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       ARTS & CULTURE





















                                           ARTS & CULTURE


        North Iowa is home to many cultural gems. People are surprised to find how much of our popular culture was influenced by
        people from, or events that happened, right here in our community. The rich art and musical heritage of North Iowa lives on in
        a new generation of artists, musicians, and performers.



        Architechture                                           If you’re a musician yourself, there are many opportunities
        Mason City was named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the   to pursue your passion. Sing in one of Mason City’s choral
        “World’s Best Cities for Architecture Lovers.” Much of that is   groups,  the  River  City  Barbershop  Chorus;  Una  Vocis;  or
        credited to the work of “America’s greatest architect”, Frank   the North Iowa Choral Society, or play with the Mason City
        Lloyd Wright, who left his mark on North Iowa in the early   Municipal  Band;  the  New  Horizons  Band;  the  North  Iowa
        1900s. Visit the Historic Park Inn, the world’s only remaining   Concert Band; or the North Iowa Symphony Orchestra.
        hotel designed by Wright, or the Wright-designed Stockman
        House. Pick up a guidebook and take a tour of Rock Crest/  Tunes  for  the  Town  brings  music  to  the  streets;  tickle  the
        Rock Glen Historic District - the largest collection of Prairie   ivories at one of the community pianos in downtown Mason
        School architecture that is unified by a common setting in the   City.
        world. You may also stop in the Mason City Public Library,
        made famous in the library scene of “The Music Man,” and
        extensively renovated in 2010.


        Music
        A love for music is deeply entrenched in our region’s culture.
        Tony Award-winning composer Meredith Willson grew up in
        Mason City, and his influence is remembered at The Music
        Man Square  – which features  a museum  and offers music
        lessons for young and old. We celebrate Willson and Mason
        City’s musical heritage at the annual North Iowa Band Festival   Art
        – the unofficial kickoff to summer in North Iowa. The Historic   North Iowa is the proud home of the Charles H. MacNider Art
        Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake is best known as the site for Buddy   Museum, which houses an impressive collection of American
        Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper’s final performance   art.  View  work  by  Grant Wood  (a  common  visitor  to  the
        in 1959, but it continues to be a hot music venue for high-  region), Thomas Hart Benton, and the puppets of Bil Baird (a
        profile entertainers.                                   Mason City High School graduate). You’ll recall seeing Baird’s
                                                                marionettes in the movie “The Sound of Music.” Temporary



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