When Mason City Inspired a Capital
By Mayor Bill Schickel
Visitors from the Walter Burley Griffin Society reconnect Iowa and Australia’s shared design story.
MASON CITY — Eighty visitors from six states and Australia gathered in Mason City over the weekend to explore the city’s Historic Rock Crest–Rock Glen neighborhood — the largest unified collection of Prairie School homes in the United States.
The guests were here for the 24th Annual Meeting of the Walter Burley Griffin Society of America, celebrating the enduring influence of architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin.
The Griffins began designing Mason City’s Rock Crest–Rock Glen development around 1910, envisioning a community of Prairie School homes carefully integrated into the natural landscape along Willow Creek. Construction of the houses followed between 1912 and 1917, guided by the Griffins’ circle of like-minded architects.
Before their Mason City vision could be fully realized, the Griffins were called halfway around the world — having just won the international competition to design Canberra, the new capital city of Australia. That monumental opportunity drew them from the banks of Willow Creek to the hills of Australia’s capital, where they applied the same ideals of harmony between architecture and nature that inspired their work here.
That shared legacy is what connects Mason City and Canberra, and why this weekend’s visitors included Griffin enthusiasts from both nations.
A warm thank-you goes to Peggy Bang and all the local organizers whose hospitality and planning made the visit a success — yet another reminder that Mason City’s architectural heritage continues to inspire across continents.
Want to see why our Prairie School legacy draws visitors from around the world?
📍 Guided tours and exhibits are available through the Wright on the Park.
Learn more: https://wrightonthepark.org/
Mayor Bill Schickel serves as the mayor of Mason City, Iowa. He is a longtime advocate for preserving and promoting the city's rich architectural and cultural heritage.
