Mason City

It seems that more and more cities we visit are learning to embrace art. Some have distinct districts that focus on showcasing artists. Others are finding a flourish of new art forms, such as murals, being introduced to their urban areas. When we arrived in Mason City, it didn't take us long to find that this Iowa city is all about art. The apex of this city's art can be found in and around the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum. Since the mid-60s, this art center has become a mecca for locals and visitors alike to explore this FREE museum that showcases some [...]

If you asked us to name a famous architect, we would probably come up with the same answer as most Americans. The reality is that while we love looking at all of the amazing architecture, we are oblivious to the masters behind the work. One name that we recognize, is Frank Lloyd Wright. This American designer created over 500 structures that carry recognizable features. It's easy to say that he impacted American architecture as much as anyone. With 60 years of magic under his belt, it's easy to say he was an inspiration for others.  We want to thank Visit Mason City and [...]

It is said that "Art imitates Life", which we have found to often be the case. Of course, then you happen upon a place like Rancho Deluxe, which leaves you in awe of the imaginative powers of the human mind. During our exploration of Mason City, we did a lot of walking. The city is ripe for pedestrian traffic, as the topography is relatively flat. Our art excursion was providing us with tons of sights and when we learned of this sidestreet discovery, we just had to make the short detour.  We want to thank Visit Mason City for hosting our visit. Rest [...]

My mother introduced me to the wonder of musicals, which served as a form of family entertainment, during my younger days. It seems that the golden age of musicals must have peaked by the beginning of the 1960s. That doesn't mean that no good films came out in this genre after that period. An example of a later addition, and one of my personal favorites, is The Music Man. To this day I will put down the remote when I come across this classic. Just the mention of the title has the melody of "Seventy-Six Trombones" running through my mind. That alone is [...]