gables Marina in Le Claire #iowa on the back…

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Green Gables Marina in Le Claire #iowa on the back porch of the #Shantyboat. Great scene for some banjo and and a cigar.

Green Gables Marina in Le Claire #iowa on the back…

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Hazel dog on the deck of the #Shantyboat

Hazel dog on the deck of the #Shantyboat

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Pelo’s in Le Claire #Iowa. #signnerd #typography #Shantyboat

Pelo's in Le Claire #Iowa. #signnerd #typography #Shantyboat

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Heeeello? This is Iowa

We meet an angel. We are famous. A slew of…

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Quad-City Times: California artist travels Mississippi for ‘river people’ project

If you happen to see Wes Modes, 48, of Santa…

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Poor Freddie has a broken shaft but Green Gables Marina has their best man on it. #Shantyboat

Poor Freddie has a broken shaft but Green Gables Marina…

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River Angels Kris Klavon and Craig Wainwright towed the stranded #Shantyboat several miles to the mechanic as the opening salvo in their adventurous day.

River Angels Kris Klavon and Craig Wainwright towed the stranded…

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Poor Freddie. The #Shantyboat got a tow across the river to Mike at Green Gables Marina who said “Oo, it doesn’t look good.” May be in the market for another small Mercury engine soon.

Poor Freddie. The #Shantyboat got a tow across the river…

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Bike statue in Fort Byron Illinois. A moment of rest after the #Shantyboat took a beating in big ass waves.

Bike statue in Fort Byron Illinois. A moment of rest…

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Rough seas for the #Shantyboat. 15mph South winds with 20mph gusts on a 10 mile long north south reach.

Rough seas for the #Shantyboat. 15mph South winds with 20mph…

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Rough seas on the #Shantyboat

Rough seas on the #Shantyboat

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@justlikeharmony piloting the #Shantyboat through very rough seas. #river

@justlikeharmony piloting the #Shantyboat through very rough seas. #river

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New #Shantyboat invention! A Caucasian Floater, a White Russian made with ice cream.

New #Shantyboat invention! A Caucasian Floater, a White Russian made…

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Logistical difficulties on the next episode of Shantyboat Guys! #Shantyboat #realitytv #dramanodrama #riverlyfe

Logistical difficulties on the next episode of Shantyboat Guys! #Shantyboat…

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Modern fertility symbol in Camache Iowa. #Shantyboat

Modern fertility symbol in Camache Iowa. #Shantyboat

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#Shantyboat underway in Clinton Iowa.

#Shantyboat underway in Clinton Iowa.

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#Shantyboat spotted in Dubuque. River coincidence: this photo was sent to someone downriver who I ended up interviewing two weeks later.

#Shantyboat spotted in Dubuque. River coincidence: this photo was sent…

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Downtown Clinton #Iowa looks like an economic bomb dropped on it. On the other hand, #Walmart is doing a brisk biz in the edge of town. #Shantyboat #lowerwagesalways

Downtown Clinton #Iowa looks like an economic bomb dropped on…

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Secret History interview with Jenna Sanders, co-owner of @392caffe in Clinton #Iowa. #Shantyboat

Secret History interview with Jenna Sanders, co-owner of @392caffe in…

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Mini Stories from Clinton, Iowa

Clinton Marina History My Grandmother owed and operated the Marina…

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Wallet contents drying out after having been dunked in the river s second time during an impressive storm. #Shantyboat

Wallet contents drying out after having been dunked in the…

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Secret History on the front page of the Clinton Herald with @justlikeharmony. #Shantyboat #smalltownfamous #frontpage #art #river

Secret History on the front page of the Clinton Herald…

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Jay from 392 Caffe in Clinton Iowa. #Shantyboat

Jay from 392 Caffe in Clinton Iowa. #Shantyboat

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A Teeny Tiny Journey Through History

It is only by the good grace of God, that…

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Twin Towns of Gritty Charm and Regret

A reality TV star, a gay couple, a 12-year old…

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International Sculpture Center: Wes Modes: Secret History of American River People

The Mississippi River runs deep through American culture. From early…

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Rumors of the Death of Drive-Ins Greatly Exagerated

While we were in Galena I got a wild hair.…

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Life with the Party People of Galena

We came to Galena for the day and stayed for…

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The Magic of the Lock 11 Fishing Barge

Ed told us we absolutely have to go up around…

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Hazel on the River

Since Hazel has a more devoted following than the project,…

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Setbacks, the Musical – A Nautical Tragicomedy

The scene opens with the newly recruited shipsmates standing in…

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Two Nuns, A Gambler, and an Heiress walk onto a boat… (updated)

We’ve been the talk of the town to some degree.…

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National Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque

The shantyboat is in Dubuque at the National Mississippi River…

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The Real Reason We’re Here

Naturally, the adventure down the river, the playful interactions of…

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A Brief Visit to Harper’s Ferry and a Mysterious Man

We meet a mysterious man in a historic town, but…

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WTF Secret History?

