tourism - Prairie Rivers of Iowa

Carnegie Libraries byways Tour: Clinton Public Library

by Jeanie Hau | Jan 8, 2026

The Clinton Public Carnegie Library, 2025

The Lincoln Highway is the crossroad in this photo.

Located on the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway at the corner of S. 3^rd St and 306 8^th Ave S., the Clinton Public Library was funded by a grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on August 24, 1901 in the amount of $30,000. The library was approved by the city in spring of 1902, a board was created, and planning began. In the spring of 1903, Carnegie agreed to increase the grant to the amount of $45,000. A corner lot of land was given by Mrs. Emma Lamb Young. The public school library donated several thousand volumes of books to fill the library shelves. The library officially opened its doors on November 8, 1904. Today, it continues to honor more than 110 years of service to local residents.

The library’s main building was designed by the Chicago architectural firm Patton & Miller and constructed by Daniel Haring between the years of 1903 and 1904 (cornerstone date is 1903). The structure features two stories and a raised basement. Limestone was used for the exterior. Built in the Beaux-Arts style, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, cementing its status as a cultural landmark.

The 1^st Board of Trustees consisted of the following: Hon. George D. McDaid, president; George B. Phelps, secretary; Mrs. W.I. Haynes, Virtus Lund, Sr.; Theo. Carstensen, Petrel Davis, Rev. E.H. McLaughlin, E.E. Hecker. Hon. George D. McDaid, who was also the mayor at the time, passed away before seeing the library completed. Mrs. W.I. Haynes was instrumental in the development and design of the library to allow for the capability to host a multitude of activities.

The Library Board of Trustees appointed Miss Belle Sweet as the first librarian in early 1904. Miss Sweet, like other librarians at the time, completed a course in library training at the University of Illinois. She had completed previous college work at the University of Wisconsin and was a high school teacher in Clinton prior to her appointment as librarian. Her assistant was Miss Lillian Cook, who attended the Iowa Summer Library School in 1904.

Just as in the beginning, the library today offers a robust circulating collection. Visitors can explore thousands of books, periodicals, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, reference materials, and other resources designed for all ages. The library has a Genealogy Department on the second floor, which serves as a designated Family Search Center, and in 2014, the library launched the Clinton Public Library Historic Newspaper Project. The project was created to digitize newspapers from the former Lyons and Clinton communities, dating from 1856 to 1927. This effort preserved an important piece of local history and made it accessible to researchers and residents alike.

Whether accessed in person, online, or through interlibrary loan, the library’s multimedia offerings continue to serve Clinton, Iowa, as more than just a building. The Clinton Public Library is a vital cultural and educational hub. Its collections, programs, and historical archives support the needs of patrons while preserving the stories of the community it serves.

* Sources were Wikipedia and the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project –(all historic photos were obtained from the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project)–

Postcard: source unknown

Source: Clinton Public Library and Iowa Carnegie Library Project.

Clinton Public Library

clinton carnegie library source 1st report of the iowa library commission

Source: 1st Report of Iowa Library Commission 1900-1902 (1904)

2025 photo showing the elevated basement.

1903 Cornerstone Date

Beaux-Arts Style Decoration

Welcoming visitors to Clinton, IA

2025 Clinton Public Library

Byway Carnegie Libraries to receive $10,000 Gifts

by Jeanie Hau | Dec 5, 2025

In October of this year, Carnegie Libraries across the nation received an email alerting them to a gift no one was expecting. The Carnegie Corporation of New York (originally the Carnegie Foundation) stated on their website that Carnegie Libraries will each receive a $10,000 gift to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To qualify, libraries must have been originally funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, remain operational, and acknowledge their Carnegie heritage. Cedar Rapids is an example. Cedar Rapids, for example, continues to honor its Carnegie connection, even though its Carnegie building is now a part of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Gift recipients may use the funds however they wish to celebrate the 250th anniversary, thereby advancing their mission and benefiting their communities (Carnegie C of NY press release).

