Grinnell Historic Commercial District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Grinnell Historic Commercial District
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Roughly bounded by Main, Broad, and Commercial Sts. and 5th Ave., Grinnell, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Area | 5.26 acres (2.13 ha) |
| Architectural style | Italianate Gothic Revival Romanesque Revival |
| MPS | Grinnell MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000384 |
| Added to NRHP | April 9, 1991 |
The Grinnell Historic Commercial District is a special area in Grinnell, Iowa. It's recognized across the country as a historic district. This means it has many old buildings that are important to history. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
This district is the main shopping and business area of Grinnell. It shows how the city grew over time. Many of the buildings here are two stories tall. A few are single-story, and two buildings have three stories.
Contents
A Look at Grinnell's History
The Grinnell Historic Commercial District tells a story of change. In the late 1800s, fires caused a lot of damage. Big fires happened in 1889 and 1891. These fires destroyed many of the older wooden buildings.
Rebuilding Grinnell's Downtown
After the fires, the city rebuilt with stronger materials. New buildings were made from brick and stone. This made the downtown area much safer and more lasting. One part, Block 7, took a bit longer to rebuild.
How Grinnell Grew
Two important things helped Grinnell's economy grow. First, Grinnell College brought many people to the city. Second, two railroads also came through Grinnell. These railroads made it easier to move goods and people. This helped businesses in the district to do well.
Famous Architects and Their Buildings
Many of the buildings in this historic district were designed by well-known architects. These architects created beautiful and important structures. Their work helped shape the look of Grinnell.
Notable Buildings and Designers
- Foster and Liebbe designed the Spencer Building (1884) and the Seaman Building (1889).
- Hallett & Rawson created the Spaulding Block (1899), the Armory (1906), and the Spaulding-Spurgeon Building (1906).
- Josselyn and Todd designed several buildings in 1889, including the Cass and Works Building, Mclntosh Grocery, Morse Block, The Scott Building, and Vest Brothers Building. They also designed the Beyer Building (1892).
- Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson designed the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks building (1914) and the Grinnell Herald building (1916).
- Louis Sullivan designed the Merchants' National Bank in 1914.
- Hyland & Green designed the Grinnell State Bank around 1913 or 1914.
- F.E. Wetherell designed the Hermon Masonic Temple in 1917.
These buildings show different styles of architecture. You can see Italianate, Gothic Revival, and Romanesque Revival designs. Each style adds to the unique look of the district.
