Found donut in Davenport Iowa. #Shantyboat
Found donut in Davenport Iowa. #Shantyboat via Instagram
Continue reading
“How do you pay for this?”
If you have a little bit to spare, and thing…
Continue reading
Full moon over the river in a sketchy night ride on the river. #Shantyboat
Full moon over the river in a sketchy night ride…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Steve Ebel, Mississippi River diver shows off his scull boat. #Shantyboat
Steve Ebel, Mississippi River diver shows off his scull boat.…
Continue reading
Secret History interviewee Rhonda Anderson talks about keeping bees. #Shantyboat
Secret History interviewee Rhonda Anderson talks about keeping bees. #Shantyboat…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Off across the river in the Donboat to an interview in Hanpton IL. #Shantyboat
Off across the river in the Donboat to an interview…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Secret History interview with former correctional officer Dave Rogers of Cordova IL. #Shantyboat
Secret History interview with former correctional officer Dave Rogers of…
Continue reading
Banjo on the Shantyboat.
Banjo on the #Shantyboat. Regram from Todd Meziner @tmizener
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Secret History in Dispatch Argus. #Shantyboat @gooddoghazel
Secret History in Dispatch Argus. #Shantyboat @gooddoghazel
Continue reading
Big Dave and Holly’s in Le Claire. Yum.
Big Dave and Holly's in Le Claire. Yum. #Shantyboat
Continue reading
A Day of Danger, A Time of Troubles
An Aggressively Friendly Man. Big Big Waves. Serious Engine Trouble.…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Cleat hitch with a Flemish Flake mooring the #Shantyboat. Plus @gooddoghazel
Cleat hitch with a Flemish Flake mooring the #Shantyboat. Plus…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Hazel dog on the deck of the #Shantyboat
Hazel dog on the deck of the #Shantyboat
Continue reading
Pelo’s in Le Claire #Iowa. #signnerd #typography #Shantyboat
Pelo's in Le Claire #Iowa. #signnerd #typography #Shantyboat
Continue reading
Heeeello? This is Iowa
We meet an angel. We are famous. A slew of…
Continue reading
Quad-City Times: California artist travels Mississippi for ‘river people’ project
If you happen to see Wes Modes, 48, of Santa…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Rough seas on the #Shantyboat
Rough seas on the #Shantyboat
Continue reading
@justlikeharmony piloting the #Shantyboat through very rough seas. #river
@justlikeharmony piloting the #Shantyboat through very rough seas. #river
Continue reading
New #Shantyboat invention! A Caucasian Floater, a White Russian made with ice cream.
New #Shantyboat invention! A Caucasian Floater, a White Russian made…
Continue reading
Logistical difficulties on the next episode of Shantyboat Guys! #Shantyboat #realitytv #dramanodrama #riverlyfe
Logistical difficulties on the next episode of Shantyboat Guys! #Shantyboat…
Continue reading
Modern fertility symbol in Camache Iowa. #Shantyboat
Modern fertility symbol in Camache Iowa. #Shantyboat
Continue reading
#Shantyboat underway in Clinton Iowa.
#Shantyboat underway in Clinton Iowa.
Continue reading
#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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Mini Stories from Clinton, Iowa
Clinton Marina History My Grandmother owed and operated the Marina…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Jay from 392 Caffe in Clinton Iowa. #Shantyboat
Jay from 392 Caffe in Clinton Iowa. #Shantyboat
Continue reading
A Teeny Tiny Journey Through History
It is only by the good grace of God, that…
Continue reading
Twin Towns of Gritty Charm and Regret
A reality TV star, a gay couple, a 12-year old…
Continue reading
International Sculpture Center: Wes Modes: Secret History of American River People
The Mississippi River runs deep through American culture. From early…
Continue reading
Rumors of the Death of Drive-Ins Greatly Exagerated
While we were in Galena I got a wild hair.…
Continue reading
Life with the Party People of Galena
We came to Galena for the day and stayed for…
Continue reading
The Magic of the Lock 11 Fishing Barge
Ed told us we absolutely have to go up around…
Continue reading
Hazel on the River
Since Hazel has a more devoted following than the project,…
Continue reading
Setbacks, the Musical – A Nautical Tragicomedy
The scene opens with the newly recruited shipsmates standing in…
Continue reading
Two Nuns, A Gambler, and an Heiress walk onto a boat… (updated)
We’ve been the talk of the town to some degree.…
Continue reading
National Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque
The shantyboat is in Dubuque at the National Mississippi River…
Continue reading
The Real Reason We’re Here
Naturally, the adventure down the river, the playful interactions of…
Continue reading
A Brief Visit to Harper’s Ferry and a Mysterious Man
We meet a mysterious man in a historic town, but…
Continue reading
WTF Secret History?
