1-DAY: THE MUSIC MAN TOUR

Morning:
March to a fun beat while touring the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum, formerly a gracious 1920’s Tudor revival home, which now houses a permanent collection of American art, including works by Regionalists Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood. Other highlights of the collection are post World War II paintings, contemporary prints, and works by Iowa artists. The museum also features the puppet collection of renowned puppeteer and Mason City native, Bil Baird, including his most famous puppets from the movie, The Sound of Music. Meredith Willson memorabilia and history will be revealed during a tour of the Kinney Pioneer Museum. The facility also includes a pioneer village with a one-room schoolhouse, log cabin, blacksmith shop and demonstrations on weekends of pioneer crafts and trades.

Afternoon:
The lyrics – “76 Trombones led the big parade…” – will get your group in the mood to uncover the story of Mason City’s famous hometown son, Meredith Willson, composer of The Music Man. The group will tour the Meredith Willson Boyhood Home to learn more about the man behind the music. Next, enjoy a tour of The Music Man Square. The tour will highlight the Meredith Willson Museum and an old fashion 1912 streetscape replica of the movie set designs from the Warner Brothers motion picture. The group will also enjoy a tasty treat at the Ice Cream Parlor located along Music Man Square’s beautiful indoor 1912 streetscape.