National Register of Historic Places

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House

Davenport, Scott County, Iowa
Listed
November 14, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85002825

About this property

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House, known locally as The Freight House, is a historic building in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This Freight House was built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (The Milwaukee Road) in 1917 in response to the increased freight traffic in Davenport before the country entered World War I. It was built on the levee near the Mississippi River. The railroad built the Crescent Rail Bridge with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad to the west in 1901, and they joined in building Union Station across Ripley Street in 1924. Railroad freight factored in the development of the city's wholesale and retail commercial economy from the 1890s onward. Because of Davenport's location, railroad freight could be charged favorable eastern rates while western rates could also be accessed. This gave the city an advantage over in-state communities. The freight house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its association with the commercial development of Davenport, Iowa. After being renovated in the 1990s, The Freight House has seen a variety of uses, such as a comedy club, sports bar, piano bar, and restaurant. Currently, the freight house is home to several small businesses featuring locally grown items, such as a deli, a grocery hub, and a tap room for a local brewery. The building is rectangular in shape and built of brick with concrete floors and columns. The eastern end is two stories and held the offices. The west end held the warehouse storage space in a single story. The facility was located between the rail siding and thoroughfare where cargo could be easily transferred from one transportation system to another.

Location

102 S. Ripley St.
Davenport, Scott County, Iowa
41.52011, -90.57930

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
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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Nearby Historic Sites

Riepe Drug Store/G. Ott Block
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0.1 mi
Democrat Building
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Petersen, W. D., Memorial Music Pavillion
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0.1 mi
Union Station and Burlington Freight House
Civil War
0.1 mi
Prien Building
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Rock Island Rapids
1814Early Republic
0.5 mi
Battle of Rock Island 1814
1814Early Republic
0.6 mi
Battle of the Rock Island Rapids
1814Early Republic
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House listed on the National Register?

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 14, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House?

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House?

The period of significance for Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House is recorded as the industrial era.

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