Melissa is an exceptional partner in regional economic development. Her ability to coordinate seamlessly with Alliant Energy ensures that Winnebago and Worth counties are always positioned for growth. She is proactive, deeply knowledgeable, and highly collaborative- bringing her into a project early is a guarantee that things will move forward efficiently and successfully.
— Chad Hansen , Alliant Energy
Winn-Worth Betco Arts and Culture
With its inspiring pastoral landscapes and historic small town main streets, Winnebago and Worth counties attract those who are looking to escape the chaos and cost of the city, including those looking for cultural amenities.
With it’s close proximity to Minneapolis and Des Moines, you’ll find North Iowa’s leading destination for artists and art connoisseurs alike. The Winn-Worth Betco region boasts of cutting edge farm-to-table culinary experiences, a vibrant theater and performing arts scene and participates in the award-winning North Iowa Independent Film Festival.
The Winn-Worth Betco region is made up of several small towns known as artists retreats, where writers, chefs, musicians and filmmakers gather. Vacationers looking for experiences that provide a deeper understanding and appreciation for what they eat and a connection to the land can find all of that in the Winn-Worth Betco region. With its vibrant agricultural community, and close proximity to where ingredients are raised and grown, chefs are drawn away from the cities to open their own restaurants where they serve fabulous farm-to-table fare. Showcasing a vibrant fine arts center, studios, shops, and quaint galleries the Winn-Worth Betco area is sure to spark creativity and bring out the artist within.
WORTH COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROPERTIES
The Worth County Freedom Rock is in Kensett on the grounds of the community center. The following Worth County Historical Society properties can be found here.
WINNEBAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Winnebago Historical Society is housed in the Mansion Museum at 336 North Clark St., and it oversees Heritage Park, a 91-acre park on the south edge of Forest City. Its mission is to educate children and adults through the Mansion Museum, reintroduce families to their past through the Leibrand-Whiteis Historical Center and recreate the lives and livelihoods of our ancestors at Heritage Park of North Iowa.
Museums and Points of Interest
Arlington Park - Lake Mills
Arlington Park, along North Mill Street in Lake Mills, is home to a Sherman Tank in memory of Lake Mills native, Gen. Joseph M. Colby, who designed tanks. The Park is home to the Lake Mills Veterans Monument, constructed in 2004 as well. It includes the names of living and deceased veterans from the area. This area is also home to the Winnebago County Freedom Rock.
The Gladys Pixley Memorial Log House
This log house was built in 1858 in Silver Lake Township, northwest of Northwood, by James Randall. It has been restored to its original condition, and a native limestone fireplace has been added.
The Old Creamery Museum
This building was built about 1892 in Northwood as a creamery, which was in operation until the 1950s and now contains antiques.
Chapel Hill Cemetery
270 370th Street
Joice, Iowa
641-588-3333.
Chapel Hill, south of Joice, is home to a pioneer cemetery and native prairie with a small church with four pews.
Farmers in the area bought the two acres that comprise the cemetery in 1878. The Historical Society accepted a gift from Tom Fretty of a miniature (8-by-12-foot) church. This tiny church was moved in 1982 to the cemetery near Fertile and renovated.
Grafton Heritage Depot
This depot was built in 1878 by the Chicago-Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad on the branch line from Mason City, Iowa to Austin, Minnesota. In June 1976, the depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and now is being used as a railroad museum and local heritage center.
Kensett Community Church
The Church Museum, built in 1899, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The main floor is used as a community museum and the basement is used for community meetings and social events.
Citizens Savings Bank Museum
The former Citizens Savings Bank Building in Hanlontown opened in 1920 and closed in 2000. The building combines elements from a variety of architectural styles. The exterior has a predominantly Classical Revival style design, but a closer look reveals elements of other styles. The interior is predominantly done in the Prairie School Style, and abounds with oak woodwork, stained glass, and marble.
Sime-Oswald Cabin
This pioneer cabin’s oak logs still bear the marks of the ax that split their lengths almost 150 years ago. They were hewn at a time when the country was reinventing itself after the Civil War. The cabin was built by Norwegian immigrant Arne Sime in 1869. “The skill, the work, the labor it took to do this — it is inconceivable to us today,” said Richard Holstad, a descendant of the cabin’s builder. Hanlontown is now home to the 18-by-30-foot two-story cabin that, despite as many as three moves from its original spot, still stands strong against time — with a little help.
