About this property
The Benson Block is a historic building located in downtown Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It is two-fifths of a building that was originally constructed in 1883 and was damaged in a fire in 1923. This part of the building was re-constructed as a theatre, but because it lacked a sufficient number of exits, was never used for that purpose. It is noteworthy for the decorative Neoclassical white terra cotta cladding on the façade, which enabled its owners to transform its original appearance.
Location
Federal Designation
The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service, is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural significance. Listing on the National Register recognizes a property's importance to American history but does not place restrictions on private owners; it does, however, make properties eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives and enables consideration in federal planning decisions. This property is recorded in the National Register under reference number 85000009. It was listed on January 3, 1985.
Categories
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.
Questions about this property
When was Benson Block listed on the National Register?
Benson Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 3, 1985.
What type of historic resource is Benson Block?
Benson Block is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Benson Block?
The period of significance for Benson Block is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Benson Block?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Benson Block will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Benson Block will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.