iowa - Prairie Rivers of Iowa

A New Era Begins at the Reed-Niland Corner: Community, Preservation, and a June 14 Celebration

by Jeanie Hau | Apr 7, 2026

Tuesday morning arrived with a message that many in Colo have been waiting for, especially the board members of the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc. “Well, we are officially owners of the Reed‑Niland Corner as of yesterday! (Do we break out the champagne yet?),” wrote President Brenda McGuire. [ I will bring the Lincoln Highway wine, Brenda!] After a year of planning, meetings, and community collaboration, the historic corner officially has a new future.

A Journey Rooted in Community History

My story of this preservation effort stretches back to 2023, when I wrote my first article for this newsletter, and it was on the 100^th Anniversary of the Reed-Niland Corner. In 2024, I was contacted by Brenda, a member of the Colo Historical Association, to film an oral history video with past Reed Station employees.

When I received a call from Brenda on Feb 4, 2025, it didn’t seem unusual. However, that was a phone call that I will always remember. It happened to be my birthday, and I had a full schedule, but Brenda caught me when I was on the road. She was in a bit of a panic and revealed that the Colo City Council had discussed the possibility of selling the Reed‑Niland Corner due to insurance costs. We were extremely concerned that someone who didn’t value the history could end up with the corner and tear it down.

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

Seeking guidance, I turned to Ann Opatz, of the Pleasant Grove Heritage Park, Inc, a non-profit formed due to a similar situation along the Lincoln Highway in Lisbon, IA. The Meyers Farm Historic District is a National Register listed property that suffered structural damage after the 2020 derecho.

The fence post, water trough, and 3 historic barns are significant to the historic property.

The City of Lisbon (the owner) was informed by their insurance company that they needed to demolish the buildings in order to be insured. Ann was a member of the Lisbon Historic Preservation Commission at the time and she worked to establish the non-profit who took over ownership of the property which proved to be a model for what could be possible in Colo.

Mobilizing a Community

A public meeting soon followed, filling the community room with city officials, former employees, longtime customers, and residents who shared heartfelt memories of the corner. Tears were shed from both sides of the discussion. Representatives from the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association and the Jefferson Highway Association also attended to explain the importance of the Corner to the story of automobile and roadway development in America.

Gravel_Road_Antique_Car_PhotobyMichaelKelly-22

With guidance from preservation specialist Shellie Orngard, the group aligned around a plan to pursue National Register of Historic Places status and establish a local preservation commission. The group also agreed to explore nonprofit ownership.

The Colo Historical Association (who had been running the Reed Station Museum) supported the effort but recognized that managing a café, motel, museum, and apartments was beyond its mission. They were currently outgrowing the station and looking for an alternative space. That clarity helped pave the way for a new organization dedicated solely to the Reed‑Niland Corner experience and for the Colo Historical Association to take the plunge to build an extension to the community room for their new larger Colo Museum.

Reed‑Niland Corner, Inc.

After several meetings, it was clear that establishing a separate nonprofit was going to be necessary. The first meeting was set for April 10^th. The founding members of the nonprofit were: Brenda McGuire, Kathy Mens, Sue McKinney, Paula Cady, Leeann Beavers, Michael Keul, Deborah McIntosh, Ryan McKinney, Danielle O’Rourke, Russ O’Rourke, Jan Gammon, Jeanie Hau, and Shellie Orngard.

The nonprofit took shape with a mission dedicated to preserve, maintain, and promote the visitor experience of the historic Reed-Niland Corner and the continued operation of the cafe, motel, museum, and apartment buildings. Nearly every month someone new would want to join the board. The board now includes experts in history, restoration, insurance, finance, grant writing, and maintenance, along with representatives from the Lincoln Highway Association, Jefferson Highway Association, and Colo Historical Association.

Recent Accomplishments/Media Attention

WHO and Gabe On the Go on channel 13
A Jefferson Highway Association monthly podcast show: “Visit the Historic Reed-Niland Corner in Colo, IA” on Big Blend Radio.
A $5,000 grant was secured from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to pursue National Register status.
The Business Insider documentary on the Reed‑Niland Corner (and the world’s biggest truck stop) surpassed 3.8 million views.
Additional grants were submitted for neon sign restoration, door repairs, and other needs.
Donations covered the first year of insurance

On April 6, 2026, less than a year since the first meeting to form the nonprofit was held, the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc. became the owners of the Reed-Niland Corner.

