MUSCATINE, Iowa – An iconic Mississippi River island here will be preserved for future generations, thanks to a conservation gift awarded from the Joe W. and Betty L. Rauch Memorial Fund held at the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, the organization announced Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Calling it “a truly historic act of generosity and environmental stewardship,” the foundation said Towhead Island – a natural landmark in the river’s bend in downtown Muscatine – will be purchased and placed into permanent ownership of the foundation. The gift ensures the island’s preservation and lasting benefit for the Muscatine community, a foundation news release said.
Financial details of the gift were not disclosed.
The island first was placed on the real estate market in December of 2023 with a $1.5 million price tag. But in the fall of 2024, a Facebook post by the Armstrong Team at RE / MAX Professionals, located in Muscatine, said the new sale price was $1 million.
Towhead Island is located about 30 miles downstream from the Quad Cities.
Joseph Walter Rauch was born in Muscatine in 1929, and his wife Betty Louise Chaddock Rauch was born in Fort Madison in 1928. Together, they raised five children in Muscatine and served as role models for embracing every person as they are, demonstrating a strong work ethic, and valuing the importance of lifelong learning.
The couple contributed to and participated in Muscatine’s community life and the well-being of its citizens as an unquestioned matter of daily life. The memorial fund that bears their names was established to honor their legacy and ideals.
According to the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, this donation marks one of the most significant conservation-focused philanthropic gestures in the region’s history.
Towhead Island spans 129 acres within the incorporated city limits of Muscatine. The gift guarantees that the island will remain a place of natural beauty, biodiversity, education, and connection for generations.
Stewardship planning
“We are deeply grateful for the vision and generosity of the Joe W. and Betty L. Rauch Memorial Fund,” Charla Schafer, the foundation’s president, said.
“This gift secures the preservation of this irreplaceable local natural resource and community landmark,” she said in the release. “Unique and exciting opportunities await our community – and our children.”
The foundation will be developing initial stewardship strategies and partnerships in the coming months. This planning process will unfold and evolve over time to ensure diligence, responsible conservation, and meaningful community engagement, it said. The stewardship plans being developed will align with the donor’s wishes.
By ensuring the long-term preservation and maintenance of Towhead Island, supporters say the plans will inspire these future uses:
- Unique opportunities for area youth.
- Outdoor education.
- Renewed appreciation for local natural spaces.
- Broad community benefit.
The Muscatine foundation said the island also carries a rich and storied past, which it is anxious to uncover and learn more about in the years ahead. A 1973 Muscatine Journal article noted that the island, which is a “Hank Aaron flyball away from the Musser Park shoreline… once was the home of pioneer settlers who grew corn, tomatoes, and potatoes.”
The news article also notes “Loggers would tie up their tows on the island from whence the Towhead-name came.” The Journal story also recounts that one of the earliest recorded references dates back to 1837, as Iowa prepared to become a territory. At that time, the island belonged to Illinois, and Iowa laid claim to it. The owner’s family holds a remarkable 188-year-old historical document signed by President Andrew Johnson, the nation’s 17th president, transferring ownership of the island to the State of Iowa.
Though initially publicly owned, the island has since been privately held for generations, the foundation said.
The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine is a county-wide charitable organization actively working to improve the quality of life in Muscatine County through philanthropy. For more information, call (563) 264-3863 or visit www.givinggreater.org.
