The Music Man Square

The Music Man Square The Music Man Square is about music, fun, nostalgia, historical preservation, and community pride. movie set for The Music Man.

To promote, preserve and showcase the legacy of Meredith Willson, Mason City native and composer of “The Music Man”

To promote music, music education, and to serve as a center for music events in the community. But more than that, The Music Man Square is a tribute to the genius of one of America’s favorite storytellers and songsters, Meredith Willson. As a composer of both respected symphonic wor

ks and widely popular songs, Meredith Willson has earned a place in the annals of 20th century American music. The Music Man Square, a 40,000-square-foot facility features
an indoor 1912 River City Streetscape, a replica of the Warner Bros. Enjoy a treat from the ice cream parlor, shop for unique music themed gifts in Mrs. Paroo's Gift Shop, and reminisce by touring the shops and storefront displays. Tours of the Meredith Willson Boyhood Home, the 19th century Victorian style birthplace of "The Music Man" available as well *(restricted to guests 8 and above). In addition, The
Music Man Square is a delightful, unique setting for meetings, dinners, receptions and many other special occasions.

🎄SAVE THE DATE!🎄
09/04/2026

🎄SAVE THE DATE!🎄

⚖️In celebration of National Beard Day⚖️In 1885, Meredith's father, John, returned from Notre Dame as a full-fledged law...
09/03/2026

⚖️In celebration of National Beard Day⚖️
In 1885, Meredith's father, John, returned from Notre Dame as a full-fledged lawyer at the age of 19.
He appeared before the Supreme Court of Indianapolis in 1885, to pass his bar examination.
Since the rules stated that anyone taking the bar exam was to be at least 21 years of age, John grew a beard to appear older than his 19 years.
(Beard not pictured🙂)

In 1920, 30-year-old Dixie Willson (Meredith's older sister) joined Ringling Brothers Circus as an elephant rider. She w...
09/01/2026

In 1920, 30-year-old Dixie Willson (Meredith's older sister) joined Ringling Brothers Circus as an elephant rider. She wanted to write a book about life in the circus and felt she needed to experience circus life first-hand.

📚Let's have another pop quiz!📚 Do you know what the round object is?You can find it in Meredith Willson's Boyhood Home!
08/31/2026

📚Let's have another pop quiz!📚
Do you know what the round object is?
You can find it in Meredith Willson's Boyhood Home!

🐴Meredith's mother, Rosalie, was very active in the Mason City community. Her two main interests in life were children a...
08/28/2026

🐴Meredith's mother, Rosalie, was very active in the Mason City community. Her two main interests in life were children and animals.🐴

One example of her work on behalf of animals was the fountain outside the Congregational Church: at her urging, it was built to provide a water source for horses while their owners were in church.

Rosalie also played a leading role in establishing the first humane society in Mason City.

Combining her two causes, she organized a children’s group known as the “Band of Mercy”. Almost every child in Mason City claimed membership in this group, which taught and acted on the virtue of kindness to animals

⁉️DID YOU KNOW?⁉️Royalties from “Till There Was You” made Meredith Willson more money than all his other songs put toget...
08/27/2026

⁉️DID YOU KNOW?⁉️
Royalties from “Till There Was You” made Meredith Willson more money than all his other songs put together. The Beatles included their rendition on both the “With the Beatles” and “Meet the Beatles” albums.

🐶IT'S NATIONAL DOG DAY!🐶Share a pic of your pooch!And it's the perfect time to show a new item in Mrs. Paroo's Gift Shop...
08/26/2026

🐶IT'S NATIONAL DOG DAY!🐶
Share a pic of your pooch!

And it's the perfect time to show a new item in Mrs. Paroo's Gift Shop!
Open Tuesday - Saturday, 1 PM - 5 PM

📚Let's have another pop quiz!📚 Do you know what this is?You can find it in Meredith Willson's Boyhood Home!
08/25/2026

📚Let's have another pop quiz!📚
Do you know what this is?
You can find it in Meredith Willson's Boyhood Home!

🌹DID YOU KNOW?🌹Meredith's mother, Rosalie, taught the first ever Kindergarten class in Mason City at their home.Here's a...
08/24/2026

🌹DID YOU KNOW?🌹
Meredith's mother, Rosalie, taught the first ever Kindergarten class in Mason City at their home.
Here's a picture of the class on the front porch (before it was renovated).
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Address

308 S Pennsylvania Avenue
Mason City, IA
50401

Telephone

+16414242852

Website

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