Bonaparte Pottery Archeological District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bonaparte Pottery
Archeological District |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 411-419 1st St. Bonaparte, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000832 |
| Added to NRHP | July 15, 1999 |
The Bonaparte Pottery Archeological District is a special historical place in Bonaparte, Iowa. It's recognized across the country for its importance. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
When it was listed, the district included four main parts. Two of these parts are very important to its history. They are the remains of two large ovens, called kilns, from the old Bonaparte Pottery. This pottery factory made clay items from 1866 to 1895. The site also includes the factory building itself, which was built in 1876 after an earlier building burned down. The other two buildings on the site are newer. They were built after the pottery closed and were part of a lumberyard that took over the area.
What Was Bonaparte Pottery?
Bonaparte Pottery was a medium-sized factory that made pottery in Iowa. While it wasn't as big as some famous potteries like Red Wing Pottery in Minnesota, it was still very important. Making pottery was a big business in Iowa during the mid-to-late 1800s.
The area around the Des Moines River had many pottery factories. This was because there was a lot of coal found there. When coal was mined, a special type of clay called fire clay was also found. This fire clay was perfect for making strong ceramic items.
How Did the Pottery Start?
Two people named Sidney Parker and Thomas Hanback started the Bonaparte Pottery in 1866. Later, Robert Wilson and Henry Jones joined the business.
Why Did It Close?
The pottery factory stopped working in 1895. There were several reasons for this. A big financial crisis, known as the Panic of 1893, made it hard for many businesses to succeed. Also, Bonaparte itself saw a big drop in manufacturing around the 1890s.
Other pottery factories had also improved their machines, found better quality clay, and were located closer to big towns where they could sell more products. These changes made it tough for Bonaparte Pottery to keep up.
