National Register of Historic Places

Corning Opera House

Corning, Adams County, Iowa
Listed
September 20, 1993
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
93000954

About this property

The Corning Opera House is a theater located in Corning, Iowa, United States. This was the third of three opera houses built in town. The other two were built in the 1880s, and this one was completed in 1902. It was the only opera house in Corning by 1907, and it served as a theater until 1934. From its opening in 1902 until 1921 it staged theatrical performances, and from about 1920 to 1931 it showed movies. It also staged vaudeville performances and high school productions. The theater was located on the second floor. It features the original raked stage, seating on the main floor and the original horseshoe-shaped balcony, and it has a small stage and backstage offers a make up room and 2 green rooms. Historically, Commercial space was located on the main floor of the building, now the first floor features a conference room for renting and a commercial kitchen. From 1934 to 1999 the second-floor opera house was used for storage by the local newspaper. The western part of the building, the lobby and restroom area, was converted into apartments in 1943. The main floor in the opera house was leveled and marked for half-court basketball at some point. The building was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. In 2012 it was included as a contributing property in the Corning Commercial Historic District. A multi-year $3.5 million renovation was completed in 2012. At that time the opera house was restored to a performance venue. A grand opening was held April 5 and 6, 2012. From 2012 to now the opera house offers live entertainment, is a rental venue, offers backstage tours and educational opportunities.

Location

800 Davis Ave.
Corning, Adams County, Iowa
40.99015, -94.73377

Categories

ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONPERFORMING ARTS
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Corning Opera House

This page lists Corning Opera House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Corning Opera House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Adams County Jail
Industrial
0.1 mi
Corning Commercial Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Odell, Noah, House
Industrial
6.2 mi
Snider Bridge
Industrial
6.4 mi
Lenox Hotel
Civil War
11.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Corning Opera House listed on the National Register?

Corning Opera House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 1993.

What type of historic resource is Corning Opera House?

Corning Opera House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Corning Opera House?

The period of significance for Corning Opera House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Corning Opera House?

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 Corning Opera House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Adams County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Adams County.

Explore AdamsCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Corning Opera House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report