Manning Commercial Historic District (Manning, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Manning Commercial Historic District
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 217-411, 413-507, 302-326 Main, 717-723 3rd, 303 Center & 825 5th Sts., Manning, Iowa |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Architectural style | Italianate Romanesque Revival Late 19th & early 20th century Revivals Moderne |
| MPS | Iowa's Main Street Commercial Architecture MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000745 |
| Added to NRHP | October 23, 2015 |
The Manning Commercial Historic District is a special area in downtown Manning, Iowa, United States. It's recognized nationally as an important historical place. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. It includes many old buildings and even some streets that tell the story of Manning's past.
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Manning's Historic Downtown
This historic district is full of different kinds of businesses. You can find specialty shops, banks, doctor's offices, and other professional places here. It also has important public buildings like the city hall and the public library.
Most of these buildings were built with brick by local builders. Two of the commercial buildings were designed by well-known architects. Samuel P. Hart from Carroll, Iowa and Charles W. Steinbaugh from Omaha, Nebraska helped shape the look of the district.
A Look at the Buildings
The buildings in the district were mostly constructed between 1885 and 1965. This time period is called the "period of significance." Two big fires in 1891 and 1895 actually changed how Manning's downtown looked. Many buildings had to be rebuilt after these fires.
You can see different architectural styles in the buildings. Some have the fancy details of the Italianate style. Others show the strong, rounded arches of Romanesque Revival. There are also buildings with the sleek, modern look of Moderne style.
The Story of the Streets
Beyond the buildings, four important parts of the district are the brick-paved streets. These streets were first paved in 1915 by C.L. Mosher from Sioux City, Iowa. They are a unique feature that adds to the historic feel of the area.
A Change in Style
For a while, Manning had a rule about how new buildings should look. In 1977, the city council decided that all new buildings and remodeled fronts should use a Bavarian theme. This was to honor Manning's German heritage. Even though most German immigrants here weren't from Bavaria, people thought this style was very recognizable as German.
However, this rule changed later. In 2008, the city removed the Bavarian theme rule. This happened as Manning became more interested in preserving its true historical look.
