Off the Map: Lansing organization helps plan activities

Downtown Lansing, on the Mississippi River in Allamakee County, was designated a National Historic District in September.

The area, from the 100 to the 400 block of Main Street to one block north and south on Front and Second Streets, now is on the National Register of Historic Places, a division of the National Park Service.

The official celebration of the designation will be held in May, but is an exciting achievement for organizers from the Main Street Lansing organization, according to Board President Bruce Palmborg.

'Research has shown that many tourists in the United States seek out places which are listed on the National Register,” Palmborg said.

Main Street Lansing worked for four years to get the designation. It makes available state and federal historic tax credits for building owners to maintain their structures.

'Maintaining a strong, visually-appealing historic downtown will instill greater confidence in the future of the community,” Palmborg said. 'If our downtown is vital and flourishing, the rest of the town will benefit as well. Preserving the past will protect the future of downtown Lansing.”

Lansing's Main Street, which dates back to the 1870s, stands out because it ends - or begins, depending how you look at it - at the Mississippi River. Palmborg said the majority of the building facades date to pre-1900.

'And we have a quirky collection of shops and a large number of eateries,” he added.

Lansing's last official census recorded the town's population at 999.

'In spite of our population, we have the only bridge crossing in the area over to Wisconsin.” Palmborg said, noting that helps draw those from small towns on the Iowa and Wisconsin sides of the river to Lansing.

Palmborg has been involved with Main Street Lansing since establishing the group in 2008. He said its activities really have taken off since Lansing was designated a Main Street Community in February 2012.

'The Main Street program is about economic development within the context of historic preservation and that is what we needed here,” he said. 'We are very proud to be designated a Main Street community.”

On Feb. 21, Main Street Lansing organized the first Winterfest celebration. Palmborg said it was well received by residents and visitors alike.

'We had ice sculptures in Main Street Plaza. And the Conservation Board provided the equipment for ice fishing and snowshoeing,” he said. Indoor games and a chili cook-off gave attendees a chance to warm up during the event as well.

Main Street Lansing also has hosted a history day in the past where community members were invited to stop in the community center and share and scan old photos.

'We came away with close to 1,000 images,” Palmborg said. 'The people of Lansing are really interested in the history of their town and sharing in it.”

Main Street Lansing uses the images gathered to post a #ThrowBackThursday post on social media.

'It's very popular,” Palmborg said. 'The whole Main Street effort has helped foster a sense of pride in our community.”