Mason City Walking Tour Guidebook

Discover why Mason City, Iowa is ranked by Condé Nast Traveler as among “The World’s 20 Best Cities for Architecture Lovers”. It was ranked the world’s 8th most important architectural destination by the luxury and lifestyle travel magazine. While Mason City boasts two Wright properties, originally there had been plans for more. However, Wright’s departure to Europe caused these plans came to a sudden halt. The vacuum created by Wright’s withdrawl brought other Prairie School architects to Mason City, many former Wright associates. Marion Mahony Griffin, Walter Burley Griffin, Barry Byrne, William Drummond and local architect Einar Broaten combined to create Rock Crest / Rock Glen, located on both sides of Willow Creek, the largest collection of Prairie-style homes surrounding a natural setting in America. Architectural tours: Mason City Walking Tour Guide book   offers a self-guided tour through some of the city’s historic areas, including Rock Crest / Rock Glen with its Prairie School homes.

The 80 page guide book provides a wealth of background information, photos and map that covers the 40 Prairie style homes in the city, as well as nearly 40 other significant works you should see. The self guided tour takes approximately one hour.

The book is published by the River City Society for Historic Preservation.