cultural day trip - october 1

National Pearl Button Museum and Muscatine Art Center-guided tour

117 W 2nd Street, Muscatine

Meet: Johnson County Fair grounds 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE, Iowa City   Leave at 9:00. 

Trip Highlights: 

In the early 1900s, Muscatine was known as the “Pearl Button Capital of the World”. In 1891, John Boepple cut the first buttons in Muscatine. He and his entrepreneur companies made 1.5 billion buttons per year. Consider the lives of the workers who harvested mussels, labored in the factories and organized unions to fight for better working conditions. The museum is a study of mussels, the amazing creatures which made it all possible. Check out the button craft creations.

LUNCH:   Lunch at Merrill Hotel, Maxwell’s on the River.

The only AAA 4 Diamond Hotel in the area, located on the banks of the Mississippi River, 119 W Mississippi Drive, Muscatine. There will be a short tour of the hotel after lunch.

Lunch menu created by Executive Chef Tessa. Tessa holds a culinary degree from LeCordon Blue Chicago and has been in the industry for 14 years.

Menu choices: (1/2 sandwich + cup of soup) Includes tea, water.

Sandwich, choose one:

__ Reuben sandwich

__ BLT sandwich

__ Grilled Chicken and Artichoke sandwich

Soup, choose one:

__ Minestrone soup

__ Butternut Squash bisque

Muscatine Art Center-guided tour

1314 Mulberry Ave, Muscatine

Built in 1908, the Laura Musser Mansion, part of the Muscatine Art Center, provides an elegant setting for the display of fine and decorative arts. The hallways display a collection of works by Renoir, Degas, Chagall and Pissarro. Period rooms blend family furnishings with paintings that depict the Mississippi River. On the grounds, in spring and summer, is a historic Japanese Garden installed in 1929. The museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. It is 1 of 775 museums nationwide accredited by American Alliance of Museums.

Limit: 25 participants.

Questions contact: Theresa Tometich, Carolyn Rourke, or Jeanne Stracuzzi.

Cost: $38.

Registration form and check (LAST DATE TO RECEIVE IS: September 23) to: 

Carolyn Rourke, 4738 Sharon Rd SW, Iowa City, IA 52240.

___ I am willing to drive and can take ___ passengers. Please bring $7 cash for your driver.

Kalona, Multiple site visists

Meet: Meet at Menard’s parking lot SW corner (lower left as you enter) at 8:45 AM, leaving promptly at 9:00 AM.

Trip Highlights: 

Multiple site visits for 45-60 min at each site with tour guide (some standing).

The 1st stop for coffee and strudel at the Historical Society and Village to hear about the Mennonite Conservative program. The 2nd exciting stop will be at the Max-Cast Sculpture foundry.

LUNCH:   at the home of Ila Miller HIM Hearth N Home, enjoying a family style meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes and trimmings.

After lunch we will visit the Amish casket maker, back to village for bathroom break. The last site will be to the Amish field operation to discover what Amish farming is like.

Once finished here we recommend you take a short drive and visit JK creative Wood and Gifts or on your way out of town the Kalona Creamery. Hope you will enjoy a Kalona Classic tour.

Cost: $50.00 includes lunch, admission to sites and gratuity.

Please give your driver $4.00

If you have any questions, please contact Helen Rittenmeyer, Diane Dalton or Mary Yoder (leave message if no one answers).

To register, please mail completed registration form for each member and each guest.  

One check per person made payable to Diane Dalton 1222 Oakes Dr. Iowa City, Iowa 52245

Registration Deadline: Must be received by Wednesday, Oct 24, 2025 (note early deadline).

No refunds after this deadline

  Eulenspiegel Puppet Theater and Wilton Candy Kitchen

Meet at Fareway on Hwy 6 (2765 Commercee Dr. IC 52240 ) at 9:15 AM, leaving promptly at 9:30 AM.  We can park along the north side on the outside edge of the parking lot.

Trip Highlights: 

The first stop will be in West Liberty at the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theater. We will learn some

amazing history of the puppets and how they are constructed and maybe even enjoy a small performance.

Next stop is Wilton at The Candy Kitchen. Everyone will be able to

order their own lunch and a sweet treat if you desire from the soda

fountain. Then we can sit back and enjoy the 150 year old story of

the Candy Kitchen along with information about the mural painting

on the outside of the building

Cost:  $15.00  Please pay driver $5.00

Registration must be received by Nov. 26.

No refunds after Nov. 26

Registration is limited to 24.

Send registration forms and checks to Diana Cox, 2602 E Washington St., Iowa City, Iowa

52245. Make checks payable to Diana Cox.