Mayor Jeff Brinkman shared his appreciation in writing, “Thanks to the Reed-Niland group for taking over this historic corner. The group of volunteers will do a fabulous job maintaining such an important part of Colo’s history. Thanks for working with the City for the past year and I wish you the best of luck in your mission!” Sincerely, J. S. B. Mayor

The Colo City Clerk, Amy Kohlwes, unofficially did a little dance, and Reed-Niland Corner Inc President, Brenda McGuire, took in a deep breath.

Reed-Niland Corner Board Member, Janell Komodromou, says that she is “excited to make a difference in the area of maintenance needs!”

A Celebration of the Reed-Niland Corner, Sunday, June 14th

To celebrate this new era of the corner and several major anniversaries, the Reed-Niland Corner Inc. along with the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway and the Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway are throwing a full-day celebration!

The event marks:

Niland’s Café’s 100+ years
Colo’s 150th anniversary, settlement of New Albany 170^th anniversary
- The Colo Historical Association will have an event on Sunday, April 26^th at their new location!
America’s 250th anniversary
The meeting of the Lincoln and Jefferson Highways 100+ years anniversary
The beginning of Reed‑Niland Corner, Inc.’s stewardship

A jam-packed day is planned for all. A national event will be present. A kids’ show from Silly Sally will start the day, followed by a pie-eating contest for all ages, a 12-time Fiddle state champion, Bingo, games, and contests. The evening will begin at 4 pm with the Lincoln Highway Band, straight out of Iowa, who were inspired by the Reed-Niland Corner! Food specials will also be available and pies, pies, pies courtesy of Niland’s Café and the Pie Maker!

A National Event: Portraits of Hope: America 250

One of the most exciting parts of our day of celebration is Portraits of Hope: America 250, a national art project traveling to all 50 states. Colo is one of three Iowa locations participating and currently the first.

Participants will paint large 4′ x 10′ acrylic sheets that will later be assembled into illuminated lanterns displayed in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., this October. The project is designed for ages 14 and up, though younger children may participate with hand-held guidance to paint within the lines.

At least 71 painters are needed but the team is aiming for 150. Discover Ames awarded us a grant, Niland’s Cafe, and the Lincoln and Jefferson Highway Heritage Byways are our first Sponsors.

We are looking for more sponsors! If you would like your business or community group logo and name on our banner and posters, contact reednilandcorner@gmail.com or jhau@prrcd.org. We have several levels to choose from!

See you on the byway!

Carnegie Library byways Tour: DeWitt, IA

by Jeanie Hau | Feb 5, 2026

The Old Library DeWitt Iowa Carnegie Library

Heading west on the Lincoln Highway, we come to our next Carnegie Library in DeWitt, Iowa. DeWitt had a public library long before it had a Carnegie Library. In 1897, a large group of citizens created the DeWitt Library Association by selling stocks. Stockholders gave $1 every 6 months for 5 years to have access to the library. Non-stockholders could also obtain a library card by paying a fee of $1 every year. The library contained 800 volumes.

By 1901, the citizens, as well as electors, petitioned for the library to be a Free Public Library funded and maintained through taxes. On March 25th of that year, during a regular municipal election, a majority vote was reached in favor of the Free Library. In January of 1902, the stockholders voted to turn the library over, and on April 2nd, the deed was transferred to the city. On April 7th, the Free DeWitt Public Library was opened to the public in a rented building on Main Street.

It wasn’t until 1906 that the DeWitt Public Library Board of Trustees began discussing the possibility of a Carnegie Grant, but with the growth of the library, a new space was needed. By April 8th, 1907, a Carnegie Grant was offered with the usual requirements of the city, which many were already met; a location was all that was needed. The corner of what is now 6th Ave and 9th St. was chosen.

The original grant offer was for $5,600, and an additional grant of $1,516 to complete the build. The architect of the Neoclassical design is unknown, and the contractor was Large Brothers from DeWitt. The opening date was June 1, 1908, and by 1909, the collection had grown to 1,774 books serving not just DeWitt but also surrounding communities and even troops during WW1 and WW2.

A remodel was done in 1962 to lighten the dark interior and add shelving and desks, but by the 1980s, the Board began looking for a new location as they had outgrown the Carnegie Building. After raising the needed funds and receiving large donations, the Frances Banta Waggoner Library opened its doors across from Lincoln Park. With 7,500 square feet of space, the library could now offer meeting areas and computer stations. The staff and volunteers moved the 15,000 volumes of books to the new location.

