ELDON — This year, Eldon has twice as much to celebrate at Eldon Gothic Days. In addition to the traditional activities, supporters will celebrate the opening of the much anticipated visitor center.

The new American Gothic House Center, the “AGHC,” sits across from the little house with the gothic style window that provided inspiration for Iowa artist Grant Wood’s painting, “American Gothic.”

Eldon Gothic Days will be June 8, 9 and 10, starting with a pork sandwich supper at 5 p.m. Friday in Eldon’s park.

Events Saturday include a parade at 10 a.m., a public library book sale, a dunk tank, games and craft fair at the KD Center, as well as a quilt show and sale. The barbecued chicken dinner will begin at 11:30 a.m. Car races will be at 7:30 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m. at the Eldon raceway at the fairgrounds.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the American Gothic House Center will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 9. Parking and shuttle service will be available from the Wapello County Fairgrounds between 12:30 and 4 p.m.

Sunday activities open with a mud volleyball tournament at 1 p.m. next to the KD Center. New this year: A horseshoe tournament will begin at 1 p.m. nearby.

During the weekend, the opera house, the train depot and the former American Legion building will be open to tour.

And so will the new visitors center. Some of the first “visitors” will include former Gov. Tom and Christie Vilsack, Congressman David Loebsack plus state senators and representatives from around the area. All are scheduled to speak at the grand opening Saturday.

The center consists of a gallery, small media room, gift shop, office, foyer and restrooms.

AGHC Administrator Jessica Strom said the building was constructed with the Gothic House in mind.

“They did build [the center] with a pitch that mirrors the pitch of the gothic house roof, and a porch as well to tie the two together,” Strom said. “But there is no gothic window... they really didn’t want to do anything to take away from the impact of the house.”

Enthusiasm among volunteers remains high, said Strom.

“Even though the building is done, they’re talking about other things they want to do. I’ve had a total of about 30 people ... take a volunteer orientation course. They’ve been making cookies for the reception, cleaning windows, mopping the floor and entering addresses into the data base. They want to keep helping [the center] run.”

The first exhibit in the center will have three sections: Grant Wood’s Place in American Art and Regionalism, a closer look at “American Gothic” and American Gothic Parodies.

A lecture, “Grant Wood’s American Gothic in Context,” will follow the ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at the Eldon Carnegie Library Hall.