Short video that explains the project and offers a tour…
Continue reading
An Unexpected Accident, Clamming Goldrush, and Bald Eagles in Lansing
A breakfast disaster, repairs, an interview with a clammer, and…
Continue reading
The Night of the Biblical Plagues
We try to be just and virtuous people, but God…
Continue reading
Inside the Shantyboat through the Driftless Area
A tour of the shantyboat and the Misssissippi's unique Driftless…
Continue reading
Karen Galema, Mississippi River fisherman [video]
Karen Galema in her life has been a fisherman, an…
Continue reading
Shantyboat Guys New Episodes!
On the shantyboat we are 24 hours in each other's…
Continue reading
Introducing The Shantyboat Guys!
A few years ago when I was working on the…
Continue reading
Fellow Workers
I was sitting with Jeremiah in the Donboat under a…
Continue reading
The Story of the Donboat
We brought the Painted Pig, a small johnboat we bought…
Continue reading
Louise and the Winona Backwaters
A promised date with Louise results in a shantyboat tour…
Continue reading
Waukon Standard: California artist seeking stories of river history, lifestyles
A rustic recreated 1940s shantyboat, a daring river voyage, and…
Continue reading
Two Prairie Island Indian Community Interviews
I had the tremendous honor of interviewing two members of…
Continue reading
Heartland Boating: A Secret History of American River People
Ten years ago, Wes Modes of Santa Cruz, California, was…
Continue reading
A Word About Hazel Dog
Of course you know our ships hound Hazel. Did you…
Continue reading
We lost Amy, Minnesota recycling, and missing contacts
e lost Amy. Somewhere between last summer's fieldwork and this…
Continue reading
Showing Off the Shantyboat in the Twin Cities
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to exhibit twice…
Continue reading
Two Great Interviews in the Twin Cities
All and all, it was an amazing and emotionally exhausting…
Continue reading
Minneapolis City Pages: River City Revue explores Mississippi culture
The event gives you a chance to see the art…
Continue reading
StarTribune: Pictures of the day.
Top Photos for June 30. Kara Yorkhall and daughter Juliette,3,…
Continue reading
An Afternoon Thunderstorm [AUDIO]
A summer rainstorm blows in while we are in the…
Continue reading
Down to St. Paul and Out in a Storm
A lock and dam, a sacred place, and then out…
Continue reading
Mississippi Launch and an Evening Expedition
Another blowout, a launch, a full house, an expedition, a…
Continue reading
Dubuque Telegraph Herald: River exhibition will dock in Dubuque
A rustic shanty boat, a daring river voyage and a…
Continue reading
A Midnight Journey to the Bone Yard
The potholes were deep, nearly as deep as our growing…
Continue reading
Roadtrips are always more interesting when your wheels fall off
As we were about to hit the road, a lady…
Continue reading
River City Revue — People of the River
Are you in or near Minneapolis? See the Secret History…
Continue reading
24 Hours
Tomorrow morning early we pull out of Santa Cruz towing…
Continue reading
Artist On Art: Wes Modes, Artist Interview
Artist Activist, Wes Modes came onto Artists on Art, June…
Continue reading
1 Mississippi: Reeling in River Stories
What would you do with a houseboat the size of…
Continue reading
Dry Docking the Shantyboat
In preparation for our journey to the Mississippi River in…
Continue reading
24 Hours and Gory Details
Just 24 hours and just over $1000 to go on…
Continue reading
Readying Shantyboat and Other Trip Details
So while the Kickstarter has been doing its thing and…
Continue reading
A Request to Tell a Friend or Three
Thanks for your support of A Secret History of American River…
Continue reading
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…
Continue reading
Secret History Summer 2015 Kickstarter
We are excited to announce the Secret History Upper Mississippi…
Continue reading
The Producer’s Log: MFA Exhibition Reportback
Introducing Regina Ortanez who has been working as a producer…
Continue reading
Introducing Freddie
You remember last year when we were on the river…
Continue reading
2015 Summer Voyage on Upper Mississippi
Starting in late June, the Secret History shantyboat will be…
Continue reading
What happened to the last 5 months?
Grad school. That’s what. MFA Exhibition prep. Reading books. Production…
Continue reading
Meet the Production Team
Meet the production team that helped make the Secret History…
Continue reading