Swensrud School
Grove Township District School No. 5 (The Swensrud School)
The schoolhouse was built in 1874 by William G. Stott on the farm of John McQuatters, three miles east and one mile north of Northwood. About 1890, it was moved one mile north, where it stood until it was moved from the Swensrud farm to its present location in 1972.
The school contains rows of desks with carvings of long ago, a pot-bellied stove, lunch pails on the bench and a collection of old schoolbooks. The names of the teachers who taught in this school are posted on the wall.
Heritage Park of North Iowa
Heritage Park of North Iowa is a 91-acre site located on the south edge of Forest City. Heritage Park of North Iowa was formed in the fall of 1999 by the Winnebago Historical Society, Inc. and includes the combining of several North Iowa organization efforts to preserve the history of rural America.
Machinery Museum
On the north bank of the Shell Rock River across the street from the Old Creamery in Northwood is the red Machinery Museum. It houses hundreds of pieces of machinery and equipment used in the area by our forefathers to farm our rich, fertile Worth County soil from the Swensrud farm to its present location in 1972.
Burnap Country School Museum
The Burnap Country School Museum on North Mill Street in Lake Mills is open by appointment. Please call LMCDC for more information.
Buffalo Center Historical Society
It is the mission of the Buffalo Center Historical Society to educate, preserve and promote understanding of the cultural, social and human history of Buffalo Center and surrounding areas. In pursuit of this mission, the Society will gather and preserve anything of historical relevance to the area. The Society will use public display and programming to further the cultural atmosphere of northern Iowa and historical awareness of our citizens.
Grant Township School House #5
Grant Township School House #5 is six miles south of Buffalo Center, Iowa, home of the first consolidated school west of the Mississippi. The schoolhouse stands on its original location but was not the first schoolhouse on that site. While schoolhouse records are still being hunted down, oral histories place the construction of the school in the 1920's. From a purely historical standpoint, the schoolhouse represents Iowa's education system in the era of transition between country schools and consolidation. The Grant School remained open, according to oral reports, until the 1950's, at which point it became the township voting center.
The school was considered "modern" at the time of construction, with two cloakrooms, main classroom, basement with furnace, and separate boys' and girls' bathrooms with chemical toilets.
The Mansion Museum
Located at 336 North Clark Street in Forest City, this museum houses the early history of Winnebago County and the Ida Fuller display.
The Promise of America
“The Promise of America” statue is located on the east side of Lake Mills along North 3rd Ave. and is a tribute to Norwegian-American immigrant families who settled in this region.
Victorian House
Built in 1901, with gardens, this beautiful house is available to rent for special gatherings and is located at 308 South Lincoln St. in Lake Mills. The public is welcome to enjoy the gardens. Please call LMCDC to schedule a visit.
Winnebago County Veterans' Monument
Located on the grounds of the Winnebago County Courthouse in Forest City. The names of veterans from Winnebago County from all wars, all eras are on the monument.
Northwood Commercial Historic District
917 Central Ave.
Northwood, IA 50459
Phone: (641) 324-1180
Emcompasses the Central Museum, Swensrud Country School House, the Old Creamery and an 1859 log cabin - all part of the Worth County Historical Society. Additional attractions operated by the historical society include: Chapel Hill at Joice; Heritage Depot at Grafton; Community Church Museum and Log Cabin Museum at Kensett; Citizens Savings Bank Museum at Hanlontown; Simne-Oswald Log Cabin at Hanlontown; Bolan School House and Cultural Center at Bolan—and more.
Heritage Park Of North Iowa
1811 Sage Court
Forest City, IA 50436
641.512.1927
Heritage Park is a 91-acre outdoor museum dedicated to the preservation of America's rural heritage. Hosting various events throughout spring and summer; most free of charge to attend.
Bolan Schoolhouse & Cultural Center
4211 Tulip Lane
Kensett, IA 50448
641-845-2677
A fully restored 1923 two-room schoolhouse, where the lower level serves as a community center hosting a variety of events. The upper level displays educational and local Memorabilia.
Originally there were two rural schools located one mile north and one mile south of Bolan. After the south school burned in 1922, the school board decided to rebuild at the Bolan corner and consolidate the two schools into one two-room school. The Bolan church was used as a makeshift school to complete the school year.