For a time, the town’s City Hall was located in the Carnegie Building until it outgrew the space. Then, a couple converted the building into a family home. In March of 2016, Jon and Lindsay Thiel bought the building and converted it into an event space.

This time is significant as they restored the original hardwood floors and wood trim around the doorways, converted the old wooden doors into the bar, and added handicap accessibility.

They chose to name the business ‘The Old Library’ as the building was already affectionately referred to by the town. The lower level was then rented to Soul Sisters Boutique (still in business but at a different location).

The Old Library event center and bar was successful, still, the busy life of the Thiels led them to sell the business to Beth and Martin Lanhart in February 2018. The Lanharts remodeled the building once again to expand the business with a kitchen and restaurant, which still operates today!

The Old Library is a family-run restaurant that takes pride in crafting every dish with care. They are open Wed-Sat 5 pm-9 pm.

Meanwhile, the Frances Banta Waggoner Community Library was outgrowing its space once again. In 2019, the library received a Community Attraction and Tourism grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and expanded the library to fill the entire block of 5th Ave between 9th and 10th Streets. They also moved the front door to 5th Ave and decided to rename the library, the DeWitt Community Library, with the after-hours entrance being the Frances Banta Waggoner Community Library Entrance on 10th St. The new library space provides space for several private study rooms, as well as separated age-appropriate reading and activity spaces, classrooms, and community art space.

The community of DeWitt and the surrounding areas has a deep history in the value of education available to all, and it shows through their story.

See you on the byway!

Sources: Information on the history of the DeWitt Public Library/ DeWitt Community Library was gathered from the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project; articles written by Ann Soenksen, president of the Central Community Historical Society; “DeWitt library created with help of stockholders,” published in the DeWitt Observer Newspaper on June 1, 2018; “something new at the old library,” by Kate Howes published in the Observer on Nov 19, 2016; Carnegie Library on Wikipedia, The Old Library Facebook page; DeWitt Hometown Tour stories on News 8’s YouTube channel: WQAD 8 ABC Author: Shelby Kluver (WQAD); Published: 6:46 PM CDT June 14, 2023; and Google Maps

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).

Carnegie Libraries to receive $10,000 gift

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.

2025 LHA Middle Third Tour Goes Through Iowa

by Jeanie Hau | Jul 1, 2025

Lincoln Highway Association Conference 2025

Jeanie and Shellie joined Bob and Joyce Ausberger from Greene County, Jennifer Morrison from Linn County, John Fitzsimmons (Lincoln Highway Johnny) from Boone County, and Alan Campbell formerly from Clinton County, at the Lincoln Highway Association Conference in late June. Photo was taken in Julesburg, Colorado. High School students painted the roads prior to our visit! Before the conference, the Lincoln Highway Association Middle Third Tour came through Iowa.

June was a busy month for travel for the byway staff. Shellie and Jeanie presented the study on National Historic Register Properties along the Lincoln Highway Corridor to an audience of professionals at the Preserve Iowa Summit in historic Muscatine. Then, Jeanie met the Lincoln Highway Association Middle Third Tour in Clinton, Iowa at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre where the attendees from all over the United States watched the full four episodes of Road Trip Iowa across the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway. Thank you Iowa PBS!

The Historic Lincoln Hotel in Lowden, the city of Clarence, and Lisbon welcomed the tour the first day with an overnight in Cedar Rapids. Youngville Cafe, Preston’s Station National Historic District, Tama, Montour, and the Reed-Niland Corner hosted the second day with an Ice Cream Social at the Ames History Museum ending a rainy day. The last day in Iowa was the fullest with a train ride at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, a visit to the Mamie Eisenhower Museum, lunch with Bob & Joyce at the Lincoln Highway Garden in Grand Junction, a trip up the Carillon Bell Tower in Jefferson, and a tour around the Harrison County Welcome Center. We could have filled up another week in Iowa, if they would have let us!

The Ames History Museum, along with Prairie Rivers of Iowa hosted the Middle Third Tour with an Ice Cream Social. Ames residents enjoyed asking about the Lincoln Highway tour.

Made it to Front Street in Ogallala!

Enjoyed a “Canteen” inspired meal at the Lincoln County Museum

Left: Lincoln Highway Johnny brought his artwork to display in the Book Room.