Between 1892 and 1917, fifteen Public Carnegie Libraries and one Academic Carnegie Library were located and built along the Lincoln Highway in Iowa. Many of these libraries were built in towns along the Lincoln Highway because they linked communities and gave Carnegie’s libraries even greater visibility and accessibility. In western Iowa, a line can connect the dots where a Carnegie Library can be found in Denison, in Dunlap, in Logan, in Woodbine, and in Missouri Valley.

In exchange for the free grant to build a library, the communities receiving the grants needed to obtain property, city support, an architect, a builder, and the books to fill their library. It was often women’s groups or single librarians who applied for the grants and who were tasked with getting city support for the endeavor.

Of Iowa’s 108 Carnegie libraries, 52 are still in use as libraries today, 46 exist but are no longer libraries and 10 no longer exist. Of the Lincoln Highway’s 16 libraries built, 7 are still used as libraries: Clinton Public Library, Ames Public Library, Jefferson Iowa Public Library, Norelius Public Library (Denison), Logan Public Library, Woodbine Carnegie Library, and Missouri Valley Public Library.

All Lincoln Highway Carnegie buildings still exist although the remaining 9 outgrew their buildings and built new libraries as opposed to building additions. Carroll, Cedar Rapids, and Council Bluffs are museums, Marion and Dunlap are used by churches, DeWitt is a restaurant (The Old Library), Marshalltown is a government building, Tama is privately owned, and Cornell in Mount Vernon is the Norton Geology Center and Anderson Museum (academic and public shared). Iowa Valley Carnegie libraries include Marengo and Traer (audio tour); both remain operational as libraries.

Active and prospering libraries who have built new buildings (links): Carroll Public Library, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Council Bluffs Public Library, DeWitt Public Library, Marshalltown Public Library, Louise & Lucile Hink Tama Public Library, Cole Mount Vernon Public Library (joint academic library).

Byway Carnegie Libraries who have announced on Facebook that they are accepting the gift include Traer (Iowa Valley), Clinton, Carroll, Logan, and Woodbine. The libraries are asking their patrons to share stories about their library and submit photos for possible inclusion on carnegielibraries.org. The site is part of Carnegie Libraries Across America, a resource that enables visitors to learn about each building. Iowa has a similar program, Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project. Reach out to your local library to find out how to submit your stories.

For more information on Andrew Carnegie’s library legacy, check out a timeline and a video posted by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Stay informed by signing up for the foundation’s Unstacked newsletter.

Wherever you are on the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, you are near an Andrew Carnegie historic library building. With Iowa’s library open access program, you can check out more than just the history. Follow me on the byway as we explore the 16 Carnegie Libraries of the Iowa Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway and the two along the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway.

Until next month…see you on the byway!

–Jeanie

Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Iowa Prairie Rivers of Iowa

Prairie Rivers receives $5,000 for Inventory of Lincoln Highway Museum

by Jeanie Hau | Sep 2, 2025

The State Historical Society, Inc. of Iowa has awarded Prairie Rivers of Iowa with a $5,000 grant to begin an estimated $10,000 project to inventory the Lincoln Highway Museum in Grand Junction, Iowa.

Created in 1983, as a separate entity from the State Historical Board, the State Historical Society, Inc. of Iowa is a non-profit dedicated to protecting the heritage of Iowa. The organization utilizes its funds to support the preservation of Iowa’s history with a grant cycle available twice a year. Grants are available for projects which:

Collect and preserve materials
Conduct historical studies and research projects
Spread knowledge of the history of Iowa

Bob and Joyce Ausberger own and manage the Lincoln Highway Museum in Grand Junction, Iowa. In the late 1980s, the Ausbergers set out to save the Eureka Bridge in Greene County from destruction. After winning the battle in court to save a version of the historic bridge, the Ausbergers were tied to the Lincoln Highway and the preservation of its history.