Short video that explains the project and offers a tour…

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An Unexpected Accident, Clamming Goldrush, and Bald Eagles in Lansing

A breakfast disaster, repairs, an interview with a clammer, and…

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The Night of the Biblical Plagues

We try to be just and virtuous people, but God…

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Inside the Shantyboat through the Driftless Area

A tour of the shantyboat and the Misssissippi's unique Driftless…

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Karen Galema, Mississippi River fisherman [video]

Karen Galema in her life has been a fisherman, an…

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Shantyboat Guys New Episodes!

On the shantyboat we are 24 hours in each other's…

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Introducing The Shantyboat Guys!

A few years ago when I was working on the…

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Artist and shantyboat captain Wes Modes relaxes in the johnboat on the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minnesota.

Fellow Workers

I was sitting with Jeremiah in the Donboat under a…

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The Story of the Donboat

We brought the Painted Pig, a small johnboat we bought…

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Louise and the Winona Backwaters

A promised date with Louise results in a shantyboat tour…

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Waukon Standard: California artist seeking stories of river history, lifestyles

A rustic recreated 1940s shantyboat, a daring river voyage, and…

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Two Prairie Island Indian Community Interviews

I had the tremendous honor of interviewing two members of…

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Heartland Boating: A Secret History of American River People

Ten years ago, Wes Modes of Santa Cruz, California, was…

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A Word About Hazel Dog

Of course you know our ships hound Hazel. Did you…

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We lost Amy, Minnesota recycling, and missing contacts

e lost Amy. Somewhere between last summer's fieldwork and this…

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Showing Off the Shantyboat in the Twin Cities

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to exhibit twice…

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Two Great Interviews in the Twin Cities

All and all, it was an amazing and emotionally exhausting…

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Minneapolis City Pages: River City Revue explores Mississippi culture

The event gives you a chance to see the art…

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StarTribune: Pictures of the day.

Top Photos for June 30. Kara Yorkhall and daughter Juliette,3,…

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An Afternoon Thunderstorm [AUDIO]

A summer rainstorm blows in while we are in the…

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Down to St. Paul and Out in a Storm

A lock and dam, a sacred place, and then out…

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Mississippi Launch and an Evening Expedition

Another blowout, a launch, a full house, an expedition, a…

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Dubuque Telegraph Herald: River exhibition will dock in Dubuque

A rustic shanty boat, a daring river voyage and a…

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A Midnight Journey to the Bone Yard

The potholes were deep, nearly as deep as our growing…

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Roadtrips are always more interesting when your wheels fall off

As we were about to hit the road, a lady…

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River City Revue — People of the River

Are you in or near Minneapolis? See the Secret History…

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24 Hours

Tomorrow morning early we pull out of Santa Cruz towing…

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Artist On Art: Wes Modes, Artist Interview

Artist Activist, Wes Modes came onto Artists on Art, June…

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1 Mississippi: Reeling in River Stories

What would you do with a houseboat the size of…

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Dry Docking the Shantyboat

In preparation for our journey to the Mississippi River in…

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24 Hours and Gory Details

Just 24 hours and just over $1000 to go on…

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Readying Shantyboat and Other Trip Details

So while the Kickstarter has been doing its thing and…

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Shipmates Sebastian Muellauer and Monica Haller relax on a warm day on the Mississippi River near Dubuque, Iowa.

A Request to Tell a Friend or Three

Thanks for your support of A Secret History of American River…

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Reddit: I am an artist spending the summer in a shantyboat on the Mississippi River gathering stories of river people. AMA!

I am Wes Modes, DIY boater and artist. For years…

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Secret History Summer 2015 Kickstarter

We are excited to announce the Secret History Upper Mississippi…

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The Producer’s Log: MFA Exhibition Reportback

Introducing Regina Ortanez who has been working as a producer…

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Introducing Freddie

You remember last year when we were on the river…

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2015 Summer Voyage on Upper Mississippi

Starting in late June, the Secret History shantyboat will be…

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What happened to the last 5 months?

Grad school. That’s what. MFA Exhibition prep. Reading books. Production…

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Meet the Production Team

Meet the production team that helped make the Secret History…

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