cultural day trip - march 3

This tour is limited to 20 people. NOTE: This is a Tuesday, not our typical Wednesday! 

Meet: 9:30 in front of the Englert Theater 221 E Washington St, Iowa City, Iowa. 

Trip Highlights: 

Morning We will start our day by meeting at the Englert Theater at 9:30 AM. The Englert has been around since 1912 and has hosted vaudeville acts and even been a movie theater. In the 1990s a group of local citizens took the opportunity to purchase, renovate and restore the old theatre to its original purpose. 

This group of inspired locals persuaded the city of Iowa City to purchase it and hold it in trust until they could raise enough money to renovate the space. Over about 5 years the group worked diligently to rebuild the Englert as a premier art venue and a rising star in Iowa City’s cultural scene. Enjoy this delightful tour. 

Lunch: Lunch will be at the Bistro Restaurant, part of Marriott Courtyard 901 Melrose Ave., a beautiful event center. ENJOY! They will provide us with a limited menu.  

Afternoon We have a fun filled afternoon planned. At 12:50 we will meet at the Johnson County Poor Farm, 4811 Melrose Ave, Iowa City. We will learn about this 160-acre poor farm which was established in the middle 1800s to care for individuals with disabilities, people with low wealth, elderly folks who did not have relatives to care for them, immigrants, widows, and orphans. It closed in 1988, reopened in 2016 when the Johnson County Board of Supervisors hired HBK Engineering to preserve the historic farm. 

The preservation results included renovating historic farm structures, and creating educational programs for beginning farmers, conservation, and recreation, making many improvements to the farm. If you are interested you can visit the Historic Poor Farm website to learn more about the farm's history, current programs, and how to get involved.

Our last stop will be the Johnson County Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center at 3900 Hebel Ave SE. Iowa City, where we will learn about recycling and the landfill. Recycling is an essential practice that helps protect our environment and conserve valuable materials. It is highly recommended for this excursion you wear closed-toe shoes, safety glasses will be provided. The tour requires walking on pavement and sometimes uneven surfaces, exposure to dust and exposure to outdoor conditions, so dress for the weather. We are looking forward to another exciting cultural event. 

Cost: $15.00 for a donation to our venues. Pay for lunch at the restaurant. 

For questions, please contact Helen Rittenmeyer, Theresa Tometich, or Pat Skay (leave message if no answers). 

To register, please mail: 

Completed registration form found in the Clarion, or on the website.

One check made payable to Pat Skay. 

Registration Deadline: Wednesday February 25, 2026