Nelle Peters facts for kids

Nelle Peters (1884–1974) was a very busy and important architect in Kansas City. She designed many different kinds of buildings.

About Nelle Peters' Early Life

Nelle Elizabeth Nichols was born in 1884 in a sod house in Niagara, North Dakota. She went to Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. There, she was very good at drawing and math.

Because she loved drawing and math, Nelle decided to become an architect. She first worked as a drafter in Sioux City. A drafter draws detailed plans for buildings. She stayed there for four years and also took architecture classes by mail.

In 1907, Nelle moved to Kansas City for her job. But in 1909, she decided to start her own architecture business.

Designing Many Buildings

The Ambassador Hotel (1929) in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In 1911, Nelle married William H. Peters. He was also a designer. She kept working as an architect after they got married.

After her divorce in 1923, Nelle became even more active in her work. For the next five years, she designed many buildings. Some of her most famous works in Kansas City include the Ambassador Hotel and the Luzier Cosmetic Company building.

She also designed many apartment buildings. A special group of these apartments was named after famous writers. These buildings are on the west side of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City.

Nelle Peters designed buildings in many other cities too. These include Tulsa and Oklahoma City in Oklahoma. She also worked in Columbia, Clinton, Boonville, and Jefferson City in Missouri. Other cities were Nashville, North Carolina; Newark, New Jersey; and Columbus, Ohio.

Nelle Peters worked as an architect until 1965, when she retired. She mostly designed apartment buildings and hotels. But she also created churches, homes, and other business buildings. A special feature of her style was using terra cotta decorations. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay.

Nelle Peters spent her last years in a nursing home. She passed away in 1974 in Sedalia, Missouri. She is buried in Kansas City.

Nelle Peters' Lasting Impact

Nelle Peters was one of Kansas City's most active architects. She designed almost 1,000 buildings during her career.

Kansas City has honored her by naming two historic districts after her. In 1982, the Nelle E. Peters Historic District was created. It includes buildings at Summit Avenue and 37th Street. In 1989, the Nelle E. Peters Thematic Historic District was set up. This district is part of the Country Club Plaza.

Another district named after her is on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. The Nelle E. Peters Troost Avenue Historic District was added to this list in 2009. It includes six apartment buildings on 2700 Troost Avenue.

Nelle Peters is also one of 13 women honored at the Women's Leadership Fountain in Kansas City. This fountain celebrates women who have made important contributions to the city. In 2021, she was also added to the Starr Women's Hall of Fame. This honor is for women who have helped make Kansas City a better place to live.

See also

In Spanish: Nelle Peters para niños