29 Things to do in North Iowa on Leap Day 2024 is a leap year! To celebrate, here are 29 ways to spend your Leap Day in North Iowa. There are plenty of places to shop, eat, explore, and even a couple of special events! Shop Mason City is home to many local businesses that

Proclamation               WHEREAS, groundbreaking for the new High Line Trail is another step in solidifying Mason City’s reputation as “the new outdoor recreation capital of the Midwest”; and               WHEREAS, this builds a third pillar to Mason City’s standing as a worldwide destination

The Jefferson Highway Association – Then and Now When Hugh H. Shepard, Mason City attorney and former Jefferson Highway Association (JHA) President, presented the highway’s history and road updates to the delegates at the 16th annual convention of the United States Good Roads Association in May 1928, he firmly believed that the entire route would

This  blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. The Life Cycle of Iowa Roads It was pointed out to me recently that a great number of people are totally oblivious to the blue and white JH sign. Or if they have noticed, they have no idea

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. Jefferson Highway and the Concrete Revolution In Iowa, the hard surfacing of highways using concrete began in earnest after the passage of the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916. The state was apportioned $146,000 of federal money per

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. The Jefferson Highway and Motor Transport Motor vehicle transportation grew by leaps and bounds after 1918. At the onset and aftermath of World War I it became obvious that railroads couldn’t handle the added congestion and couldn’t compete

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. Autos Fuel the Economy Towns and cities located along the Jefferson Highway saw a tremendous boost to their local economy from their heightened visibility. Travelers and businessmen needed gasoline, auto repairs and tires, places to eat and places

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. Have Car – Will Travel The manufacturing and accessibility of automobiles created a need to travel. Automobile highways, such as the Jefferson Highway, gave people a place to go. Americans were no longer held back by distance and

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. Where Was the Government When We Were Building Roads? In Iowa, most in-town roads had some type of hard surfacing and all, or most, dirt roads were being “dragged” into submission by 1910. All the work and cost

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. For entertainment purposes, the following article is written from a newspaper perspective. Although great liberties were taken in meshing information from several newspapers and the Jefferson Highway Declaration, a monthly periodical published to promote tourism and provide highway

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. Jefferson Highway’s Famous Iowa Sons There might never have been a Jefferson Highway if it weren’t for the role early Iowans played in its creation. The vision for the highway originated in Iowa and its “backbone” came from the

This  blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. The Beginning and End of the Jefferson Highway North-South Counterpart to the Lincoln The vision for the Jefferson Highway, a great north-south highway spreading across the nation from pine to palm, came from a very unlikely source – E.T.

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. Trails, Trails, Everywhere The beginning of the Interstate Trail Hundreds of trails bisected the United States and stretched into Canada by the 1890s. Some were simply overgrown pathways left behind by the Native Americans that had traversed the land. Some

This blog series explores the historic Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway and its connection to Mason City, Iowa. Cry For Good Roads From mud roads to good roads It took over 300 years for the United States to get their feet out of the mud – literally. In fact, dirt roads presided all the way from

Lego model of Mason City hotel comes home An artistic recreation of an iconic Iowa landmark is on display in Mason City. 19-year-old Ethan Gonzalez is the creator of a dollhouse miniature of the Historic Park Inn Hotel built entirely out of Legos. A timeless landmark, the Historic Park Inn is the last remaining hotel

How to Experience River City in Des Moines this Summer Broadway meets Hollywood in Iowa Located in the heart of North Central Iowa, Mason City boasts a rich musical heritage. A hometown boy who made it big, composer Meredith Willson gave Mason City the nickname “River City” in his Broadway musical The Music Man, which

Mason City Discovery Passport The Visit Mason City Discovery Passport is a new tool to help you discover and save on the best of Mason City. This mobile-exclusive savings passport is free to sign up for and functions similarly to a coupon book. It’s as easy as providing your name, e-mail address and mobile phone

RAGBRAI Returns to Mason City The oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world is coming to Mason City! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 27, 2022 when RAGBRAI rolls into River City. What is RAGBRAI? The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa is an annual eight-day bicycle ride across the

    Mason City Meets Broadway An interview with Drew Minard, the sole Iowan cast in The Music Man on Broadway Drew Minard uses one word to describe the feeling of being back on Broadway – joy. Two years after the theater industry went dark, the cast of “The Music Man” has returned to the