
What was the derecho?
In August of 2020, Brucemore, Cedar Rapids, and other parts of Iowa were forever changed by a storm called a derecho. The derecho reached hurricane-like windspeeds of up to 140 miles per hour and earned the distinction of being the most expensive thunderstorm in United States history. In 60 minutes of violent, sustained force the straight-line winds destroyed more than 450 trees across the Brucemore estate. Century old trees were uprooted from the ground and trunks were bent in half. This devastation immediately and fundamentally changed the view of the landscape and required years of recovery efforts.
Storm Recovery
Between 2020 and 2024, Brucemore completed over $3 million in repairs across the site’s seven buildings and structures. A multi-year landscape restoration process aimed to document and move forward with the national significance and original design by Ossian Cole Simonds in mind, as well as an eye towards environmental and user experience improvements.
Brucemore has completed several phases of restoration to date, including planting over 1,000 trees and shrubs across the property. This work has been funded by donations to Brucemore’s Preservation Fund and a significant gift of plant material through the Planting Forward initiative by the Monarch Research Project.
- Phase I in 2022: Restoration of the three-acre wooded area, including the addition of trails for walking.
- Phase II in 2023: Planting a three-arched hedgerow with over 200 mock oranges, recreating a significant landscape design feature to the property.
- Phase III in 2024: Planting the first portion of Juneberries along the estate perimeter, hemlocks in the Servants’ Village, a variety of trees on the First Avenue lawn and along Dows Lane, and restoring the Night Garden.
- Phase IV in 2025: Planting over 200 bladdernuts on the west lawn of the property and near the pond, and other miscellaneous trees in various locations.
- Phase V and beyond: Additional phases will address the pond, Formal Garden, mansion surround, and orchard, pending available funding.

Donations to support Brucemore’s landscape restoration efforts can be made to the Preservation Fund, as well as by calling (319) 362-7375 or by sending a check to 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.