Agassiz School
National Register of Historic Places

Agassiz School

Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa
Listed
November 12, 2020
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
100005787

About this property

Agassiz School is a historic building located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. The two-story, light brick, Art Deco structure was completed in 1941. Named for Louis Agassiz, it replaced another school of the same name from the late 1880s that was located on the same property. Allegorical figures "sowing the seeds of knowledge" in limestone reliefs circle the building, which also features a curved wall, glass blocks, and glazed tiles. A good deal of the original decorative elements remain in the building. The original windows, however, were replaced with more energy-efficient windows in the 1970s. Agassiz served as a public elementary school until 2013 when it was closed along with two other schools after Liberty School was completed. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

Location

608 East Williams St.
Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa
40.99784, -92.41668

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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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Nearby Historic Sites

Jefferson Street Viaduct
Industrial
0.9 mi
B'nai Jacob Synagogue
Industrial
1.3 mi
First National Bank
Industrial
1.4 mi
Benson Building
Industrial
1.4 mi
Greater Second Street Historic District
Listed
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Agassiz School listed on the National Register?

Agassiz School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 2020.

What type of historic resource is Agassiz School?

Agassiz School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Agassiz School?

The period of significance for Agassiz School is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1941.

Can I research the history near Agassiz School?

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