National Register of Historic Places listings in Black Hawk County, Iowa facts for kids

Location of Black Hawk County in Iowa

Welcome to Black Hawk County, Iowa! Did you know that many buildings and places here are super old and important? They are so special that they are on a list called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect these amazing spots so future generations can enjoy them too.

This article will tell you about some of the cool historic places in Black Hawk County. You can find everything from old schools to unique farm buildings. There are 50 places currently on this special list in the county. Four places were once listed but have since been removed.

Discovering History in Black Hawk County

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is like a hall of fame for buildings, sites, and objects across the United States. It's the official list of places that are important to American history. When a place is added to this list, it means it has a special story to tell. It could be a building where something important happened, or a place that shows us how people lived a long time ago.

Being on the National Register helps protect these places. It encourages people to save and care for them. It also makes it easier for these places to get help for repairs or preservation. Black Hawk County is proud to have many of these historic treasures.

Historic Buildings You Can Find

Black Hawk County has a wide variety of historic places. Let's explore some of the types of buildings you might find on the National Register here.

Old Schools and Libraries

Imagine going to school in a building that's over a hundred years old! Several old schools in Black Hawk County are on the list. For example, the Bennington No. 4 schoolhouse in Waterloo is a historic spot. It reminds us of how kids learned in the past.

Libraries are also important community places. The Waterloo Public Library (West Branch) and the Waterloo Public Library-East Side Branch are both historic. These buildings have served as places for learning and reading for many years.

Important Homes and Hotels

Many beautiful old homes are preserved in Black Hawk County. The Dunsmore House and the Rensselaer Russell House in Waterloo are examples. These homes show us the styles of houses people built long ago. They tell stories of the families who lived there.

Hotels were once busy hubs for travelers. The Black Hawk Hotel in Cedar Falls and the Hotel Russell-Lamson in Waterloo are historic hotels. They remind us of a time when travel was very different.

Places of Business and Community

Many buildings where people worked or gathered are also on the list. The Campbell Baking Company in Waterloo shows us where bread was made years ago. The Cedar Falls Ice House was important for keeping food cold before refrigerators were common.

Community groups also have historic buildings. The Cedar Falls Independent Order of Odd Fellows building was a meeting place for a fraternal organization. Churches, like the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and Walnut Street Baptist Church in Waterloo, are also important historic sites. They have been centers of faith and community for a long time.

Some entire areas, called historic districts, are also listed. The Highland Historic District and the Waterloo East Commercial Historic District are examples. These districts include many historic buildings together. They show how parts of the cities grew and changed over time.

Unique Farm Buildings

Farming has always been a big part of Iowa's history. Some unique farm buildings are also on the National Register. The James Newell Barn near Cedar Falls is one such example. There are even special Round Barns listed, like the one in Washington Township and the C.A. Rownd Round Barn near Cedar Falls. These round barns are rare and interesting to see!

Places That Were Once Listed

Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if the building is changed too much or if it is torn down. In Black Hawk County, four places were once on the list but are not anymore. These include the Central Hall at the University of Northern Iowa and the Forrest Milling Company Oatmeal Mill. Even if they are no longer listed, they were once important parts of our history.

