Washington Park (Dubuque, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Washington Park
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Gazebo at Washington Park.
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| Location | Dubuque, IA |
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| Part of | Cathedral Historic District (ID85002501) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000515 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1977 |
Washington Park, also called Washington Square, is a small public park in Downtown Dubuque, Iowa, USA. This park is about 1 acre in size, which is like a whole city block! It's surrounded by West 7th Street, Bluff Street, West 6th Street, and Locust Street. You can find it right between Dubuque's post office and the Dubuque Museum of Art.
This special park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Later, in 1985, it became part of the larger Cathedral Historic District.
Contents
Discovering Washington Park's Past
The land where Washington Park sits today was planned way back in 1833. That's when the city of Dubuque was first laid out! From the very beginning, this spot was meant for everyone to use. In fact, the first church and even the first jail in Iowa were once located right here. It officially became Washington Park in 1857.
Building a Beautiful Park
In 1877, the city council decided to make the park even better. They removed all the old buildings from the block. Then, they planted pretty shrubs and flowers. They also created nice walkways for people to stroll along.
A very special 40-foot (12 m)-tall Oriental-style gazebo was built for just $200. Local architects Fridolin Heer and Edward Eaescher designed it. People thought this gazebo was one of the best around! On August 24, 1877, about 2,000 people came to celebrate the park's official opening.
The Mystery of the Missing Statue
In 1878, a public drinking fountain was put in the park. The city paid for half of it, and people donated money for the rest. A statue of Dr. Henry Cogswell was placed on top of this fountain.
Dr. Cogswell had promised to donate a statue of a local hero. This hero was a woman who had walked a long way to stop a train from crashing into a washed-out bridge. But when the statue was finally revealed, it was a statue of Dr. Cogswell himself!
The statue stayed there until 1900. Then, some people pulled it down and buried it under what was going to be a new sidewalk. The very next day, the new sidewalk was poured, trapping the statue underneath! The drinking fountain was gone by 1912. But people still say that Dr. Cogswell's statue is buried somewhere under a sidewalk in the park!
Famous Visitors and Events
Washington Park has seen many exciting events over the years. In 1896, the famous Buffalo Bill Cody brought his "Authentic Wild West Show" to perform there. Later, in 1899, President William McKinley even gave a speech at the park!
Restoring Washington Park
By the early 1900s, the original gazebo was gone. But in the 1970s, the park got a big makeover! This restoration cost $60,000. New trees, flowers, and shrubs were planted. New lights, made to look like old gas lamps, were also added.
A new steel gazebo, three-quarters the size of the original, was built by Bradley Iron Works. The Dubuque Jaycees, a local group, helped a lot with money for this project. They also put together a time capsule! They asked people to put items into boxes, which were then sealed in a special vault. This vault was buried next to the gazebo. It's not supposed to be opened until the year 2076!
In the summer of 2005, Washington Park got even more improvements. The streets around the park were rebuilt. The walkways inside and around the park were also replaced. New lampposts, designed to look like old ones from the late 1800s and early 1900s, were installed. The Dubuque Jaycees again provided a lot of money, which helped make these improvements happen sooner. This group really cares about Washington Park! They even decorate the park for the holidays every year.
