Mason City Tourist Attractions
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Mason City (pop. 28,000) was platted in 1854, it was an area where most pioneers were of the Masonic Order. The town is best known for manufacturing brick, tile, and Portland cement.
Kinney Pioneer Museum
The Kinney Pioneer Museum is located at the entrance of the Mason City Airport. It houses exhibits that include fossils, American Indian artifacts and utensils, furniture and clothing used by early residents. Other items featured are the only Colby Car left of 900 made in Mason City between 1911 and 1914; replica 1859 covered wagon; a 1912 blacksmith shop; printing presses of the 1800s as well as rug and broom making demonstrations.
Frank Lloyd Wright Stockman House
Visitors to Frank Lloyd Wright Stockman House in Mason City can tour the architect's second house in which the living room flows around a central fireplace into the dining room, without intervening walls. It is furnished with Arts and Crafts furnishings and Wright replicas of the period. The home was designed and built in 1908 for Dr George Stockman and his wife, Eleanor.
Meredith Willson Boyhood Home
Meredith Willson was the Director of Armed Forces Radio, which he led to a successful career as a composer, performer and director of music programming for many popular shows. He wrote such songs as "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas" and "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You." Meredith Willson Boyhood Home honors the life and music of Meredith Willson, author of "The Music Man".
Charles H MacNider Museum
The Charles H MacNider Museum in Mason City features a permanent collection of American art and a puppet gallery that displays puppets, marionettes and other props created by puppeteer, Bill Baird.
Lime Creek Nature Center
The Lime Creek Nature Center in Mason City features both live and mounted displays of birds, reptiles, mammal, fish and insects. Over eight miles of trails through prairie, forest and wetland habitat are available for hikers and skiers.