Through the years, the Ausbergers have collected an estimated 1000 objects related to the Lincoln Highway and highway development in Iowa. In addition to objects and artifacts, the museum, housed in an old bank, features a well-established library of books, postcards, original blue-prints, and the archive of a precursor group to the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association.

The Lincoln Highway Museum Inventory Project began last spring with the assistance of the Historical Society of Iowa’s Field Services Program. Collections professional, Angela Stanford from Advanced Museum Services visited the museum and was able to define a scope and proper methods and procedures to use for completion of an inventory. To complete the inventory by a professional, an estimated $10,000 is needed. The $5,000 will allow us to begin the inventory and establish a system which can be completed in the future when additional funding is found.

Archives in the bank vault at the Lincoln Highway Museum

At the conclusion of the inventory, the Lincoln Highway Museum will have a comprehensive record of what is in the collection and where the pieces are located within the museum. The inventory document will also be a tool to identify gaps in the collection and to add stories to the artifact entries.

As museums and archives struggle with traditional funding practices to preserve history, we must continue to take the steps necessary to ensure that history is not lost. The Lincoln Highway Museum Inventory is that current step that we are taking to look to the future.

Reed-Niland Corner, Inc is Formed

by Jeanie Hau | Sep 2, 2025

A new non-profit group, the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc., has been formed in Colo, Iowa, with the intent to take over the ownership and management of the Reed-Niland Corner. One member of the organization must be a representative for the Jefferson Highway, one member must represent the Lincoln Highway, one member must represent the Colo Historical Association, and two members must be Colo residents. The organization currently has 12 members.

Initial paperwork has been completed, and the group is forming committees to fulfill the dedicated purpose to preserve, maintain, and promote the visitor experience of the historic Reed-Niland Corner. And to the continued operation of the café, motel, museum, and apartment buildings through activities which shall include educational programs, advocacy, fundraising, maintenance, and oversight of this historic site. The group hopes to be in a position to take over the ownership of the Corner near the first of the year, 2026.

Early days of Reed's Standard Service Station - Colo Historical Association Photo

Background: It has been over 100 years since Charlie sold his first customer gas at the SE corner of his family farm. What began as a supplemental income to farming became a way of life for Charlie Reed, his nephews (the Niland families), and much of the community of Colo. Being located at the crossing of two transcontinental roadways, the Lincoln Highway and the Jefferson Highway, the businesses needed to employ many residents of Colo and the surrounding communities. The Corner became a part of the community.

When Highway 30 was moved to the south and Interstate 35 was built to the west, business declined, and operations ceased by 1995. When the city was gifted the site (minus the apartment building) in 1999 by John Niland, the Lincoln Highway Association and the community of Colo worked together to obtain a succession of grants and donations to restore the buildings and site. By 2003, the station had been restored to an early 1930s design, the café was restored to an appearance it had in 1955, and the motel was restored to a 1946 appearance. The café was leased to operate as a 1950s diner and interpretive center, and the motel rooms were available for rent once again. The Reed-Niland Corner became a popular “one-stop” site to visit on a national level for both the Lincoln Highway Association travelers and the Jefferson Highway Association travelers.

Flash-forward almost 25 years, and the Corner is now in a new Era. The community of Colo has invested in a new fire station, a rehabbed fire truck, and a new housing development. Resources are scarce, and insurance premiums are up. At a City Council meeting in February 2025, the council suggested that the city should sell the Corner. Rural Colo resident and Colo Historical Association member, Brenda McGuire, happened to be at the meeting and began asking questions. Brenda contacted Prairie Rivers of Iowa who had recently recorded a video of past Reed Station employees.

Together, Prairie Rivers of Iowa staff, Iowa Lincoln Highway Association members, Jefferson Highway representatives, Kelsey Reed (the current lease holder of Niland’s Café and the Colo Motel), and numerous community members started meeting to discuss options for the Corner.

