Mays Island

Mays Island is a historic district located on a river island in Cedar Rapids that houses multiple government buildings including the Memorial Building, Linn County Courthouse, and a county jail along the Cedar River. These structures span different construction periods and architectural styles, forming a unified administrative center.

Jonathan May acquired the island in the 1850s and persuaded the Iowa State Legislature to rename the settlement from Kingston to West Cedar Rapids. This development transformed the location from an isolated river site into the administrative center it remains today.

The island functions as an administrative hub where residents from both riverbanks come to conduct official business. It serves as a gathering point for community matters and civic activities that shape daily life in Cedar Rapids.

Visitors can access the government buildings on the island through multiple bridges connecting different areas of Cedar Rapids. Plan your visit on weekdays when the facilities are most active and easiest to navigate.

Before urban development, the marshy and low-lying terrain made the island a hideout for horse thieves in earlier times. This rough past contrasts sharply with the orderly government buildings that occupy it today.