Right: Map of the Transcontinental Airway Route.

Just a handful of places visited during the Conference.

Those are the few pictures taken while at the Lincoln Highway Association Conference. There was networking, promoting, story-telling, and planning for the future of the Lincoln Highway. More people know about the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway after this tour and this Conference. Until next year in York, PA for a BIG 250th Celebration of America, see you on the byway Lincoln Highway Association Members!

It only takes a few moments to join the Lincoln Highway Association and your support helps us to preserve the history, the stories, the brick, the markers, and the livelihood of those living along the Lincoln Highway. Sign up at: Membership – Iowa Lincoln Highway Association

Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway A National Scenic Byway

Catch up on the Byway Buzz

by Jeanie Hau | May 23, 2025

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Hello byway travelers! You may be wondering where we have been (unless of course, you follow the “Where Was I on the byway” series on social media).

We have been very busy in the byway department. Our former Lincoln Highway Coordinator and now Special Projects Consultant, Shellie Orngard, finished a two-year study on historical structures in the Lincoln Highway Corridor.

“Many historic properties have been lost over the years, and it is critical that this work be undertaken to avoid losing more… Surveys are a point-in-time snapshot of properties and to ascertain their preservation needs. The end product provides information gathered and includes recommendations for preservation.”

The project was funded in part by the State Historical Society of Iowa, Historical Resource Development Program.

The Survey of National Historic Register Sites, Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, Iowa; Final Report, prepared by Shellie Orngard is available now on our website.

We were fortunate to have a student working with us the past several months and we kicked out some “to do” list items.Our student spent time editing a new series, “Tales on the byway.”

This is an oral/video history project we are experimenting with to record conversations with people who have lived and worked along the Lincoln Highway Corridor. The video was recorded for the Colo Historical Association and will be played at the Reed Station Museum during open hours.

The Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Audio Tour App is something we have been spending time getting up and going, and learning about future capabilities. We needed to change the name and online location of the App so that we can expand with future tours featuring recreation areas and the Lincoln Highway once funding can be secured. The new location is: https://seeyouonthebyway.stqry.app.

Be sure to use the share icon (square with an arrow) to choose “save site to home screen.” We continue to make changes and updates to the app as we gather updated information, photos, and links. A great new “Quiz” section will be added in the coming months.

“Where Was I on the byway” continues to be the Lincoln Highway Byway theme for Wednesdays on social media and we have added a series to the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway called, “Where Was I on the App”. This series encourage exploration of the App, the audio tour, and ultimately to visit the communities.

We made much-needed route updates in our source map for the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway. Recently, the Iowa Department of Transportation completed the Hwy 30 four-lane from Lisbon to Ogden. With this construction, there were a few changes with how the Lincoln Highway enters and exits the four-lane. We are patiently awaiting new signs to complete the sign updates in Lisbon, Chelsea, and the Ralston Corners area where the route was incorrectly signed several years ago. Continue to reference the Lincoln Highway Map until we can update these sign inconsistencies.

Speaking of road construction (after-all it is spring in Iowa), we have just linked a map to our Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway website that has most of the summer/fall road construction locations marked along our updated route. We have been experimenting with the My Google Maps and trying to see how we can add information with a limited number of layers, so note that the layers in this map are still a work in-progress.

Those are the highlights of what the byway team has been up to since January. We continue to be involved with the Reed-Niland Corner’s progression with developing preservation guidelines and the development of the Reed-Niland Corner non-profit. We are working with the City of Tama regarding the Lincoln Highway Bridge. An alternate vehicular route has been constructed around the bridge. We need an inspection to move forward.

June will keep us busy again with the Preserve Iowa Summit, where Shellie and Jeanie will be a part of the round-table presentations and discussion on June 7^th.

We are looking forward to the Lincoln Highway Association’s Middle Third Tour through Iowa, June 19th-21st, with overnight stays in Cedar Rapids and Ames.

We will be hosting a viewing of the Iowa PBS Road Trip Iowa Lincoln Highway episodes on June 19^th at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre with special guest, Kelsey Kramer. Kelsey is the producer of the eastern Iowa episodes. This event is FREE to attend and is open to the public. Shows begin at 9:30 with a discussion with Kelsey to follow.

