kids encyclopedia robot

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

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Map of Iowa highlighting Clayton County
Location of Clayton County in Iowa

Welcome to Clayton County, Iowa! This page is all about the amazing historic places found here. These special spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a very important list kept by the United States government. It helps protect buildings, sites, and objects that are super important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

Clayton County has 55 places on this special list! These include old buildings, bridges, and even ancient Native American mounds. Two other places were once on the list but have since been removed. Let's explore some of these cool historic sites!

Historic Places in Clayton County

Here are some of the interesting places in Clayton County that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Each one has a unique story!

Historic Buildings and Homes

  • Albertus Building in Guttenberg: This building was added to the list in 1979.
  • American House in McGregor: This historic building joined the list in 2001.
The American House
The American House in McGregor.
  • Christian Bloedel Wagon Works in McGregor: This old wagon works building was recognized in 2009.
The Christian Bloedel Wagon Works
The Christian Bloedel Wagon Works.
  • Carter House in Elkader: A historic home added to the list in 1976.
The Carter House
The Carter House in Elkader.
  • Clayton County Courthouse in Elkader: The main courthouse for the county, listed in 1976.
Clayton County Courthouse Elkader Iowa
The Clayton County Courthouse.
  • Timothy Davis House in Elkader: This house became historic in 1976.
Timothy-Davis-House
The Timothy Davis House.
  • Eckert House in Guttenberg: Another historic home, added in 1984.
  • Elkader Opera House in Elkader: This beautiful opera house was listed in 1976.
Elkader Opera House
The Elkader Opera House.
  • First Congregational Church in Garnavillo: This church was recognized in 1977.
First Congregational Church, Garnavillo, Iowa
The First Congregational Church.
Franklin Hotel
The Franklin Hotel.
The Fuerste House
The Fuerste House.
  • Goedert Meat Market in McGregor: This building, with its unique cast-iron storefront, was listed in 1996. It shows off a style called Italianate architecture.
The Goedert Meat Market
The Goedert Meat Market.
  • Guttenberg Corn Canning Co. in Guttenberg: An old canning factory, listed in 1984.
  • Guttenberg State Bank in Guttenberg: This bank building was added in 1984.
Gutenberg State Bank
The Guttenberg State Bank.
  • I.O.O.F. Hall in Garnavillo: This hall was listed in 1979.
I.O.O.F. Hall in Garnavillo, Iowa
The I.O.O.F. Hall.
  • Kolker House in Guttenberg: Another historic home, listed in 1984.
The Kolker House
The Kolker House.
  • Lakeside Ballroom in Guttenberg: This ballroom was recognized in 2002.
Lakeside Ballroom
The Lakeside Ballroom.
Matt-Bahls House
The Matt-Bahls House.
  • McClaine House in Guttenberg: This house was added to the list in 1984.
  • Moser Stone House in Guttenberg: Listed in 1984.
  • Nieland House in Guttenberg: Another historic home, added in 1984.
  • Parker House in Guttenberg: This house was recognized in 1984.
The Parker House
The Parker House.
  • Rialto Price House in Elkader: Listed in 1976.
Rialto Price House
The Rialto Price House.
  • Joseph "Diamond Jo" Reynolds Office Building and House in McGregor: This important building was added in 1982.
The Joseph Reynolds Office Building and House
The Joseph Reynolds Office Building and House.
  • St. Joseph Church and Parish Hall in Elkader: This church and hall were listed in 1976.
St. Joseph, Elkader OldRockChurch
St. Joseph Church in Elkader.
  • St. Olaf Auditorium in St. Olaf: This auditorium was recognized in 1994.
St. Olaf Auditorium
The St. Olaf Auditorium.
  • St. Peters United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ceres: This church was listed in 1976.
Ne iowa 276
St. Peters United Evangelical Lutheran Church.
  • Schmidt House in Elkader: This house joined the list in 1977.
Schmidt House - Elkader, Iowa
The Schmidt House.
  • Peter Stauer House in McGregor: Listed in 2003.
The Peter Stauer House
The Peter Stauer House.
  • J.C. Stemmer House in Elkader: This house was added in 1976.
J.C. stemmed House
The J.C. Stemmer House.
  • Stone Barn in Guttenberg: This unique barn was listed in 1984.
  • Valley Mills in Garnavillo: These mills were recognized in 1976.
Valley Mills
The Valley Mills.
The Weber House
The Weber House.
  • Wehmer House in Guttenberg: Another historic home, added in 1984.
The Wehmer House
The Wehmer House.

Historic Districts

A historic district is an area that has a group of buildings or sites that are important together.

  • American School of Wild Life Protection Historic District in McGregor: This district was added in 1991.
  • Effigy Mounds National Monument in Marquette: This very important site, listed in 1966, has ancient mounds shaped like animals. It even extends into a nearby county!
Efmo little bear mound
One of the effigy mounds.
  • Elkader Downtown Historic District in Elkader: The historic downtown area of Elkader was recognized in 2012.
Downtown Elkader
Downtown Elkader.
  • Front Street (River Park Drive) Historic District in Guttenberg: This district was listed in 1984.
Front Street District
Front Street Historic District.
  • Guttenberg National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium Historic District in Guttenberg: This district was added in 1991.
Gutenberg Fish Hatchery
The Guttenberg Fish Hatchery.
  • McGregor Commercial Historic District in McGregor: The historic business area of McGregor was listed in 2002.
McGregor Iowa
Downtown McGregor.
  • Motor Mill Historic District in Elkader: This district was recognized in 2014.
Motor Townsite Clayton County Iowa 5
Motor Mill Historic District.
  • Motor Townsite in Elkader: This historic townsite was listed in 1977.
Motor Townsite Clayton County Iowa 4
Motor Townsite.
  • St. Mary's Catholic Church Historic District in Guttenberg: This church district was added in 2004.
St. Mary's Catholic Church - Guttenberg, Iowa 01
St. Mary's Catholic Church.
  • Turkey River State Preserve Archeological District in Millville: This important archaeological site was listed in 1990.

Historic Bridges and Structures

  • Dry Run Bridge in Littleport: This bridge was recognized in 1998.
  • Elkader Keystone Bridge in Elkader: This unique bridge was listed in 1976.
Elkader Keystone Bridge
The Elkader Keystone Bridge.
  • Garnavillo Township Bridge in Garnavillo Township: This bridge was added in 1998.
  • Garnavillo Township Culvert in Garnavillo Township: This culvert, one of seven stone arch bridges built in 1900, was listed in 1998.
  • Mallory Township Bridge in Mallory Township: This bridge, built in 1890, is special because it's the oldest example of a certain type of truss bridge in Iowa. It was listed in 1998.
  • Mederville Bridge in Cox Creek Township: This bridge over the Volga River was recognized in 1998.
Mederville Bridge
The Mederville Bridge.
  • Monona Township Culvert in Monona Township: Listed in 1998.
  • Read Township Culvert in Read Township: This culvert was added in 1999.
  • Round Barn, Millville Township in Millville Township: This unique round barn was listed in 1986.
ROUND BARN, MILLVILLE TOWNSHIP
The Round Barn in Millville Township.

Historic Schools

  • Clayton School in Clayton: This old school building was listed in 1974.
Clayton School
The Clayton School.

Former Listings

Sometimes, a place is removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This can happen if the building is changed too much, or if it's no longer there. Here are two places that were once on the list in Clayton County:

  • County Road Bridge 15 in Elkader: This bridge was listed in 1998 but removed in 2003.
  • Hartwick House in McGregor: This house was listed in 1978 but removed in 1987.
kids search engine
National Register of Historic Places listings in Clayton County, Iowa Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.