United States Post Office (Des Moines, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2nd and Walnut Sts., Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Built | 1909-1910 |
| Architect | James Knox Taylor |
| Part of | Civic Center Historic District (ID88001168) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002323 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1974 |
The United States Post Office building in Des Moines, Iowa, is a very old and important building. It was built a long time ago and is now considered a historic landmark. In 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place that is worth protecting because of its history. Later, in 1988, it became part of the Civic Center Historic District. This district is a group of important buildings in the city center. Today, the building is used for offices by Polk County.
Contents
The History of the Post Office Building
Before this building was constructed, the post office was in another federal building. That old building was located at Fifth and Court Avenues. It had been used for mail services since 1870.
Getting Ready to Build
In 1902, the United States Congress decided to help build a new post office. They approved $150,000 to buy land for it. More money was approved in 1904. Then, in 1906, the first of three payments for building the post office was approved.
The building was designed in 1908 by James Knox Taylor. He worked for the United States Department of the Treasury. Construction started the next year, in 1909. The building was finished in 1910. It cost about $488,000 to build.
A New Home for Mail
The post office started using the new building in the spring of 1910. This was the second building built in the Civic Center area. It was also the first building the government provided for the "City Beautiful Movement" in Des Moines. This movement aimed to make cities more beautiful with grand buildings and parks.
By 1925, the building was getting too small for all the mail. Architects from Des Moines, Wetherell & Harrison, made plans for a big addition in the 1930s. However, there wasn't enough money for it.
Building Additions and New Uses
In 1934, plans for a smaller addition were approved. This part was finished the next year, in 1935. There were also plans for another addition that was never built. A different, smaller addition was built later, but it was torn down in the 1970s.
The post office moved out of this building in 1971. They moved to a bigger place at Second and University Avenues. The old building was empty for a few years. Then, in the late 1970s, Polk County bought it. They fixed up the building to use as their offices. The company Woodburn & O'Neil designed these changes.
Today, the north lobby of the building is still special. It is kept as a public space. People can visit it to see art and historical exhibits. It is known as the Polk County Heritage Gallery.
Building Design and Style
The old post office building looks a lot like the Municipal Court Building. That building is across the Des Moines River. Both buildings were designed and built around the same time.
What the Building Looks Like
Both the original building and the addition from 1935 are made with a steel frame. They are covered with limestone, which is a type of stone. The base of the building is made of granite.
The building has some cool features:
- Large, round-topped windows.
- Tall, smooth columns.
- Simple decorations above the columns.
- A strong, solid look.
- Classic details that were popular a long time ago.
The 1935 addition was built to match the original building. It has a similar solid design but is a bit simpler. This simpler style was popular in the 1930s. When Polk County fixed up the building in the late 1970s, they added a new entrance on the south side. This entrance is like a walkway for people to enter.
