The Tama County Historical Society and Genealogical Library will host a presentation on Belle Plaine’s Herring Cottage Hotel on Wednesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. at 200 North Broadway St., Toledo. The talk is free and open to the public.

Kristine Morrow-Pope will discuss the hotel’s history and highlights. Known as “The Swellest Little Hotel in Iowa,” The Herring Cottage Hotel celebrated its opening April 12, 1900. Located in the heart of Belle Plaine along the historic Lincoln Highway, the hotel hosted many famous names and dignitaries during its storied life, from author Mark Twain to President Theodore Roosevelt.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008