Kevin Mason will be at the Fort Dodge Public Library, 424 Central Ave., to discuss his new book “Retracing the Dragoon Trail in Iowa” at 6 p.m. on May 12.

In his book, Mason traces Iowa’s transformation from prairies and wetlands to farms, towns, and transportation networks, beginning with the 1835 expedition of the First U.S. Dragoons. He connects these changes to Manifest Destiny, military expansion, and settler colonialism, while highlighting the often-overlooked perspectives of the Sauk, Meskwaki, Dakota, and other indigenous nations.

But Mason doesn’t just write about history — he walks it. His 371-mile journey retracing the original dragoon route across Iowa blends scholarship with storytelling. This modern-day trek, featured on Iowa PBS’s Iowa Life and Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa, brings the past into the present, offering a compelling look at how landscapes remember.

Stop by the library for this free event. For more information contact us at 515-573-8167 ext. 6233 or visit our website at www.fortdodgelibrary.org.