Also during the tour, the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association President, Mary Preston, will be at the Cedar Rapids evening Tour stop and Joyce Ausberger is hosting lunch at the Lincoln Highway Museum on June 21^st. All are welcome to travel along; only those on the tour can attend meals.

And then it is off to Ogallala for the Lincoln Highway Association Conference, where we will be taking the traveling exhibit, “Promise Road, How the Lincoln Highway Changed America.”– There is still time to register!

And with that….I will see you on the byway!

All my best,

Jeanie

A New Memorial to Lincoln for 2025

by Jeanie Hau | Mar 4, 2025

10 millionth Ford photo by Greene County Historical Society 2024

Hello from the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway- A National Scenic Byway and the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway. We have had an exciting year on the byways. The Ten Millionth Model-T Ford celebrated a 100-year Anniversary by trekking across the country and stopped at many of our beloved locations.

And who could forget the Big Boy Steam Locomotive No 4014 and Jay Leno jumping on to film an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage? How many of you were fortunate enough drive beside the Big Boy along the Lincoln Highway? So how can 2025 compare those exciting events?

On February 17^th, Presidents Day, the Union Pacific Railroad unveiled their newest commemorative locomotive. The Abraham Lincoln No 1616 – a symbolic tribute to the nation’s 16th president. The Abraham Lincoln Locomotive will, “travel the rails, serving as a traveling ambassador and participating in community events and education programs that highlight the historic role of railroads in American’s growth and its continued contribution to our country, communities and economy,” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. Read the complete press release and see the limited edition poster.

The Abraham Lincoln No 1616 advertisement

Lincoln in Council Bluffs

In 1859, before our 16^th President was elected an Illinois State Senator, he made a trip to Council Bluffs to purchase land to use as collateral for a personal loan (17 plots between 9^th and 16^th Ave).

Lincoln and Dodge in Council Bluffs Iowa

While in Council Bluffs, Mr Lincoln met with General Grenville Dodge, a Civil War veteran who had moved his family to Council Bluffs. During his trip Dodge convinced Lincoln that the eastern terminus for the first Transcontinental Railroad should start in Council Bluffs and head west to the Pacific.

In 1862, President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act creating the railroad that connected the eastern and western United States.

postcard of lincoln monument in council bluffs iowa

In 1911, Council Bluffs built an obelisk Lincoln Monument overlooking the Missouri Valley west of the historic Fairview Cemetery where the meeting between Dodge and Lincoln took place.

More Memorials

In 1913, when Carl Fisher, Frank Seiberling, and Henry Joy were just finishing up the planning of the first improved Coast-to-Coast Rock Highway, they decided that naming the road after Abraham Lincoln would be both a tribute and would give great patriotic appeal to the highway. The town of Jefferson, Iowa was the first to build a statue of Abraham Lincoln along the new highway in 1918. Memorials to the president have since been plentiful across Iowa and the United States along the Lincoln Highway and now the Railroad!

Lincoln Locomotive Poster by the Union Pacific Railroad.

Iconic Lincoln Highway Bridge is Protected by Alternate Route

by Jeanie Hau | Jan 16, 2025

It is official, the City of Tama, Iowa, home of the iconic Lincoln Highway Bridge, has announced that they are going forward with an alternate traffic route of 5th St, thereby avoiding the historic bridge. Construction of the alternate route is to begin in April with work to be done by PK Construction. The route will curve around the bridge on the west and connect with Business 30 to the north. There will no longer be access to the bridge by vehicles.

The now iconic Lincoln Highway Bridge was built in 1915 by architect, Paul N. Kingsley, who became world renowned for his design talent. He designed the Tama bridge based on the slab bridge design by the Iowa Highway Commission. Instead of balusters, the decorative railing spells out the words, “Lincoln Highway.” It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in March 1978.

Architect plaque on Lincoln Highway Bridge Tama

The bridge was paid for by the citizens of Tama who were proud that the Lincoln Highway route went through their town and saw the design of the bridge as a way to advertise and distinguish their bridge form hundreds of others across the U.S. Long time Tama resident, Charles Betz, recently found a photo with additional local advertisements on the bridge railing.

Historic advertising photo of Lincoln Highway bridge

For over 100 years Lincoln Highway travelers and then enthusiasts from all over the world would drive over the bridge, stop to see it up close, and take photos. They have been known to ship their cars to New York, travel the entire Lincoln Highway route from Times Square to San Francisco, and then ship their cars home.

