Kevin T. Mason to Give Author Talk May 5 in Decorah

We hike Pulpit Rock for the views — and for the stories waiting at the top. Support Decorah News today. DECORAH — Kevin T. Mason, a University of Northern Iowa professor and author, will present a reading, discussion and book signing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, with support from Pulpit Rock Brewing and Dragonfly Books. Mason's presentation will focus on his book, "Retracing the Dragoon Trail in Iowa," which examines the state's landscape changes beginning with the 1835 expedition of the First U.S. Dragoons. The work draws on archival records, maps, government surveys, Indigenous histories and ecological data to trace the transformation of Iowa's prairies and wetlands into agricultural and developed land. The book also places those changes within broader historical contexts, including Manifest Destiny, military expansion and settler colonialism, while incorporating the perspectives and histories of the Sauk, Meskwaki, Dakota and other Indigenous nations. Mason retraced the 371-mile dragoon route across Iowa as part of his research, documenting the journey through writing, photography and video. The project has been featured on Iowa PBS's Iowa Life and Iowa Public Radio's Talk of Iowa. Mason is a rural and environmental historian of the American Midwest and serves as chair of the State Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees. He also co-hosts the Middle West History Association's "Heartland History" podcast and founded the digital history project Notes on Iowa. "Retracing the Dragoon Trail in Iowa" is his first book. The event is part of a series hosted by Dragonfly Books and the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, which brings authors to northeast Iowa for public discussions on writing and literature. Be in the know, always! The free newsletter delivers local news, features, and tips directly to you—perfect for busy readers.