George Wyth achieved his greatest prominence as a founder and first president of the Viking Pump Company. Along with P. C. Petersen and Dr. Will Hearst he formed the company in 1911 to manufacture a rotary pump invented by Jens Nielsen of Cedar Falls.

George Wyth was also instrumental in establishing the Cedar Falls parks system and was elected to the first Park Board in 1919. George Wyth Memorial State Park between Waterloo and Cedar Falls was named in honor of this outstanding supporter of public recreation areas.

The George Wyth House was built about 1907 by F. W. Paulger. It was originally a white frame structure. The brick veneer was added as insulation in 1925 after Wyth purchased the house.

The house was bequeathed to the Cedar Falls Historical Society by George Wyth's daughter, Dorothy. The house was refurbished with the theme, "a family home highly influenced by the Art Deco period." The third floor houses a gallery featuring Viking Pump and also shares the early history of the pumps. On prominent display are the original wooden prototypes created by Jens Nielsen.

For more information call 277-8817.