What to See in Charles City - Top Sights and Attractions

Bridge. The Main Street Bridge is a historic structure located in Charles City, Iowa, United States. It spans the Cedar River for 248 feet. Before a bridge was built at this location local citizens would cross the river by way of a ferry, at a ford in summer, and across the ice in winter. The first bridge at this location was washed away in a flood while it was under construction in 1858. The second bridge was completed in 1864, and it was destroyed in a flood two years later. A temporary bridge was completed in 1867, and it was replaced by a truss bridge in 1870. It was used for 40 years despite an engineer's study in 1892 that suggested it be condemned. The Floyd County Board of Supervisors approved a replacement bridge in 1908. The old bridge was moved to a new spot five blocks downstream, but contract problems delayed construction of the new bridge. Advance Construction Company of Waukesha, Wisconsin was finally awarded a contract in March 1909. The three span concrete filled spandrel arch bridge was designed by their designing engineer G.W. Miller. It was completed in 1910 for about $40,000, which was paid for by the county and the city. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.^[1]

Dr. Salsbury's Laboratories, Main Office and Production Laboratory Building, also known as the Floyd County Museum, is a historic building located in Charles City, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The two-story brick Modern Movement structure is built over a raised basement. It was designed by Waterloo architect Mortimer Cleveland. The facility was built in three parts. Completed in 1935, the part of the building that faces Gilbert Street housed administration and company related operations. The wing off the back was completed two years later, and housed research laboratories and related uses, and offices. To the west of the original block is a single-story wing built after the facility became a museum in the 1990s.

The building's primary significance is its association with the development of health products that made the expansion of the poultry industry possible whereby large numbers of poultry could be concentrated together for poultry and egg production. It is also significant for its association Dr. Joseph E. Salsbury, who established a veterinary practice in Charles City in 1923. He changed attitudes of applying veterinary medicine to poultry when he began to see the value of taking a flock approach rather than focusing on individual birds, which at the time were seen as low-value farm animals. Salsbury ended his general veterinary practice in 1930 to devote his time to providing medicines to farmers who raised poultry and developed this laboratory.^[3]

Home in Charles City, Iowa. The Alvin Miller House is a Usonian home beside the Cedar River in Charles City, Iowa. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and constructed over a five-year period completed in 1951. The single-story structure features a two-level flat roof which allows for clerestory windows. It was severely damaged in the flood of 2008. Restoration efforts surrounding the house after the flooding are detailed in the Alvin Miller House website.

According to the National Park Service document on the seven Iowa Usonian homes: "The third Iowa Usonian, the Alvin Miller House in Charles City, was designed in the same year as the Grant House but was not built until 1951-1952. The Miller House was featured in Wright's 'The Natural House;' it is the smallest of the Iowa Usonians; and, unlike the Walter and Grant houses, the Miller House has a much sturdier, less radical character."^[5]

Building. The Charles Walter Hart House is a historic building located in Charles City, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The hollow clay tile structure completed in 1914 is faced with rockfaced granite on the basement level, brick on the first floor, and stucco-half-timberwork on the gable ends. The Bungalow combines elements of the American Craftsman and Prairie School styles.

The house's primary significance is its association with Charles Walter Hart, who lived here from 1914 to 1918. He, along with Charles H. Parr, founded the Hart-Parr Co. in Charles City. It was the first business in the country to exclusively manufacture farm tractors. Parr was more of the inventor while Hart was more of a manager. During World War I the plant produced shells for the United States Army. After the war Hart sold his interests in the business and moved to Montana, where he was engaged in wheat farming and small-scale oil refining. Eventually, Hart-Parr was one of four companies that merged to form Oliver Farm Equipment Company.^[6]

Building. The Charles Henry Parr House is a historic building located in Charles City, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The 2½-story, vernacular frame structure was completed in 1902.

The house's primary significance is its association with Charles Henry Parr, who lived here from 1902, when he had it built, to 1941 when he died. He, along with Charles Walter Hart, founded the Hart-Parr Co. in Charles City. It was the first business in the country to exclusively manufacture farm tractors, and is attributed with coining the term "tractor." Parr was more of the inventor while Hart was more of a manager. During World War I the plant produced shells for the United States Army. After the war they sold their interests in the business and Hart moved to Montana, and Parr went to Wisconsin to work with Conrad Frudden for a few years. After returning to Charles City, Parr continued his association with Hart-Parr as an engineer. In 1929 the company was one of four companies that merged to form Oliver Farm Equipment Company.^[7]