United States Post Office and Courthouse (Dubuque, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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United States Post Office and Courthouse as it appeared in 1934
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 350 West 6th Street, Dubuque, Iowa United States |
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| Built | 1932-34 |
| Architect | Office of the Supervising Architect under James A. Wetmore |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Part of | Cathedral Historic District (ID85002501) |
| Added to NRHP | September 25, 1985 |
The United States Post Office and Courthouse in Dubuque, Iowa is a special building. It serves as both a post office and a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. This important building was finished in 1934. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It's also a key part of the Cathedral Historic District. This district is an area in Dubuque with many old and important buildings.
Contents
The Story Behind the Building
As the city of Dubuque grew in the 1920s, the old post office became too small. It couldn't handle all the mail! Instead of making the old building bigger, city leaders decided to build a brand new one.
Congressman Thomas J. B. Robinson helped make sure Dubuque got a better post office. Officials decided the new building would be both a post office and a courthouse. It still serves these two important purposes today.
How the Building Was Funded
The building was paid for using money from the 1926 Public Buildings Act. This was a law where the government set aside a lot of money for new federal buildings. Dubuque received about $650,000 for the land and to build the new post office and courthouse.
A famous city planner named John Nolen had big plans for this area. He wanted the building to be part of a "civic design" for Washington Park. He hoped to build a city hall, another courthouse, and a park next to the post office. However, these plans never happened.
Who Designed the Building?
The Courthouse was designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect. This office was led by James A. Wetmore. They also got ideas from architects in Iowa. One of the local firms was Proudfoot, Rawson, Souers & Thomas from Des Moines. This firm had designed many important public buildings in Iowa. These included the Polk County Courthouse and buildings for Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.
A local Dubuque architect, Herbert Kennison, also helped. He likely worked as a consultant on site. He provided valuable ideas as someone who lived right there in Dubuque.
Building Milestones
The first stone of the building, called the cornerstone, was laid in 1932. A special ceremony was held the next year. The building opened its doors in early 1934. In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Building's Look and Style
The United States Post Office and Courthouse is in the middle of downtown Dubuque. It faces Washington Park. Construction started in 1932 and finished in 1934.
The building was designed in the Art Deco style. This style uses strong, straight lines. These lines later influenced modern buildings in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. The building looks similar to older public buildings, but it doesn't have as much fancy decoration. It looks clean and simple, but still very grand. Many public buildings built during the Great Depression have this simple, strong look.
Outside the Building
The building has a four-story tower in the middle that sticks out. On each side of the tower are three-story wings. The tower was first planned to have a special room for the local weather bureau to watch the sky.
The outside of the building is covered in cream-colored Bedford limestone. These are smooth, squared blocks of stone. You can see decorative details that are typical of the Art Deco style. These include designs of stylized flowers, swags, and V-shaped patterns. The corners of the tower have a special cut and feature stylized eagle designs. These eagles show that the building is a place of the U.S. government.
The windows are tall and vertical. They are spaced evenly and have bronze mullions, which are common in Art Deco buildings. The windows are separated by fluted pilasters. These are like columns attached to the wall. They add to the building's classic look.
Inside the Building
The inside of the building is just as impressive. The lobby has beautiful murals, which are large paintings on the wall. These murals were paid for with $2,000 from the building's original construction money.
Officials wanted Grant Wood, a famous Iowa painter, to create the murals. He painted "American Gothic." But Wood didn't enter the competition. So, William E. L. Bunn was chosen. Then, that choice was changed to another painter named Bertrand Adams. In the end, both Bunn and Adams were allowed to paint murals. They had both studied and worked with Wood and were friends from the University of Iowa.
- Bertrand Adams painted "Early Settlers of Dubuque" in 1936 and 1937. This painting shows symbols of Dubuque's early days. You can see the Julien Dubuque Monument and a Mesquakie Native American village. Adams also showed the coming of industry with the Dubuque Shot Tower and a bridge.
- William Bunn painted "Early Mississippi Packet 'Dubuque III'" (also called "Early Mississippi Steamboats") at the same time. His mural shows what life was like in Dubuque in 1870. Back then, steamboats were a main way to travel in the Midwest. Both murals use similar colors and sizes, so they look good together.
The lobby also has American walnut wood panels. These panels have an ornamental top with designs of leaves and circles. Bronze grilles with geometric patterns are another typical Art Deco feature. The main staircase is on the north side of the building. It has beautiful rose-gray marble on the walls, stairs, and landings. The brushed aluminum railing gives the space a strong Art Deco feel.
The Courtroom
The courtroom is on the second floor. The bottom part of the room has Cardiff green marble. The walls are covered in American walnut wood panels arranged in a herringbone pattern. The top of the wood has a wavy, scalloped band. This wavy design is also seen in the metal grilles and furniture.
The most detailed part of the room is the plaster cornice. This is a decorative molding at the top of the walls. It has carved rectangular blocks, leaves, flowers, and V-shaped designs. These details are highlighted with metallic paint.
Important Dates
- 1932-1934: The United States Post Office and Courthouse was built.
- 1933: A special ceremony was held to dedicate the cornerstone.
- 1935: A competition was held to choose artists for the murals.
- 1937: Murals by Bertrand Adams and William Bunn were finished.
- 1985: The United States Post Office and Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It became a key part of the Cathedral Historic District.
