Monarch Butterfly and our Mexican Heritage 2025
Hecho en Fort Madison: A Heritage That Takes Flight
Iowa’s Oldest Mexican Community
In Fort Madison, history, culture, and nature are beautifully intertwined—and nowhere is that more evident than in the story of the monarch butterfly. Just as our community holds the honor of being Iowa’s first significant Mexican settlement, monarch butterflies carry with them a deep connection to Mexican heritage and tradition.
Every fall, these remarkable butterflies travel thousands of miles from across North America to central Mexico. Their arrival coincides with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), where monarchs are seen as symbols of the returning spirits of loved ones. It’s a powerful reminder that heritage and nature walk hand in hand, bridging generations and geographies.
Here in Lee County, we celebrate this connection through conservation. Lee County Conservation plays an important role in tracking monarch migration by tagging butterflies before they set off on their long journey south. This effort not only supports the survival of these majestic insects but also creates a living link between Fort Madison’s Mexican roots and the natural cycles that define our shared world.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate both the legacy of the Mexican community in Fort Madison and the enduring journey of the monarch butterfly. Together, they tell a story of resilience, migration, and the beauty of tradition carried forward.
You can join that story in action this weekend at Wilson Lake, where Lee County Conservation will host a monarch tagging event. It’s a chance to see conservation up close and honor the connection between our community and the butterflies that inspire so much meaning.
Looking ahead
Fort Madison Tourism is excited to bring more monarchs into our daily landscape. Beginning next year, you’ll notice vibrant plantings of milkweed and Mexican sunflowers throughout the community—native food sources that nurture caterpillars and sustain monarchs. As Tourism Director Chi Eastin explains, “We love combining our Mexican heritage and local flora to make a beautiful visual statement.”
In Fort Madison, our roots run deep, our traditions fly high, and with every monarch that passes through, we are reminded of the enduring strength of culture, memory, and migration—hecho en Fort Madison.
