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Fort Madison, IA – Jason Parrott's guest is Dr. Eugene Watkins, who is the site manager for Old Fort Madison.
The tourist attraction takes visitors back in time to see how military life was during the early 1800's.
The Mississippi River overtook the wooden replica of the fort that stands in Fort Madison's Riverview Park during the Flood of 2008.
Watkins says the recovery from the flood is basically complete.
He says the damaged elements of the fort have been replaced, including the picket wall and multiple floors.
Watkins says there are other challenges that must be addressed.
He says the foundations of the buildings are starting to rot as a wooden fort only has a certain lifespan.
Watkins says city leaders must decide whether to rebuild the fort, building by building, or relocate it to a new location.
He says this summer will be a busy one. Some of the highlight events will be the July 4 celebration and the Siege in mid-September.
Watkins says from there, the focus will shift to the Bicentennial for the War of 1812.