Wilson Brewer Historic Park and Museum

04/08/2026

Wilson Brewer Park Depot and Museums officially open May 1st 1-4pm.
We will be open Fridays and Saturdays 1-4 pm.
(While going through boxes, we found this hidden gem patiently waiting to be displayed in the new renovated court house) 🚔 🇺🇸

03/08/2026

Sunday Reflection as we honor the original pioneers of Hamilton County!

WEBSTER CITY, IA
Hamilton County

The Brewer and Bonebright Families of Webster City:

If you’ve ever walked through the Wilson Brewer Historic Park in Webster City, you’ve likely stood in the shadow of one of Iowa’s foundational family legacies. The Brewer and Bonebright families were among the earliest settlers in Hamilton County, and their names pop up often in old records, memoirs, and local landmarks.

Wilson Brewer (1804–1856) was the first permanent settler in what became Webster City. In 1850, he built a homestead along the Boone River and established the town of Newcastle—later renamed Webster City. Brewer’s original cabin and other restored structures still stand at the park that bears his name, a public space devoted to preserving the community’s early stories.

Brewer’s daughter, Sarah Jane Brewer (1837–1930), married Thomas Blackwell Bonebright (1836–1921), another early settler and Iowa frontier guardsman. Together, they not only helped build the community physically, but also documented its past. In 1924, Sarah and her daughter Harriet Carmichael published Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848, a valuable firsthand account of life in the early settlement. If you care about Iowa history, it’s a must-read—and it’s freely available online.

Sarah and Thomas’s son, Frank Adel Bonebright (1868–1934), continued the family’s civic-minded tradition. He served in the Iowa National Guard, earned a national reputation as a marksman, and took an active interest in local history. His wife, Kathryn Poe Bonebright (1874–1939), also played a role in preserving the community’s heritage.

The Bonebrights, Brewers, Carmichaels, and their extended families didn’t just help build Webster City—they made sure its story wouldn’t be lost. Their cabins, their papers, and their public service left a lasting legacy. Thanks to them, future generations can step back in time at Wilson Brewer Park, leaf through an old reminiscence, and understand a little more about how one Iowa town came to be.

03/08/2026

The Community Easter Egg will be hosted out at Van Diest Medical this year. The Wilson Brewer Park Board Foundation is a proud sponsor of this event! Please join us for a fun family event! 🐣🐰

03/08/2026

Wilson Brewer Park Foundation welcomes Kim Anderson to the Board. Kim served on the board previously and we are excited to have her back!

10/13/2025

Thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who supported our event!

10/08/2025

09/19/2025

Sneak peak of the beautiful historic courthouse upstairs! Come see us at Fallfest on October 11th and get a tour.

09/12/2025

We welcomed the doodlebug festival attendees this morning!  We want to thank all of our visitors who stopped in!

07/20/2025

A little paint , ok so ALOT of paint, makes everything look so good! We want to thank our sponsors and donors who helped make this project come to life!
A huge shout out to Cornfed Construction and Matt Pruismann Painting and his crew for the amazing painting job! 🚂 🎨