It was agreed upon that National Register status and Local Preservation guidelines should be created to protect the property.
A non-profit should be formed to take over the ownership of the property in order to preserve it and to continue operations

Prairie Rivers of Iowa Special Projects Coordinator, Shellie Orngaard, is working towards a National Register of Historic Places Nomination for the Reed-Niland Corner District. She is also assisting the City in developing local preservation guidelines.

The Colo Historical Association has been working on grants for awnings for the Reed Station, for which they have recently received awards. The Association has recently posted that they will no longer be located at the station and will not have the station open on the last weekend of the month. Since this is a new development, the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc. has not had a meeting to discuss and cannot comment at this time.

Maintenance issues at the Corner continue to be addressed by the city and the Colo Development Group. A grant committee on the new non-profit is working to find grants to help fund these needs. As with any property management, new maintenance needs arise frequently and communication between groups is key at this time.

Finally, in uplifting news, WHO and “Gabe on the Go” recently filmed a segment at the Corner interviewing former city clerk, Scott Berka and Reed-Niland Corner, Inc President, Brenda McGuire. As Brenda said in the interview, “We hope that the Corner can be a gathering place for years to come.”

This update is provided by the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway Coordinator, Jeanie Hau, and is not an official statement of the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc.

If you would like to help, please email:

Attn: Reed-Niland Corner, Inc.

bmcguire25@hotmail.com

Mailing Address:

Reed-Niland Corner, Inc.

PO Box 244

Colo, Iowa 50056

Summer along the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway

by Jeanie Hau | Jul 1, 2025

Byway Travelers,

It is summer in Iowa which means heat, tall corn, and it is time for the prairies to put on a show! From wetlands to tallgrass prairie species, the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway has opportunities to enjoy plant and wildlife beauty all summer long.

Northwest of Chelsea at the western end of the 77-mile byway, is an observation deck shaped like an eagle in flight. The deck overlooks a wetland prairie at Otter Creek Marsh State Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy marsh marigold, pickerel weed, and buttonbush along with various duck species and herons.

At the eastern end of the byway enjoy the wonder of Lily Lake in July. Thousands of blooming yellow American Lotus fill the lake as do birds such as pelicans, songbirds, and trumpeter swans. A short, family-friendly multi-use trail, the Kolonieweg Trail surrounds Lily Lake. In German, Kolonieweg translates to “Colony Way” which perfectly describes this trail that offers scenic views of the Millrace, pastures, farmland, and a prairie edge.

View of the Woolen Mill (left) and Hotel Millright today. Photographer looking east along the Mill Race.

July 4^th is a special time for the Amana Colonies story as their ancestors came to America for religious freedom. The annual celebration includes pick-up baseball games in the park (check out the unique story of baseball in the Amanas at the Norway Baseball Museum of Iowa), a huge pot-luck supper and fireworks over Lily Lake.

Later in July (July 26) tour the gardens at residences and businesses in the Amana Colonies during the Colonies in Bloom event. Each garden is unique, and visitors will experience both modern and traditional gardens. The self-guided garden tour includes gardens of vegetables, fruits, perennials, annuals, and much more.

If you can’t make the trip until August, plan to participate in the Annual Bike Ride of Iowa County with numerous stops and picturesque views from Amana to Marengo and back. This 28-mile fun ride is free and appropriate for all ages.

Get away for a long weekend in Marengo. Take in the Market at the City Park with homegrown produce and handmade goods every Thursday night in the summer. Then explore the Pioneer Heritage Museum and the next day and take in a game and dinner at Lucky 6 Lanes. Or relax with a day of fishing at the lake or take in the music at the family-owned Fireside Winery. You can find many sites in Marengo which are on the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Audio Tour & App (www.seeyouonthebyway.stqry.app). Visit Gateway Park for a walk around the lake and the Veteran’s Memorial including the Iowa County Freedom Rock.

Have a great summer and I will see you on the byway!

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