In the Spring of 1923, the big day arrived to move into the new school. Such elegance! The rooms were large, everything spanking new, including desks and teachers’ desks. There were separate coat rooms for boys and girls. A front entrance sported a fountain, of sorts, that was filled by students taking turns carrying water from Emma Hummel’s well which was nearest. There were indoor chemical toilets and a full basement to play in during inclement weather.
Scott & Lori Willert bought the property in the fall of 2002, and the building became known as the Bolan Schoolhouse where consignment vendors would sell their crafts, artwork, antiques, and other unique products.
In April 2009, the Willerts donated the land and building to the Bolan Schoolhouse & Cultural Center, which is an eleven-member nonprofit board that organized in September 2007.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church Altar
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, built in 1936 in Grafton, features a unique hand-carved altar by Alois Lang of Germany. The altar is one of three in the U.S. that Lang was commissioned to produce.
The Caboose Museum
This Museum is a restored Rock Island railroad caboose. It is in town on Highway 9 in Manly. Call 641-454-3090 for information.
Manly Junction RR Museum
This is an extensive RR Museum with numerous displays, exhibits, and personal collection items from Iowa Northern Railway Co. and the Sabin family. It is located at 111 Main St. East in Manly. Call for your personal appointment at 641-454-8029.
Rhodes Mill
W Main St.
Fertile, IA 50434
918-630-9935.
Rhodes Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and lies adjacent to William Rhodes Park on the Winnebago River in Fertile. This historic mill is now Rhodes Mill Retreat.
The Top of Iowa Welcome Center
The Top of Iowa Welcome Center is a large red barn shaped structure featuring travel brochures, vending machines, a coffee shop and gift shop featuring Iowa-made products and crafts.
Worth County Veterans' Monument
Located on the grounds of the Worth County Courthouse, the names of veterans from Worth County from all wars, all eras are on the monument.
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Worth County Main Museum
The museum was built in 1879 as the Worth County Courthouse in Northwood. Special displays and demonstrations significant to local history are featured on the main floor, and on the second floor are dioramas reminiscent of the late 1800s.
Theater and Performing Arts
BrickStreet Theatre
Founded in 1973, BrickStreet Theatre has grown from a small volunteer troupe into a thriving 501(c)(3) community theatre serving North Iowa and Southern Minnesota. With a history of beloved musicals, plays, and youth camps, BrickStreet now offers a full season of productions and educational programs from its expanded home on Highway 69 South. Supported by dedicated leaders and patrons, the theatre continues to inspire audiences and nurture creativity through live performances, youth engagement, and community events.
The Boman Fine Arts Center
225 John K Hanson Drive
Forest City, IA 50436
641- 585-2020
The Boman Fine Arts Center consists of a state-of-the-art 630-seat theatre with an orchestra pit, hosting theatrical performances, art displays, regional and national touring groups, speaker engagements, weddings, special occasions, and the Waldorf University Artist Series.
Food Arts
Wood Fire Grille
777 Diamond Jo Lane
Northwood
641-323-7821
In a cozy, fireside atmosphere, Woodfire Grille has the style and warmth that make it perfect for an evening dinner out. Enjoy cedar-planked salmon, juicy cuts of beef, flavorful pasta and other signature entrées.
The Branding Iron
135 Jackson Street,
Thompson, IA 50478
641-584-2912
The Branding Iron has been the premier steakhouse in Northern Iowa for over 40 years. People line up outside before this hometown steakhouse opens its doors for service.
Cafe Mir
113 West Main Street,
Fertile
641-797-2999
Mír // Czech for Peace. Cafe Mír is a community cafe in Fertile, Iowa featuring wood-fired pizzas and local farm fare in a quaint setting on the Winnebago River. Proud to use local and organic products whenever possible.
Signature’s
728 Central Ave.
Northwood
641-324-1052
Northern Iowa & Southern Minnesota's Premier Supper Club.
Art Studios Galleries and Shops
Waldorf College Art Gallery
Waldorf College Art Gallery
106 South 6th St,
Forest City, IA 50436
641.585.8210
Waldorf University is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Forest City hosting a variety of art shows.
Iowa Artists Region 2 Show
Heritage Center
201 2nd Avenue
Buffalo Center, IA
Promoting and educating artists throughout the state. Participate in painting groups to art shows and workshops, all artists are invited to join and share in our experiences in the Iowa art world!
Film
Iowa Independent Film Festival
P.O. Box 109
Mason City, Iowa 50402
A premiere independent film festival in Iowa offering opportunities to experience the best in independent filmmaking. With movies spanning the genres of short films, documentaries and features.