The curtain is rising on a brand new podcast from the Globe Gazette and Mason City's Wright on the Park .
2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the restoration of Mason City's Historic Park Inn Hotel. Once a month, we'll be looking back on the building's history, as well as the stories of the people who have been involved along the way.
Mary Emsley Adams, the bank president when Frank Lloyd Wright first came to Mason City.
Contributed
In this first episode, we go back to the beginning. How did Frank Lloyd Wright come to leave not just a piece, but pieces, of his architectural legacy in Mason City?
Pat Schultz, former executive director and current education committee member of Wright on the Park, tells us how the planning and construction of the Historic Park Inn coincided with the tumultuous life of Frank Lloyd Wright — and how the architect came to be connected with Mason City.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Historic Park Inn, whose City National Bank entrance is seen here in 2018.
Lisa Grouette
Podcast episodes will be released monthly. You can listen online on our website, globegazette.com , or most places you listen to your podcasts, including Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and more. Search the title: "2021: 10 Successful Years of Wright on the Park: Wright Comes to Mason City."
To learn more about the Wright on the Park and the Historic Park Inn, visit https://wrightonthepark.org/ .
Photos: Mason City's Historic Park Inn through the years
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Park Inn Hotel..1972..Frank Lloyd Wright...
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Workers install an art glass window at the Historic Park Inn Hotel on June 27, 2011. (Photo courtesy Scott Borcherding)
Skylight Room
Claudia Collier,left, Tour Coordinator for Wright on the Park, gives fifth grade students from Wakanda Elem. School in Menomonie,Wisc. a tour of the Historic Park Inn Hotel Thursday morning. Collier is explaining the Skylight Room to the students.
City Bank tour
Claudia Collier, right, Tour Coordinator for Wright on the Park, gives fifth grade students from Wakanda Elem. School in Menomonie ,Wisc., a tour of the Historic Park Inn Hotel Thursday morning.Collier is explaining the City Bank building to the students.
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Hotelier Steve Noto shows the Historic Park Inn restaurant.
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Historic Park Inn Skylight room.
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Jean Marinos, president of Wright on the Park Inc. observes the former dining area at the Park Inn on Wednesday afternoon. The leaders of Wright on the Park Inc. gave Connie Barbian of Inn Development & Management, Fort Atkinson, Wis. a tour of the building and discussed the work that has been done and will be done to refurbish the hotel.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday Augt. 30, 2011.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday Augt. 30, 2011.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday Augt. 30, 2011.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday Augt. 30, 2011.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday Augt. 30, 2011.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday Augt. 30, 2011.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday Augt. 30, 2011.
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The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City, Iowa is pictured on Tuesday August. 30, 2011.
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A tour of Arts and Crafts design enthusiasts visited Mason City on Sunday. The group visited the Park Inn Hotel, City National Bank and the Stockman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and two homes designed by Walter Burley Griffen.
Bar area
Historic Park Inn's 1910 Lounge
THE GLOBE GAZETTE, File photo
Better Future
Ann MacGregor, right, executive director of Wright on the Park, Inc. shows members of Iowans for a Better Future old photographs of the Park Inn Hotel and City Bank Thursday morning while the group toured the lobby of the hotel. Second from the right is Robin Anderson, executive director of the Mason City Chamber of Commerce.
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Design on the Park Inn Hotel, Mason City.
FRANK LOYD WRIGHT
Chamber of Commerce Park Inn Hotel Frank Loyd Wright
Historic Park Inn Hotel
Renovation work continues on the Historic Park Inn Hotel/City National Bank buildings in downtown Mason City as Friday Sept. 10, 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Park Inn Hotel opening.
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RAGBRAI riders make their way into downtown Mason City past the Historic Park Inn Hotel on a Wednesday afternoon in 2018.
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Historic Park Inn Hotel
Historic Park Inn tour in law offices.
Historic Park Inn
Historic Park Inn.
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JEFF HEINZ. Park Inn.
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This is one of two plaques that designate the east and west apartments in the Park Inn building.
Ladies Parlor tea
Pat Schultz (standing at left) talks with women attending the ladies tea in the ladies parlor of the Historic Park Inn in 2018. Schultz has written a book about 50 women who were part of Mason City's history.
File photo
Marinos
Jean Marinos, president of Wright on the Park, Inc. talks about the Park Inn Hotel project.
Park Inn Barbershop
Submitted Photo/The picture was taken in about 1915 of a barbershop that operated in the basement of the Park Inn. The barbers are (from left) Lee McNutt and Kip Trudo.
Park Inn Hotel work
Renovation work continues on the Historic Park Inn Hotel/City National Bank buildings in downtown Mason City as Friday Sept. 10, 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Park Inn Hotel opening.
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Park Inn Hotel restoration work by Henkel Construction, Mason City.
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The Park Inn Hotel building postcard postmarked 1913.
Courtesy of the Arian Schuessler Historical Collection
Historic Park Inn Hotel
Chip Kinsey (center) leads a tour through the lobby of the Historic Park Inn.
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Lobby area of the Park Inn.
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Historic Park Inn. Mezzanine area above the check-in desk.
Park Inn project
Renovation work on the Historic Park Inn/City National Bank is in full swing. Henkel Construction Co. is the general contractor. Completion of the project is scheduled for the spring of 2011.
Park Inn tours
Hundreds of people line up across Central Park for a chance to tour the Historic Park Inn.
Park Inn visitors
Architect brothers Cle Edgar (left) of Green Valley, Arizona and Wes Edgar, Clear Lake, discuss Frank Lloyd Wright architecture outside the Historic Park Inn on Saturday. The two were taking part in some of the weekend activities honoring the 100th anniversary of the original opening of Wright's Park Inn in 2018.
Park Inn visitors
Visitors are frequently stopping by the Historic Park Inn lobby.
Park Inn wood
Codie Poore stains wood in the Historic Park Inn Hotel on Monday.
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Herb Kennedy explains the original layout of the Park Inn on Thursday, April 29, 2004.
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Submitted Art/Drawing of the Park Inn and Blueprints
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Mason City Public Library Collection Park Inn Frank Lloyd Wright
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Mason City Public Library Collection Park Inn Frank Lloyd Wright
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Mason City Public Library Collection Park Inn Frank Lloyd Wright
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Mason City Public Library Collection Park Inn Frank Lloyd Wright
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Mason City Public Library Collection Park Inn Frank Lloyd Wright
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Mason City Public Library Collection Park Inn Frank Lloyd Wright
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Historic Park Inn
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Workers began setting up the scaffolding around the Park Inn Tuesday so repair work can begin on the roof.
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A group tours the Park Inn hotel as part of the Economic Development Summit held Friday in Mason City.
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Park Inn Hotel lobby in 1910.
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Workers from Henkel Construction Company remove pieces of rotted wood from the edge of the Park Inn Hotel roof Monday.
Santorum town hall
About 100 people attended a town hall meeting with Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum Tuesday at the Historic Park Inn Hotel in Mason City.
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Dean Genth leads a tour in the Skylight room of the Historic Park Inn.
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Skylight room in the Historic Park Inn.
Melanie Mergen is Local News Editor for the Globe Gazette. You can reach her at melanie.mergen@globegazette.com .
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