National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardin County, Iowa facts for kids
Welcome to Hardin County, Iowa! This page is all about the special places in Hardin County that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of this as a list of really important buildings, bridges, and areas that tell us stories about the past. These places are protected because they are part of American history.
There are 35 amazing spots in Hardin County that have made it onto this special list!
Contents
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is like a hall of fame for buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts that are important in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our country's heritage. It also helps to protect these places and sometimes provides support for their care.
Historic Treasures in Hardin County
Hardin County has many cool historic places. Let's explore some of them!
Old Buildings and Libraries
Many buildings in Hardin County have been around for a long time and have interesting stories.
- Alden Public Library: This library in Alden, built a long time ago, has been a place for learning and reading for many years.
- Carnegie-Ellsworth Public Library: Located in Iowa Falls, this library is a "Carnegie library." Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman, helped fund many libraries across the U.S. so everyone could have access to books.
- Civilian Conservation Corps-Prisoner of War Recreation Hall: In Eldora, this building has a unique history! It was used by the Civilian Conservation Corps (a program during the Great Depression) and later by prisoners of war.
- Edgewood School of Domestic Arts: This school in Iowa Falls taught important skills for home life, showing how education has changed over time.
- Former Eldora Public Library: Another historic library building in Eldora, showing the importance of public libraries in the community.
- Ellsworth-Jones Building: This building in Iowa Falls is a historic landmark, likely a former business or office building.
- First Congregational Church: This church in Eldora is an important part of the town's religious and community history.
- First National Bank: In Iowa Falls, this old bank building shows what financial buildings looked like in the past.
- McClanahan Block: Another historic building in Iowa Falls, probably a commercial block with shops or offices.
- Metropolitan Opera House: Imagine seeing a show here in Iowa Falls! This old opera house was a center for entertainment and culture.
- New Providence Building Association Stores: These stores in New Providence tell us about how people shopped and did business long ago.
- New Providence School Gymnasium: This gym in New Providence was where students played and had events for many years.
- Princess Sweet Shop: In Iowa Falls, this sweet shop sounds like a fun place from the past!
- Sentinel Block: Another historic building in Iowa Falls, adding to the charm of the downtown area.
- Steamboat Rock Consolidated Schools Building: This old school building in Steamboat Rock educated many generations of students.
- Union Cemetery Gardener's Cottage: This small house in Iowa Falls' Union Cemetery was likely home to the person who cared for the cemetery grounds.
- U.S. Post Office-Iowa Falls: The post office is often a central part of a town, and this one in Iowa Falls has a long history.
- W.R.C. Hall: This hall in Iowa Falls likely belonged to the Woman's Relief Corps, a group that supported veterans and their families.
Important Bridges
Bridges are super important for connecting places and helping people travel. Hardin County has some historic bridges.
- Alden Bridge: This bridge in Alden crosses the Iowa River and has been a vital link for many years.
- Iowa Falls Bridge: This bridge carries U.S. Route 65 over the Iowa River in Iowa Falls.
- River Street Bridge: Another historic bridge in Iowa Falls, also crossing the Iowa River.
- Washington Avenue Bridge: This bridge in Iowa Falls carries U.S. Route 20 over the Iowa River.
Special Historic Areas
Some places are important not just for one building, but for a whole group of buildings or an entire area.
- Eldora Downtown Historic District: This area in downtown Eldora includes many historic buildings around the courthouse square, showing what a town center looked like in the past.
- Hardin County Home Historic District: This district outside Eldora tells the story of how the county cared for its residents in the past.
- Mills Tower Historic District: This area in Iowa Falls relates to the history of railroads and transportation.
- Washington Avenue Commercial Historic District: This district in Iowa Falls includes several blocks of historic commercial buildings, showing the town's business history.
Other Unique Historic Sites
Hardin County also has some very unique historic places.
- Folkert Mound Group: This site near Steamboat Rock contains ancient mounds, which are important archaeological sites that teach us about early peoples.
- Honey Creek Friends' Meetinghouse: Located southwest of New Providence, this meetinghouse is a historic place of worship for the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
- Illinois Central Combination Depot-Ackley: This old train station in Ackley was a key spot for travel and trade.
- Iowa Falls Union Depot: Another historic train station in Iowa Falls, showing the importance of railroads in connecting communities.
- Glenn and Nell Kurtz Lustron Home and Garage: This home in Iowa Falls is special because it's a "Lustron Home," a type of prefabricated enamel steel house built after World War II.
- St. Matthew's by the Bridge Episcopal Church: This church in Iowa Falls has a unique name and a long history.
- Slayton Farms-Round Barn: Round barns are quite rare and special! This one near Iowa Falls is a great example of unique farm architecture.
These are just some of the many fascinating historic places you can find in Hardin County, Iowa! Each one helps us understand the past and appreciate the history of the area.
