Hotel Manning facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Manning
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The Hotel Manning as seen from across the Des Moines River
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | River & Van Buren Streets, Keosauqua, Iowa |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architectural style | Steamboat Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000740 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1973 |
The Hotel Manning is a really old and special hotel in Keosauqua, Iowa. It's right by the Des Moines River. This hotel looks like the old riverboats from the 1800s because of its unique "Steamboat Gothic" style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, which means it's a very important historical building. Today, it's a cozy bed & breakfast where people can stay.
History of Hotel Manning
The Hotel Manning was built in the late 1890s by a man named Edwin Manning. He was one of the people who helped start the town of Keosauqua. Edwin Manning first came to the area in 1837. He later helped plan out the town's streets and lots.
In 1839, Manning opened a store that sold many different goods. Later, in 1854, he added a bank to his business. But in the mid-1890s, two big fires destroyed parts of his business. This forced Manning to move his store and bank to another spot in town.
One of his sons suggested that Manning use the walls and foundation that were left after the fires. So, between 1897 and 1899, Manning added two more floors to the building. This is how the Hotel Manning was created.
The Hotel Manning had a big opening party on April 27, 1899. More than 300 guests came to celebrate, and an orchestra played music.
Challenges and Changes
Being next to the Des Moines River was both good and bad for the hotel. The river flooded the Hotel Manning at least four times. The worst flood was in 1901, when the hotel was covered by seven feet of water! That same year, Edwin Manning sadly passed away.
The Manning family kept running the hotel for about 20 more years. But in the mid-1920s, times were tough for farms in the area. This caused the Manning bank to close down. The Hotel Manning was then sold along with the bank's other properties.
In the 1940s, a local restaurant owner named Mable Miller bought the hotel. She ran it for over 40 years. Under her care, the Hotel Manning mostly served as a boarding house, where people could rent rooms for longer periods.
In the 1960s, Mable Miller added a new, single-story building next to the hotel. This gave the hotel more space. Starting in the 1970s, tourism became more important for Van Buren County. Mable Miller helped the Hotel Manning get listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She also received money from the government to help restore the hotel to its original look.
Hotel Manning Today
Today, the Hotel Manning works as a bed & breakfast. Most of its guests are tourists, hunters, and people who like to fish. The hotel has been restored to look much like it did around the year 1900. The lobby and guest rooms are filled with old-fashioned furniture and decorations.
The main Hotel Manning building has 16 rooms. Eight of these rooms have their own private bathrooms. There is also a three-bedroom suite available. Sometimes, the hotel offers a Sunday buffet that is open to everyone.
The nearby Standard Motel, which was added in the 1960s, and another two-story building from 1993 called the Riverview Inn, offer 19 more rooms. These newer rooms are different from the old hotel. They have modern things like cable television, high-speed internet, and microwaves.
Images for kids
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A closeup of Hotel Manning and its Steamboat Gothic architecture
