A Celebration of the Reed-Niland Corner

A CommunityDriven Preservation Effort

The Reed-Niland Corner is one of our nation’s last operating “one-stops” located in Colo, IA at the crossroads of America’s first east-west transcontinental roadway, the Lincoln Highway, and America’s first north-south transcontinental roadway, the Jefferson Highway. An effort to save the ReedNiland Corner from being sold to the public began in early 2025, when concerns arose that the city could no longer retain the ownership. Fearing the potential loss of the historic site, local residents, preservationists, and members of the Lincoln and Jefferson Highway Associations mobilized quickly.

A packed public meeting revealed overwhelming community support for preserving the corner, which has served travelers for more than a century. With guidance from Prairie Rivers of Iowa and inspiration from similar grassroots efforts—such as the Pleasant Grove Heritage Park project in Lisbon, IA—the group determined that forming a nonprofit was the best path forward.

ReedNiland Corner, Inc. was established with a mission to preserve, maintain, and promote the visitor experience of the historic Reed-Niland Corner and the continued operation of the cafe, motel, museum, and apartment buildings. Ownership of the corner was official on April 1, 2026. The non-profit board includes experts (and non-experts) in history, restoration, insurance, finance, grant writing, and maintenance, along with representatives from the Lincoln and Jefferson Highway Associations and the Colo Historical Association.

June 14 Celebration Planned
To mark the beginning of this new chapter and to honor several historic anniversaries, the nonprofit will host a community Celebration of the Reed-Niland Corner on Sunday, June 14, recognizing:
• Niland’s Café’s 100+ years
• Colo’s 150th anniversary, settlement of New Albany 170th anniversary
• America’s 250th anniversary
• The beginning of ReedNiland Corner, Inc.’s stewardship

National Art Project Comes to Colo

The celebration will include a National America 250 event: Portraits of Hope at the Reed-Niland Corner: America 250 Shines Down on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This project will be traveling to all 50 states to involve people ages 8-108 in painting on acrylic sheets which will then be assembled into illuminated lanterns displayed on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. in October 2026. So far, we are the only location in the state hosting this event. A full circle moment for the Lincoln Highway as the founders tried to sway funding from the Lincoln Memorial Monument for the improvement of the Lincoln Highway across the United States!

The event will also feature:
• 11 am: A kids’ show with Silly Sally, The Balloon Twister
• 12pm: A pieeating contest
• 1 pm: A performance by 12time state fiddle champion, David Bellegante
• 4 pm: Music by the Band: Lincoln Highway
• Bingo, games, and family activities all day

Event made possible through Discover Ames Community Grant Program and Sponsorships.

ReedNiland Corner, Inc. Email: reednilandcorner@gmail.com
Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway / Prairie Rivers of Iowa Email: jhau@prrcd.org
Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway Advisory Group: jkgammon01@hotmail.com

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