Veterans Memorial Building (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Veterans Memorial Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
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| Location | May’s Island, Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
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| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Part of | May's Island Historic District (ID78001240) |
| Added to NRHP | October 19, 1978 |
The Veterans Memorial Building stands on May's Island in the middle of the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It is a special part of the May's Island Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The building used to be the Cedar Rapids City Hall. However, it was badly damaged during the Flood of 2008. After a lot of repair work, the building officially reopened on April 15, 2014.
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A Look Back: The Building's Story
People in Cedar Rapids wanted to build a special memorial. So, on March 4, 1925, they asked the city to start the project. Over 40 different groups helped plan what the building would be like. Voters agreed to use money from a special bond, and a Veterans Memorial Commission was created. The building was finished in 1927.
The plans for the building were drawn up, and it was decided to place it on May's Island. To help pay for it, a new city hall was included in the design. This made Cedar Rapids one of only three cities in the world to have its government on an island. The others are Paris, France (with its Hôtel de Ville) and Osaka, Japan.
The building has many important features. These include a beautiful Memorial Window, a large Memorial Auditorium, and a special Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style. This means it has a grand and classical look. The main part of the building has four floors. A taller, eight-story section is at the front. A cenotaph (a monument for people buried elsewhere) sits on top of this eight-story part. Inside the auditorium, you can see seven banners from different veterans' groups. Seven American flags also hang from the ceiling. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located above the cenotaph.
Honoring Heroes: Memorials and Museum
In 1960, a statue was added to the front steps. It shows the famous flag-raising at Iwo Jima. This statue honors veterans from World War II and the Korean War. The Veterans Memorial Commission opened a museum in 1966. This museum displays items from many wars, from the American Revolution to the Vietnam War. The museum was specially dedicated to those who served in the Spanish–American War. A granite monument also remembers those who served in the Vietnam War. In 2000, an eternal flame was lit on top of the building.
After the Flood: A New Chapter
The Veterans Memorial Building was badly damaged by the 2008 flood. Because of this, the city government had to move out. The city decided to move its offices to the old Federal Courthouse. The city got this building after providing land for a new courthouse downtown. The City Council started meeting in the former courthouse on June 26, 2011. The new city offices opened to the public on June 4, 2012.
Today, the Veterans Memorial Building is a busy place. It hosts and rents out its spaces for weddings, fundraisers, and other events. The building also has different groups as tenants. It offers meeting rooms for many veteran organizations and clubs. You can find more information about renting spaces on their website here.
The Amazing Memorial Window
The famous artist Grant Wood designed the memorial window. Wood grew up and lived in Cedar Rapids. This window is very large, measuring 24 feet tall by 20 feet wide. It is the only stained glass window Wood ever designed.
The window shows a 16-foot-tall Lady of Peace and Victory floating in the clouds. She wears a Greek-style robe and a blue veil, which is a sign of mourning. In one hand, she holds a palm branch for peace. In the other, she holds a wreath for victory. Grant Wood's sister, Nan, was the model for this Lady of Peace and Victory.
Across the bottom of the window are six 6-foot-tall soldiers. Each soldier represents a different war:
- The American Revolution
- The War of 1812
- The Mexican–American War
- The American Civil War
- The Spanish–American War
- World War I
Over the years, the window started to show its age. It was also damaged during the 2008 flood. A company called Glass Heritage from Davenport, Iowa restored the window. The restoration cost $150,000. The beautiful window was rededicated on July 4, 2010.
