Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 194 W. 5th St. Waterloo, Iowa |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | John G. Ralston |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001322 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1988 |
The Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall, also known as the Veterans Memorial Hall, is a special building in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. It was built between 1915 and 1916. This hall was created by a group called the Grand Army of the Republic to remember soldiers who lost their lives in the American Civil War. Because of its beautiful design and its important role in local history, the hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Why Was the Memorial Hall Built?
The Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall was built by the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) from 1915 to 1916. The G.A.R. was a group of Union Army veterans from the Civil War. Local groups of the G.A.R. wanted to build a memorial to honor soldiers who died in the American Civil War. The money for building the hall, about $14,000, came from a special tax. When they started building, they put newspapers and lists of members from local patriotic groups inside the building's cornerstone. This was like a time capsule!
At the dedication ceremony in 1916, a local person named H. R. Griffith was supposed to speak. She was an important leader in the Woman's Relief Corps, a group connected to the G.A.R. But she was sick, so another leader from Iowa Falls spoke instead.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building was designed in a style called Classical Revival architecture. This style often uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings, like columns and grand entrances. The architect was John G. Ralston, who was well-known in Waterloo. His design was also partly inspired by another American architect, George W. Maher.
The Memorial Hall has two floors. Inside, you can find a kitchen, a dining room, and rooms for meetings. On the second floor, there's a library. This library now has a display of interesting items from the Civil War, such as uniforms, old tools, medals, and weapons.
The hall is located right next to the Cedar River. It's also next to Waterloo's Soldiers and Sailors Park. This park has a fountain, a pool, and even a small copy of the Statue of Liberty.
How Did It Become a Historic Place?
The Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall was suggested for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1987. The NRHP is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. The hall was chosen because, unlike other veterans' halls in the area, it still looked mostly the same as when it was first built. It kept its original look and feel. Because of this, the building was officially added to the NRHP in 1988.
In 2004, when John Kerry was running to become President of the United States, he visited the hall. He held a meeting there and talked about how important veterans were, especially for the caucuses in Iowa. A caucus is an early meeting where people choose who they want to support for president.
In May 2011, a special monument was put up in the park near the hall. This monument honors Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA). The hall is also a place where people gather for Memorial Day events each year. Memorial Day is a holiday to remember people who died while serving in the U.S. military.
