Ya Gotta Know the Territory!

So I pass by Mason City  at least twice a year and since we just saw The Music Man at the Guthrie Theater, this time I had to stop off and see the statue comemorating Meredith Wilson.

Actually the first think I found was Mizer Madison's the Mason City Public Library. It is a beautiful building with a little lawn with statues in front.

 

 Across the street is Music Man Square.

 

It is bordered on the left by Meredith Wilson's boyhood home 

and  on the other side by a Mall  constructed to resemble River City from his famous musical.

The littel square in between has a statue of Wilson as a band leader. 

 

The sculpture of Wilson was done by a friend named Paul Kieffer.

 

For 6$ you  get access to the reconstructed town of River City (inside the nearby Mall.

The price gets you into Wilson's home to see his piano and into the museum in the Mall.

 

The Mall is run by a Not For Profit Foundation  and includes a genuine old time ice cream shop and candy store as well as recreations of other famous River City Emporia.  

Here is Marcellus' place of work, the livery stable.

 

 The end of the street has the infamous billiard parlor owned by Mayor Shin.

 

Unfortunately I did not have time to visit the museum or home, but I think it is a worthwhile project they are undertaking and the Mall may be a bit on the touristy side, but it is cute and a nice tribute to the creativity of Wilson.

 

On July 12 Mason City is bringing people up to see the Guthrie's Music Man production. I wonder if they will feel it does the great man's work justice.