Younker Brothers Department Store facts for kids
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Younker Brothers Department Store
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 713 Walnut St. Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architect | Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000079 100002487 (decrease) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 17, 2010 |
| Boundary decrease | June 4, 2018 |
The Younker Brothers Department Store is a historic building. It is located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. This list recognizes important places in American history.
Contents
History of Younkers Department Store
How Younkers Began
The Younkers company started in Keokuk, Iowa in 1856. They opened their first store in Des Moines in 1874. Later, in 1879, their main office moved to Des Moines. The biggest Younkers store, called the flagship store, moved to this building in November 1899.
Special Features and Closing
The building had a special Tea Room that opened in 1913. It was later updated in 1927. In 1939, something new came to Iowa. This building got the state's very first escalator. People called it the "electric stairs." The Younkers store in downtown Des Moines closed its doors on August 12, 2005.
Fire and Rebuilding Plans
A fire badly damaged part of the building on March 29, 2014. The fire happened early in the morning. It caused the upper floors of the building to fall down. At that time, the building was being fixed up. Workers were turning it into 120 apartments and shops. The cause of the fire was not announced. The eastern part of the building was later taken down.
In August 2014, a company from Wisconsin decided to help. They planned to continue fixing up the western half of the building. The new plans include 14,000 square feet of space for shops on the first floor. There will also be 60 apartments on the other floors. The historic Tea Room was saved from the fire. It will also be renovated.
Architecture of the Building
Building Design and Height
The Younker Brothers Department Store building is seven stories tall. It stands about 138 feet (42 m) above the ground. A Des Moines company named Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen designed it. They used a style called the Commercial style. This style was popular for large buildings.
