Benson Block
National Register of Historic Places

Benson Block

Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa
Listed
January 3, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85000009

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. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. In 2016, it was included as a contributing property in the Greater Second Street Historic District.

Location

109--112 N. Market
Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa
41.01760, -92.41004

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Timeline
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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.

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