In an age of GPS, smartphones, and instant gratification, it’s easy to forget the power of sheer will, simplicity, and reconciliation. But in 1994, Alvin Straight—an elderly man from Laurens, Iowa—reminded the world that sometimes, the slowest journeys leave the deepest impact.
At 73 years old, Alvin wasn’t what you’d call spry. He had poor eyesight, used two canes to walk, suffered from diabetes, and had recently undergone surgery. But when he heard that his estranged brother in Wisconsin had suffered a stroke, something inside him shifted. The two hadn’t spoken in nearly a decade. Time, as it does, had gotten away from them. But now, Alvin knew he had to go.
The only problem? He couldn’t drive a car anymore.
So he did something almost too unbelievable to make up: he hitched a small trailer to his John Deere lawnmower, packed up supplies, and set off on a 240-mile journey across state lines at just 5 miles per hour. It would take him six weeks.
A Man. A Mower. A Mission.
This wasn’t a joyride. Alvin faced scorching heat, engine troubles, rainstorms, and more than a few confused stares. Along the way, he camped at night, relied on the kindness of strangers, and kept pushing forward with nothing but determination and the quiet hope that it wasn’t too late to make peace.
And when he finally arrived in Blue River, Wisconsin—worn, weathered, and steady—he parked that mower outside his brother’s house and knocked on the door.
No big speeches. No drama. Just two old men on a porch, reunited by love and time.
A Quiet Legend
News of Alvin’s journey quickly spread, not just because of the novelty of his method, but because of the humanity at its core. It wasn’t about the mower—it was about a man who wouldn’t let pride, distance, or even age stop him from doing what mattered.
His story was eventually adapted into the 1999 film The Straight Story, directed by David Lynch. Unlike Lynch’s usual surreal fare, the movie is quiet, meditative, and deeply heartfelt. Richard Farnsworth’s performance as Alvin earned him an Academy Award nomination, and the film brought Alvin’s story to a new generation.
Lessons From the Lawn
Alvin Straight may not have changed the world, but he reminded us how to change our own—with humility, resolve, and the courage to fix what’s broken.
In a society obsessed with speed, Alvin took the long road. And maybe that’s why his story still sticks with us: because the straight story, like a straight path, isn’t always the fastest—but it’s often the most meaningful.
About this location
Ida Grove Cemetery in Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa, USA
Take me to this place