Historic Lincoln Highway Bridge in Tama, Iowa

The Lincoln Highway through Tama is also a farm-to-market road. For many years, residents, farmers, and truckers have travelled the Lincoln Highway through the town on this main route. Maintenance has been continuous over the last 100 years and the community continues take pride in their bridge. Tama-Toledo has adopted the bridge as their identity by using the image in welcome signs on Hwy 30, in their town logo, with a small replica at city hall, and the annual Bridge Festival in May.

The existing bridge can no longer hold the load of vehicular traffic. With the alternate traffic route for 5th St avoiding the bridge, the future of the concrete bridge continues to be hopeful.

Motor Convoy on Lincoln Highway bridge tama

A core team of stakeholders has been assembled to discuss a future resolution for the bridge. Thank you for your support and patience on this important part of the Lincoln Highway story as we gather more information and work through details and educated options. In the meantime, I will see you on the byway!

The Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Audio Tour App Now Available

by Jeanie Hau | Jan 16, 2025

The Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Audio Tour has a long history. Created in 2018, byway travelers could call a phone line, listen to Spotify recordings, read a companion booklet, and follow the essential map to find the History, Curiosities, and Rural Stories found in the Iowa Valley.

Enter 2025, and the Audio Tour “App” is ready to direct travelers from their car to the locations at the 40 stops in the 18 plus communities. We are still using the same provider, however Oncell (seen on the brochure) is now Stqry.

To access the App, your phone or tablet only needs a browser as this tour is not yet available on Apple or Google platforms. Simply type in this address in your search engine: http://iowavalleyscenicbyway.stqry.app and open the site. Then use the share icon to save the site to your home screen. Now you can open the site by clicking on the logo icon that is now on your home screen.

When you enter the tour, you begin on the map with the tour stops numbered. Enter into a tour stop and explore the photo gallery, listen to and/or read the audio tour, find more information and directions! Make sure you allow the site access to your location when you are asked so that Google maps can get you there.

Some links that can be found under the “More Information” include but are not limited to the stop’s website or Facebook presence, articles written about the location, links to the town to find events, nearby activities and places to eat (still in development). You can also view historic and current photos and even videos or oral histories. A rolle bolle video can be seen on the Victor stop and a link to the Rolle Bolle booklet. The tour information is in need of an update so there will be changes and additions to the app from time to time and a new brochure will be printed this spring. If you have any additional information or changes, please let me know!! With additional funding, we do hope to have a downloadable app in the future.

Four-lane Highway 30 finally connects Ames, Cedar Rapids by Jeff Morrison

by Jeanie Hau | Nov 27, 2024

Hwy 30 road construction photo by Jeff Morrison

A vehicle passes a construction crew picking up traffic cones on eastbound U.S. Highway 30 near the Iowa Highway 21 exit north of Belle Plaine, Iowa, Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The segment of U.S. 30 between Iowa 21 and County Road V44 was the last in a nearly 150-mile-long span to open to four lanes. Photo by author.

Now that Thanksgiving, the traditional end to Iowa’s construction season, is here and gone, it’s time to reflect on a big highway milestone that passed with zero fanfare. In fact, its exact date could have gone unknown had the author not been driving to Des Moines at the right moment.

On Oct. 15, the final restrictions were lifted on U.S. Highway 30 in western Benton County. A 142-mile-long segment between Ogden and Lisbon is now an uninterrupted four-lane road. It’s been a long, long time coming — six decades, as a matter of fact.

Let’s switch off the lights and show an educational filmstrip.

The 16-minute movie from the Iowa State Highway Commission in 1960 was a key component in the state’s public relations strategy for a critical section of U.S. 30. From Ogden east to Iowa Highway 330, the rural highway had not been changed since original 18-foot-wide paving in the Lincoln Highway days. A concrete railroad overpass just east of Nevada dated back to 1923. (It would not be replaced until 1973. A narrow underpass a couple hundred yards away remains to this day.) While we now can appreciate the wide array of car makes and colors in the film, the volume of traffic was an important visual aid to pushing for an all-new road that skirted Ogden, Boone, Ames, Nevada, Colo, and State Center. At the time, the proposed relocation was mostly two lanes.

