Rock Crest–Rock Glen Historic District

Rock Crest-Rock Glen Historic District is a residential neighborhood with ten houses built in Prairie School style that sit along Willow Creek in Mason City. The buildings use the natural slope of the land and incorporate open spaces, terraces, and large windows that frame the surrounding wooded area.

A developer named Joshua Melson purchased the land between 1902 and 1908 with plans to create a residential community. This period marked the start of what would become the largest collection of Prairie School architecture in America.

The houses display different takes on Prairie School design that visitors can observe while walking through the residential streets. Each building shows how architects expressed their ideas through the choices they made with materials and layout.

Visitors can walk through the neighborhood to view the houses on the residential streets without special permission needed. Guided tours are available and begin at a location on South Federal Avenue where you can get more information.

Remnants of an 1870 mill still stand within the district, a trace of plans for a hydroelectric power station that never came to be. These foundations remind visitors of earlier uses of the land before it became a residential area.

Location: Iowa

GPS coordinates: 43.15056,-93.19222

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:03