Conant's Cabin and Park
National Register of Historic Places

Conant's Cabin and Park

Gladbrook, Tama County, Iowa
Listed
December 14, 2000
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
00000920

About this property

Conant's Cabin and Park, also known as the Rural Wayside Rest and Recreation Site, is a private park located east of Gladbrook, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1920 by local resident George Conant on 15 acres (6.1 ha) of farmland that he owned. The American Craftsman-style cabin was inspired by his father, J.W. Conant, who wanted to see a cabin like he constructed in 1855 built in the grove of bur oak trees. The two-room log structure is possibly the oldest park shelter in Iowa. In addition to the cabin the park features two outhouses, outdoor and indoor picnic tables, grills, a swing, merry-go-round and horseshoe pit. The park was meant for public use even though it has remained under private ownership throughout its existence. It is rumored that author Robert Waller began his notes for The Bridges of Madison County during a stop at the park. The park's existence is an expression of one man's civic pride, and sense of community responsibility. Numerous community service groups have helped to maintain it over the years. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Location

Gladbrook, Tama County, Iowa
42.17712, -92.65548

Categories

ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Questions about this property

When was Conant's Cabin and Park listed on the National Register?

Conant's Cabin and Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 2000.

What type of historic resource is Conant's Cabin and Park?

Conant's Cabin and Park is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Conant's Cabin and Park?

The period of significance for Conant's Cabin and Park is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1855.

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