Current listings

	Name on the Register	Image	Date listed	Location	City or town	Description
1	Bennington No. 4		January 16, 2001 (#00001651)	Junction of Bennington and Sage Rds. 42°36′00″N 92°17′50″W / 42.6°N 92.297222°W / 42.6; -92.297222 (Bennington No. 4)	Waterloo
2	Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall		November 29, 1988 (#88001322)	194 W. 5th St. 42°29′44″N 92°20′18″W / 42.495556°N 92.338333°W / 42.495556; -92.338333 (Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall)	Waterloo
3	Black Hawk Hotel		December 19, 2002 (#02001542)	115-119 Main St. 42°32′15″N 92°26′44″W / 42.5375°N 92.445556°W / 42.5375; -92.445556 (Black Hawk Hotel)	Cedar Falls
4	Campbell Baking Company		May 2, 2016 (#16000213)	325 Commercial St. 42°29′49″N 92°20′32″W / 42.496808°N 92.342256°W / 42.496808; -92.342256 (Campbell Baking Company)	Waterloo
5	Cedar Falls Ice House		October 21, 1977 (#77000494)	Franklin Ave. and 1st St. 42°32′19″N 92°26′55″W / 42.538611°N 92.448611°W / 42.538611; -92.448611 (Cedar Falls Ice House)	Cedar Falls
6	Cedar Falls Independent Order of Odd Fellows		May 2, 1997 (#97000384)	401-403 Main St. 42°32′05″N 92°26′41″W / 42.534722°N 92.444722°W / 42.534722; -92.444722 (Cedar Falls Independent Order of Odd Fellows)	Cedar Falls
7	Cedar Falls Post Office		March 8, 2016 (#16000057)	217 Washington St. 42°32′10″N 92°26′49″W / 42.536155°N 92.446832°W / 42.536155; -92.446832 (Cedar Falls Post Office)	Cedar Falls
8	Chapple and Young Block		September 20, 2002 (#02001025)	316-318-320 Main St. 42°18′48″N 92°11′21″W / 42.3133°N 92.1892°W / 42.3133; -92.1892 (Chapple and Young Block)	La Porte City
9	Chicago Great Western Railroad-Waterloo Freight Depot		January 17, 1997 (#88001325)	6th St. 42°29′41″N 92°20′01″W / 42.494722°N 92.333611°W / 42.494722; -92.333611 (Chicago Great Western Railroad-Waterloo Freight Depot)	Waterloo
10	Cotton Theater		July 23, 1993 (#93000764)	103 Main St. 42°32′14″N 92°26′42″W / 42.537222°N 92.445°W / 42.537222; -92.445 (Cotton Theater)	Cedar Falls
11	Dunkerton Bridge		June 25, 1998 (#98000768)	Local street over Crane Creek 42°34′23″N 92°09′38″W / 42.573056°N 92.160556°W / 42.573056; -92.160556 (Dunkerton Bridge)	Dunkerton
12	Dunsmore House		November 17, 1977 (#77000497)	902 Logan Ave. 42°30′48″N 92°20′14″W / 42.513333°N 92.337222°W / 42.513333; -92.337222 (Dunsmore House)	Waterloo
13	Emerson School		December 29, 2004 (#04001403)	314 Randolph St. 42°29′34″N 92°20′51″W / 42.492778°N 92.3475°W / 42.492778; -92.3475 (Emerson School)	Waterloo
14	Fire Station No. 2		November 29, 1988 (#88001321)	716 Commercial St. 42°29′38″N 92°20′17″W / 42.493889°N 92.338056°W / 42.493889; -92.338056 (Fire Station No. 2)	Waterloo
15	The Fowler Company Building		September 16, 2009 (#09000712)	226-228 E. 4th St. 42°29′54″N 92°20′08″W / 42.498442°N 92.335683°W / 42.498442; -92.335683 (The Fowler Company Building)	Waterloo
16	Clement B. Gingrich House		December 4, 1996 (#96001371)	300 Walnut St. 42°18′51″N 92°11′18″W / 42.3142°N 92.1883°W / 42.3142; -92.1883 (Clement B. Gingrich House)	La Porte City
17	Grace Methodist Episcopal Church		October 6, 2011 (#11000719)	633 Walnut St. 42°30′04″N 92°19′51″W / 42.500984°N 92.33095°W / 42.500984; -92.33095 (Grace Methodist Episcopal Church)	Waterloo
18	Highland Historic District		September 24, 1984 (#84001209)	Roughly bounded by Independence Ave. and Steely, Idaho, and Vine Sts. 42°30′01″N 92°18′42″W / 42.500278°N 92.311667°W / 42.500278; -92.311667 (Highland Historic District)	Waterloo
19	Hotel Russell-Lamson		November 29, 1988 (#88001324)	201-215 W. 5th St. 42°29′39″N 92°20′19″W / 42.494167°N 92.338611°W / 42.494167; -92.338611 (Hotel Russell-Lamson)	Waterloo
20	La Porte City Station		March 13, 1979 (#79003781)	202 E. Main St. 42°18′55″N 92°11′32″W / 42.3153°N 92.1922°W / 42.3153; -92.1922 (La Porte City Station)	La Porte City	La Porte City's current city hall
21	August H.J. and Justena Lange Farmstead Historic District		May 14, 1997 (#97000385)	8214 Spring Creek Rd. 42°22′53″N 92°04′29″W / 42.3814°N 92.0747°W / 42.3814; -92.0747 (August H.J. and Justena Lange Farmstead Historic District)	La Porte City
22	LaPorte City Town Hall and Fire Station		May 12, 1977 (#77000496)	413 Chestnut 42°18′49″N 92°11′30″W / 42.3136°N 92.1917°W / 42.3136; -92.1917 (LaPorte City Town Hall and Fire Station)	La Porte City	La Porte City's former city hall and fire station