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Location | City or town | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alden Bridge |
 |
(#98000517) |
Main St. over the Iowa River 42°31′16″N 93°22′32″W / 42.521111°N 93.375556°W |
Alden | |
| 2 | Alden Public Library |
 |
(#81000241) |
1012 Water St. 42°31′07″N 93°22′01″W / 42.518611°N 93.366944°W |
Alden | |
| 3 | Carnegie-Ellsworth Public Library |
 |
(#83000363) |
520 Rocksylvania Ave. 42°31′18″N 93°15′50″W / 42.521722°N 93.263833°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 4 | Civilian Conservation Corps-Prisoner of War Recreation Hall |
 |
(#11001056) |
301 11th Ave. 42°21′45″N 93°05′11″W / 42.362511°N 93.086336°W |
Eldora | |
| 5 | Edgewood School of Domestic Arts |
 |
(#79000897) |
719 River St. 42°31′26″N 93°16′06″W / 42.523861°N 93.268333°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 6 | Eldora Downtown Historic District |
 |
(#09000297) |
Approximately ten blocks in downtown Eldora around the courthouse square 42°21′37″N 93°05′56″W / 42.360197°N 93.098917°W |
Eldora | |
| 7 | Eldora Public Library |
 |
(#83000364) |
1219 14th Ave. 42°21′35″N 93°05′55″W / 42.359611°N 93.09875°W |
Eldora | |
| 8 | Ellsworth-Jones Building |
 |
(#93000959) |
511 Washington Ave. 42°31′10″N 93°15′49″W / 42.519389°N 93.263528°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 9 | Estes Park Band Shell |
 |
(#93000960) |
Estes Park 42°31′15″N 93°15′53″W / 42.520722°N 93.264806°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 10 | First Congregational Church |
 |
(#96001372) |
1209 12th St. 42°21′41″N 93°05′52″W / 42.361389°N 93.097778°W |
Eldora | |
| 11 | First National Bank |
 |
(#93000958) |
601 Washington Ave. 42°31′10″N 93°15′52″W / 42.519444°N 93.264361°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 12 | Folkert Mound Group |
 |
(#09000126) |
Address Restricted |
Steamboat Rock | |
| 13 | Hardin County Courthouse |
 |
(#81000242) |
Edgington Ave. 42°21′32″N 93°05′45″W / 42.358889°N 93.095833°W |
Eldora | |
| 14 | Hardin County Home Historic District |
(#10000275) |
28483 County Road D41 42°23′25″N 93°08′18″W / 42.390158°N 93.138206°W |
Eldora | ||
| 15 | Honey Creek Friends' Meetinghouse |
(#80001452) |
Southwest of New Providence 42°15′02″N 93°11′14″W / 42.250556°N 93.187222°W |
New Providence | ||
| 16 | Illinois Central Combination Depot-Ackley |
 |
(#90001303) |
North of Railroad St., between State and Mitchell Sts. 42°33′19″N 93°03′08″W / 42.555139°N 93.052306°W |
Ackley | |
| 17 | Iowa Falls Bridge |
 |
(#98000516) |
U.S. Route 65 over the Iowa River 42°31′06″N 93°15′46″W / 42.518333°N 93.262778°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 18 | Iowa Falls Union Depot |
 |
(#90001305) |
E. Rocksylvania Ave. and Depot St. 42°31′16″N 93°15′23″W / 42.521222°N 93.2565°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 19 | Glenn and Nell Kurtz Lustron Home and Garage |
(#14000971) |
2017 Washington Ave. 42°31′11″N 93°16′58″W / 42.5196°N 93.2828°W |
Iowa Falls | ||
| 20 | McClanahan Block |
 |
(#93000956) |
613 Washington Ave. 42°31′10″N 93°15′53″W / 42.519389°N 93.264806°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 21 | Metropolitan Opera House |
 |
(#75000690) |
515 Washington St. 42°30′55″N 93°16′08″W / 42.515278°N 93.268889°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 22 | Mills Tower Historic District |
(#90001304) |
E. Rocksylvania Ave., 1/3 mile east of Freight House 42°31′22″N 93°14′55″W / 42.522778°N 93.248611°W |
Iowa Falls | ||
| 23 | New Providence Building Association Stores |
(#16000081) |
401–405 W. Main Street Dr. 42°16′54″N 93°10′19″W / 42.281555°N 93.171991°W |
New Providence | ||
| 24 | New Providence School Gymnasium |
 |
(#96000698) |
106 N. Main St. 42°17′07″N 93°10′22″W / 42.285139°N 93.172722°W |
New Providence | |
| 25 | Princess-Sweet Shop |
 |
(#93000957) |
607 Washington Ave. 42°31′10″N 93°15′52″W / 42.519444°N 93.264444°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 26 | River Street Bridge |
 |
(#98000526) |
River St. over the Iowa River 42°31′11″N 93°16′05″W / 42.519722°N 93.268056°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 27 | St. Matthew's by the Bridge Episcopal Church |
 |
(#93000961) |
Junction of Oak and Railroad Sts. 42°31′06″N 93°15′47″W / 42.518333°N 93.263056°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 28 | Sentinel Block |
 |
(#93000962) |
702 Washington Ave. 42°31′12″N 93°15′56″W / 42.519917°N 93.265639°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 29 | Slayton Farms-Round Barn |
 |
(#99000739) |
20478 135th St. 42°30′52″N 93°17′26″W / 42.514444°N 93.290556°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 30 | Steamboat Rock Consolidated Schools Building |
 |
(#04000243) |
306 W. Market St. 42°24′29″N 93°03′55″W / 42.408056°N 93.06516°W |
Steamboat Rock | |
| 31 | Union Cemetery Gardener's Cottage |
 |
(#01001486) |
Union Cemetery 42°31′40″N 93°16′13″W / 42.527694°N 93.270278°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 32 | US Post Office-Iowa Falls |
 |
(#93000955) |
401 Main St. 42°31′15″N 93°15′56″W / 42.520833°N 93.265556°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 33 | W.R.C. Hall |
 |
(#93000963) |
710 Washington Ave. 42°31′11″N 93°15′57″W / 42.519722°N 93.265833°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 34 | Washington Avenue Bridge |
 |
(#98000518) |
U.S. Route 20 over the Iowa River 42°31′11″N 93°16′16″W / 42.519722°N 93.271111°W |
Iowa Falls | |
| 35 | Washington Avenue Commercial Historic District |
 |
(#12000889) |
401-714 Washington Ave., the 300 block of Stephens St. and the 200 and 300 blocks of Oak St. 42°31′11″N 93°15′51″W / 42.51964°N 93.264166°W |
Iowa Falls |
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardin County, Iowa Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.