Kahl Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kahl Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 326 W. 3rd St. Davenport, Iowa |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1920 |
| Built by | Walsh-Kahl Construction Co. |
| Architect | Arthur Ebeling Rapp and Rapp |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| Part of | Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District (ID100005546) |
| MPS | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002456 |
| Added to NRHP | July 07, 1983 |
The Kahl Building is a special old building in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. In 2020, it became part of the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District. This building also has a famous theater inside called the Capitol Theatre.
Contents
The Kahl Building: A Historic Landmark
The Kahl Building stands ten stories tall, reaching about 146 feet (45 meters) into the sky. It was designed by a local architect named Arthur Ebeling. He was inspired by famous architects from Chicago, like Louis Sullivan. You can see Sullivan's influence in the building's design. The lower floors have fancy decorations, while the upper floors are simpler. The top of the building has cool round-arch windows and a detailed cornice (a decorative molding).
Building History and Design
The Kahl Building was built in 1920 by Henry Kahl and Walsh-Kahl Construction. It cost about $1.5 million, which was a lot of money back then! People really wanted good office spaces at the time. In fact, all the offices were rented out even before the building was finished.
The building is made with a strong steel frame. It's covered with stone and decorative terra cotta (a type of baked clay). The way the building is designed makes it look even taller. It's a great example of how the "Chicago School" style influenced buildings.
Originally, the Kahl Building had 184 office spaces. It also had several shops, a restaurant, and the Capital Theater. The lobby walls were covered in beautiful pink-swirled Alabama marble. The doors were made of shiny bronze and copper.
New Uses for the Kahl Building
In 1994, the family of a local banker, V.O. Figge, and his wife Elizabeth (who was Henry Kahl's daughter) gave the building to the Scott Community College Foundation. The college used it for classes and other school activities.
However, in 2014, the Eastern Iowa Community College District decided to move. They opened a new campus in 2018. The Kahl Building was then sold to Jim Bergman for $2 million. A big project, costing $20 million, turned the Kahl Building into 65 modern apartments. This project finished in 2023. They made sure to keep many of the building's original cool features, like the gold elevators, marble floors, and detailed artwork.
The Capitol Theatre: A Grand Entertainment Spot
The Capitol Theatre first opened its doors on December 25, 1920. Henry C. Kahl, the builder, wanted to create a huge, fancy theater with 2,500 seats. He wanted it to be bigger and more luxurious than any other theater in Davenport or even Iowa.
Theater Features and Design
When it opened, the theater was truly grand. It had beautiful grand pianos, gold leaf decorations, and many sparkling chandeliers. A Chicago company called Rapp & Rapp designed the inside of the theater. It even had a special pipe organ built by the M. P. Moller Pipe Organ Company. Later, a new organ from the Wicks Organ Company was installed for $30,000. This organ has 700 pipes! In 2000, it was restored for $75,000. It's now the only Wicks theater organ still in its original home.
In 1925, the theater got even bigger with a 7-story stage house and stage expansion. The theater joined the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) circuit in 1927. It stopped showing movies in 1977. It was the last of Davenport's grand movie palaces still open at that time. By 2023, the theater hadn't been used for performances for 14 years.
Famous Performances and Future Plans
Many different performers have been on the Capitol Theatre stage. This includes vaudeville shows, which were popular variety acts. It even hosted the famous Winter Dance Party in 1959. This event featured music stars like Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. Sadly, they died in an airplane crash just five days later.
Today, the Capitol Theatre can hold 2,000 people. The recent renovation of the Kahl Building also included the Capitol Theatre. It's now planned to be used for smaller concerts, plays, comedians, and movies. A $24 million renovation of the theater was finished in 2023. A special ceremony was held on July 12, and the first concert was scheduled for September 29, 2023.
Images for kids
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Decorative details on the Kahl Building
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The Capitol Theater marquee