23	Marsh-Place Building		October 22, 1998 (#98001272)	627 Sycamore St. 42°29′51″N 92°20′04″W / 42.4975°N 92.334444°W / 42.4975; -92.334444 (Marsh-Place Building)	Waterloo
24	Master Service Station		February 7, 2011 (#10001204)	500 Jefferson St. 42°29′42″N 92°20′30″W / 42.495°N 92.341667°W / 42.495; -92.341667 (Master Service Station)	Waterloo
25	John N. and Mary McQuilken House		September 8, 1994 (#94001097)	602 Commercial St. 42°18′46″N 92°11′35″W / 42.3128°N 92.1931°W / 42.3128; -92.1931 (John N. and Mary McQuilken House)	La Porte City
26	James Newell Barn		December 12, 1976 (#76000734)	North of Cedar Falls off U.S. Route 218 42°37′01″N 92°29′38″W / 42.616944°N 92.493889°W / 42.616944; -92.493889 (James Newell Barn)	Cedar Falls
27	Overland Waterloo Company Building		September 22, 2014 (#14000663)	500 E. 4th St. 42°30′02″N 92°19′58″W / 42.5005°N 92.3328°W / 42.5005; -92.3328 (Overland Waterloo Company Building)	Waterloo
28	Rath Packing Company Administration Building		December 10, 2008 (#08001162)	1515 E. Sycamore St., 208-212 Elm St. 42°29′33″N 92°19′26″W / 42.4925°N 92.323889°W / 42.4925; -92.323889 (Rath Packing Company Administration Building)	Waterloo
29	Roosevelt Elementary School		December 30, 2004 (#04001402)	200 E. Arlington St. 42°31′06″N 92°20′11″W / 42.518333°N 92.336389°W / 42.518333; -92.336389 (Roosevelt Elementary School)	Waterloo
30	Round Barn, Washington Township		June 30, 1986 (#86001417)	Off U.S. Route 218 42°35′07″N 92°27′40″W / 42.585278°N 92.461111°W / 42.585278; -92.461111 (Round Barn, Washington Township)	Washington Township
31	C.A. Rownd Round Barn		November 19, 1986 (#86003193)	5102 S. Main 42°29′50″N 92°27′47″W / 42.497222°N 92.463056°W / 42.497222; -92.463056 (C.A. Rownd Round Barn)	Cedar Falls
32	Rensselaer Russell House		July 5, 1973 (#73000722)	520 W. 3rd St. 42°29′39″N 92°20′44″W / 42.494167°N 92.345556°W / 42.494167; -92.345556 (Rensselaer Russell House)	Waterloo
33	Snowden House		September 14, 1977 (#77000498)	306 Washington St. 42°29′39″N 92°20′44″W / 42.494167°N 92.345556°W / 42.494167; -92.345556 (Snowden House)	Waterloo
34	Syndicate Block		December 21, 2005 (#05001429)	206, 208, 210, 212, and 216 Main St. 42°18′54″N 92°11′24″W / 42.315°N 92.19°W / 42.315; -92.19 (Syndicate Block)	La Porte City
35	Walnut Street Baptist Church		August 16, 2000 (#00000983)	415 Walnut St. 42°30′09″N 92°20′02″W / 42.5025°N 92.333889°W / 42.5025; -92.333889 (Walnut Street Baptist Church)	Waterloo
36	Dr. Jesse Wasson Building		October 7, 1999 (#99001239)	201 Main St. 42°18′54″N 92°11′34″W / 42.315°N 92.1928°W / 42.315; -92.1928 (Dr. Jesse Wasson Building)	La Porte City
37	William Waterfield House		October 19, 1978 (#78001206)	308 3rd St., S. 42°27′54″N 92°13′11″W / 42.465°N 92.219722°W / 42.465; -92.219722 (William Waterfield House)	Raymond
38	Waterloo East Commercial Historic District		November 18, 2011 (#11000813)	128-329 E. 4th, 612-616 Mulberry, 501-632 Sycamore Sts. 42°29′56″N 92°20′06″W / 42.498889°N 92.335°W / 42.498889; -92.335 (Waterloo East Commercial Historic District)	Waterloo	Iowa's Main Street Commercial Architecture MPS
39	Waterloo West Commercial Historic District		September 22, 2014 (#14000664)	217-333 W. 4th., 301-317 W. 5th & 612-716 Jefferson Sts. 42°29′39″N 92°20′26″W / 42.4943°N 92.3406°W / 42.4943; -92.3406 (Waterloo West Commercial Historic District)	Waterloo
40	Waterloo Masonic Temple		December 18, 2013 (#13000921)	325 E. Park Avenue 42°30′02″N 92°20′09″W / 42.500556°N 92.335709°W / 42.500556; -92.335709 (Waterloo Masonic Temple)	Waterloo
41	Waterloo Public Library (West Branch)		May 23, 1983 (#83000342)	528 W. 4th St. 42°29′33″N 92°20′35″W / 42.4925°N 92.343056°W / 42.4925; -92.343056 (Waterloo Public Library (West Branch))	Waterloo
42	Waterloo Public Library-East Side Branch		November 29, 1988 (#88001323)	626 Mulberry St. 42°29′56″N 92°19′59″W / 42.498889°N 92.333056°W / 42.498889; -92.333056 (Waterloo Public Library-East Side Branch)	Waterloo
43	Henry Weis House		October 30, 1989 (#89001779)	800 W. 4th St. 42°29′26″N 92°20′45″W / 42.490556°N 92.345833°W / 42.490556; -92.345833 (Henry Weis House)	Waterloo
44	Whittier School		December 30, 2004 (#04001400)	1500 3rd St., W. 42°29′14″N 92°21′22″W / 42.487222°N 92.356111°W / 42.487222; -92.356111 (Whittier School)	Waterloo
45	YMCA Building		July 7, 1983 (#83000343)	154 W. 4th St. 42°29′37″N 92°20′27″W / 42.493611°N 92.340833°W / 42.493611; -92.340833 (YMCA Building)	Waterloo

Former listings