Chautauqua Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chautauqua Park Historic District
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by 16th St., Hickman Rd., and the Chautauqua Parkway Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | 67 acres (27 ha) |
| Architect | L. Earl Foglesong, et al. |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| MPS | Suburban Development in Des Moines Between the World Wars, 1918--1941 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001776 |
| Added to NRHP | March 22, 1990 |
The Chautauqua Park Historic District is a special neighborhood located on the north side of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It's a place recognized for its history and unique buildings. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it's considered an important historical site in the country.
History of Chautauqua Park
The name Chautauqua Park comes from a special kind of educational gathering. These gatherings were called Chautauqua assemblies. They took place on this land from 1896 until about the early 1900s. People would come together to learn and be entertained.
The main assembly hall was very large. It was said to hold up to 3,000 people! Famous speakers gave talks there. These included Senators Robert La Follette and Jonathan P. Dolliver. Even Booker T. Washington, a famous educator, lectured in the pavilion.
After the Chautauqua gatherings stopped, Des Moines University bought the land. They hoped to build a new campus there. However, they ran into money problems. This stopped them from building their new school. The university later merged with another college in 1918. Eventually, it closed down completely.
In 1923, the university decided to use the land differently. They planned to turn the 60 acres (24 ha) site into a neighborhood. This new area would be for homes. The original plans for the neighborhood also included Douglas Park. This park is 7 acres (2.8 ha) and has many trees. A small creek used to run through the park, but it is mostly dry now.
Architecture and Homes
A landscape architect named L. Earl Foglesong designed Chautauqua Park. He was also known for designing the grounds of the Iowa State Capitol. He also designed the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Foglesong created narrow, curving roads for Chautauqua Park. These roads follow the natural shape of the land. You won't find sidewalks in this neighborhood.
The district has 166 properties in total. Most of these are houses. There are also many garages and some special entry posts. About 75 of the houses are considered "contributing properties." This means they still look much like they did when they were built. They add to the historical feel of the district. The other properties were built later or have changed a lot.
Many houses were built between 1925 and 1930. About 29 homes went up during this time. Building slowed down during the Great Depression. Only 12 houses were built then. But between 1938 and 1941, building picked up again. Another 51 houses were constructed.
Most of the houses are 1½ stories tall. They are usually made of brick. They often have intersecting gables, which are the triangular parts of the roof. The homes are mostly in the Tudor Revival style. This style looks a bit like old English cottages. Some homes are also in a local style called “Beaverdale Brick.” Many houses in Chautauqua Park have attached garages. This is because it was built as a neighborhood for people who drove to work.
There are also two special entry posts. You can find them at 13th Street and Chautauqua Parkway. They were built around 1929. These posts are made of brick with stone details. They have concrete tops shaped like gables. Neighbors in the area helped pay for their construction.
