Mays Island, Historic district on river island in Cedar Rapids, United States.
Mays Island is a historic district and river island in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that serves as the administrative center for the city and Linn County. The island holds several government buildings, including the Memorial Building, the Linn County Courthouse, and a county jail, all surrounded by the Cedar River.
Jonathan May bought the island in the 1850s and convinced the Iowa State Legislature to rename the nearby settlement from Kingston to West Cedar Rapids. Over the following decades, government buildings gradually replaced the original landscape, turning it into the administrative center it is today.
Mays Island sits in the middle of the Cedar River and draws residents from both sides of the city who come to handle official matters. Walking across one of the bridges to reach it gives a clear sense of how the island functions as a shared civic space.
The island is connected to different parts of Cedar Rapids by several bridges, making it easy to reach on foot. Most government buildings are open on weekdays, so that is the best time to walk around and get a sense of how the place works.
Before any government buildings went up, the low and marshy ground made the island a known hiding spot for horse thieves. Very few people walking between the courthouses today would guess at that earlier chapter.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
