cultural day trip -March 3, 2026

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

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 

Meet: Coral Ridge Mall parking lot across from Chili’s at 8:15 a.m., leave promptly at 8:30 

Trip Highlights:

 John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum, 500 Westfield Ave, Waterloo, IA

There’s something for everyone at the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum. Explore their collection of Deere equipment at the site of the very first Deere tractor factory.

Discover rare artifacts from their storied past. Trace the history of John Deere from a simple steel plow to today’s modern working machines.

Grip the handles of a steel plow and test your strength against real horsepower. Explore the history of John Deere in their interactive exhibits.

Lunch on your own at the Steamboat Garden, 1740 Falls Ave, Waterloo, IA.

Typical pub grub served in a simple, old-timey space of one of the oldest – if not the oldest – restaurant in Waterloo that has been around since 1933.

The Waterloo Center for the Arts 225 Commercial St, Waterloo, IA

The Permanent Collection was established in 1962 with the Marvin Cone painting “I Have Loved the Unloved”, a gift from the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Junior League. Through additional gifts and purchases, the collection has continued to grow and develop in exciting directions.

On view featuring recent works of interdisciplinary artist Chris Wubbena’s most recent bodies of work titled "Demos" and "In the Midst of Things".

National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, 303 Jefferson St, Waterloo, IA

Named for wrestling legend and Waterloo native Dan Gable, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum features the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions and the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

COST: $7 Member or Guest

Complete Registration Form on page 15 of the Clarion.

You can also download and print the form from the Club website.

Deadline March 25th No refunds after this date.

Questions: Linda VanLoh, Mary Anne Schwartz, or Marianne Weiss.

Mail Check and Form to: Linda VanLoh

Meet: Coral Ridge Mall parking lot across from Chili’s Restaurant at 9:45 a.m., leaving promptly at 10:00.

Trip Highlights:

First Stop: Prairiewoods Franciscan Spiritual Center, 120 Boyson Road, Hiawatha, IA.

Join us for a unique experience at Prairiewoods as we explore and learn about eco-friendly designed buildings, hermitages, sustainable gardens, and a spiritual center. Stroll along beautiful paths and view tall grass prairie and unique forest structures.

Note: Please wear comfortable shoes.

LUNCH: at Prairiewoods with buffet style seasonal garden produce. Beverage & dessert included.

SECOND STOP: African American Museum, 55 12th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA. We will have a guided tour of this newly remodeled museum and learn about African American history from its origins in western Africa to the present, through slavery, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement. The new exhibit “Rooted” will be on display during our tour.

COST: $25.00 / person (includes lunch, admission to sites and gratuity). Please give your driver $6.00.

LIMIT: 24 participants

Questions, contact Diane Dalton, Margaret Kaltefleiter, or Nancy Rossley.

To Register: please send registration forms and one check per person payable to Diane Dalton. ***Registration Deadline*** Must be received by Wed., April 29th, 2026. No refunds