Schuetzen Park (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schuetzen Park |
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Streetcar Station
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| Type | Privately owned park |
| Location | Davenport, Iowa |
| Area | 23-acre (0.093 km2) |
| Created | 1870 |
| Operated by | Schuetzenpark Gilde |
| Open | April - November |
| Official name: Schuetzen Park Street Car Pavilion | |
| Designated: | August 5, 1998 |
Schuetzen Park is a special park in Davenport, Iowa, United States. It covers about 24 acres (9.7 hectares) and is privately owned. A group called the Schuetzenpark Gilde now owns and runs the park.
Long ago, a German group called the Davenport Schuetzengesellschaft created the park. They used it for target shooting, a traditional German sport called "Schuetzen."
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A Look Back: The Park's History
Schuetzen Park first opened its doors on June 12, 1870. At its most popular, the park was a lively place. It had an inn, a music pavilion, and a dance hall.
There was also a shooting range, places to buy snacks, and even a roller coaster. You could find bowling alleys and a zoo there too!
Many groups were connected to Schuetzen Park. One of the most famous was the Davenport Turngemeinde. This group focused on physical fitness and had an athletic field at the park. Today, you can still see a monument in the park. It celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Davenport Turngemeinde.
How World War I Changed the Park
The park was very popular until World War I began. During this time, many people in the United States felt angry towards Germany. This feeling also spread to Davenport.
Because of this, the German language was not allowed in public. German books were taken out of libraries. People who were born in Germany were questioned about their loyalty to the U.S.
Many German businesses even changed their names. The Schuetzenverein, the shooting club, became the Davenport Shooting Association. For a while, Schuetzen Park was even renamed Forest Park.
New Owners and New Uses
In 1923, the park was sold for $3,500 to a health center. The agreement was that the public could still use the park. The shooting club could also use the shooting range for a while.
After the final payment in 1939, the shooting club moved. They built a new shooting range elsewhere. The health center stayed on the property for 40 years. They changed the park's buildings to fit their needs.
In 1960, the health center complex was sold again. It became a nursing home and assisted living center. A part of this nursing home still operates on the site today.
Bringing the Park Back to Life
In 1995, people started working to restore the park. Now, cultural events and other fun activities happen there again. The park has many acres of nature trails.
You can also find a deer pond, a Bavarian Wayside Shrine, and parts of the old German Savings Bank. In 2005, a new picnic pavilion was built. A new bandstand was added in 2008.
Just like in the past, the park hosts summer concerts. These concerts feature many different kinds of music.
The Historic Streetcar Station
The streetcar railway station at Schuetzen Park is very old. It was built in 1911 and is the only original building left from the park. The station was designed in an Egyptian Revival style.
It was built from concrete and is about 21 by 15 feet (6.4 by 4.6 meters). This station was a waiting area for people who rode the trolley car to and from the park. A man named Henry Koehler, a brewer from Davenport, paid for its construction.
The station was added to the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on August 5, 1998.
Restoring the Station
Work to fix up the station started in late 2011. First, the roof was repaired. The second part of the project finished in 2014. This included fixing the ceiling's support beams and making the outside walls look new.
The third and final part of the project was completed in 2018. This involved more ceiling repairs, new lights, cleaning, and painting. All the money for these repairs came from private donations and grants.
Images for kids
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Streetcar Station
Schuetzen Park Davenport, Iowa