The campaign worked. By the end of 1964, an all-new road existed along the 55-mile corridor except, ironically, for the highest-traveled segment: Lincoln Way through most of Ames. This segment got bogged down in an argument among the Highway Commission, the city, and Iowa State University on whether, and where, to build an exit south of the university. At one point the plan for the U.S. 30 freeway did not include the single most important entry/exit point for Iowa State events. Although by 1966 the kernel of the idea of the Iowa State Center had been planted, Elwood Drive was “presently a gravel road” (Ames Tribune), Hilton Coliseum would not open for another five years, and the football stadium for another four years after that.

Hwy 30 Ogden to Lisbon
Iowa Highway Ends/Between Two Rivers

The Ames bypass would not be finished until nearly a decade after the rest of the new road had opened — fall 1972. Wrapping up the connection on the west end was prolonged after weather delays including the blizzard of April 8-10, 1973.

Through the turn of the century, only about a third of the 100 miles between I-35 and I-380 were upgraded, mostly south and west of Cedar Rapids.

A photograph of a page from a May 1968 plan shows a proposed four-lane U.S. Highway 30 in Benton County that, in the eastern half of the county, would have dipped half a mile south of the existing road. When U.S. 30 was upgraded to four lanes east of the U.S. Highway 218 junction in 1992 and 1999, it followed the existing road instead. To the west, in the segments that opened in 2024, the four-lane is just a few hundred feet south of the original.

The Highway Commission laid out a comprehensive plan in 1968 envisioning a full statewide network of freeways and expressways — and then the 1970s happened. A substantial percentage of the 1968 network would not be built until between 1994 and 2008 — and then the Great Recession happened.

Midway through that latter time span, a projected funding shortfall put U.S. 30 on the back burner. Other long-awaited corridors received priority instead.

If the state’s plan from 1999 had been carried out, the gap from Marshalltown to U.S. 218 would have been closed by 2005 and finished in eastern Linn County shortly thereafter. Instead, it took until 2024.

A very small ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the U.S. Highway 30 Tama-Toledo bypass at the west end of that bypass August 13, 2011, in Toledo, Iowa. The four-lane road is the fourth alignment of the highway here since 1926. Photo by author.

It’s been more than 10 years in coming, but the Iowa Department of Transportation has marked the beginning of the Highway 30 Mount Vernon/Lisbon bypass project. … Many project specifics — such as cost and the exact bypass route — won’t be determined for some time. Construction is at least five years away.
— Cedar Rapids Gazette, Aug. 27, 1999

The U.S. 30 bypass of Mount Vernon/Lisbon from west of Wilcox Road in Linn County to Charles Avenue in Cedar County will be open to traffic late Friday afternoon, Nov. 22, weather permitting … .
— Iowa DOT press release, Nov. 18, 2019

The "Bohemian Alps" of Iowa near Tama and Belle Plaine

Tama County’s “Bohemian Alps” before 4-land Hwy 30. Photo by Prairie Rivers of Iowa

The final section had to cut through Tama County’s Bohemian Alps. These rolling hills are why the Lincoln Highway originally dipped southward to Belle Plaine. It made for a scenic drive whenever you weren’t trailing a semi, but that wasn’t often.

This segment of U.S. 30 has a relative rarity for Iowa travelers: 45 miles and no gas stations (or restrooms). The route had once been peppered with them, including the historic Youngville station, which was at risk of being demolished in the 1990s but has been preserved. Cedar Rapids Gazette columnist Dave Rasdal wrote about the lack of stops in 1994. The gas station at the Luzerne corner (County Road V44) closed a few years after a manager was shot and killed there. Today, for a fill-up visible from the highway, there’s nothing between Toledo and southwest Cedar Rapids.

Youngville Station when the Lincoln Highway/Highway 30 was the main east-west route across Iowa and after restoration and now accessed by exiting the 4-lane Highway 30 at Highway 218 west of Cedar Rapids.

The dream of a full four-lane U.S. 30 across Iowa refuses to die. In the last legislative session, there was a bill that took a non-nuanced approach to make the Iowa Transportation Commission “prioritize” the road and “expand all portions of the highway … until the entire length of the highway is made up of four-lane divided roadways.”

The new U.S. 30 can serve as a relief route for I-80 and provide a smooth ride from Cedar Rapids to Ames or Des Moines. The entire corridor provides drivers with a hassle-free trip…

…until the Iowa DOT puts at least one and maybe up to three roundabouts on the south side of Boone.

My other work can be found on my website, Iowa Highway Ends, and its blog.

–Jeff Morrison

Between Two Rivers

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