National Register of Historic Places

Adams County Jail

Corning, Adams County, Iowa
Listed
February 28, 1991
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91000119

About this property

The former Adams County Jail, also known as the House of History: Adams County Historical Society, is located in Corning, Iowa, United States. The limestone structure was built in 1877, and it mimicked the adjacent frame courthouse (no longer extant). The two-story rectangular building is a Vernacular style structure with Greek Revival influence. It is capped with a hipped roof and a flat crest. It served the county for the next 78 years as its jailhouse. The building also provided residential space on the lower level to the sheriff, or if he had his own house, to the jailer. The upper floor held the cells. The most notable event at the jail was the lynching of local farmer John W. McKenzie in 1887, who had shot his neighbor. The building was converted into apartments in 1955, and a museum in 1969. It listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Location

1000 Benton Ave.
Corning, Adams County, Iowa
40.99211, -94.73483

Categories

LAWPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Adams County Jail

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Corning Commercial Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Corning Opera House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Odell, Noah, House
Industrial
6.2 mi
Snider Bridge
Industrial
6.5 mi
Lenox Hotel
Civil War
11.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Adams County Jail listed on the National Register?

Adams County Jail was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Adams County Jail?

Adams County Jail is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Adams County Jail?

The period of significance for Adams County Jail is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Adams County Jail?

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