National Register of Historic Places

Des Moines Saddlery Company Building

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
June 26, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85001378

About this property

The Des Moines Saddlery Company Building is a historic building located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1881 by J. Rubelman of Muscatine, Iowa. He choose to move his operation to Des Moines because of its location on two rivers and the 13 railroads that served the city. It was one of four saddlery firms in a two block area. Rubelman's company made saddles, harnesses and leather works for 20 years. In the years since it has housed a shoe maker, rubber company, stove manufacturer, glove company, the Krispy Kone Company and the Kaplan Hat Company. The later was also the name of the restaurant that was located on the first floor. The building, which was built in four phases between c. 1878 to 1920, is the most intact example of commercial Italianate architecture extant in Des Moines. It was built to house both retail and manufacturing purposes. The building was flooded with 19 feet (6 m) of water during the Des Moines River flood of 1993. It remained empty until the Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company moved in with its equipment. The Des Moines Saddlery Company Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. In 2016, the Republic of Kosovo selected the Saddlery Company Building to host a consulate office.

Location

307--311 Court Ave.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.58531, -93.62117

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Des Moines Saddlery Company Building

This page lists Des Moines Saddlery Company Building. 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 Des Moines Saddlery Company Building report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Hotel Randolph
Industrial
0 mi
Boyt Company Building
Industrial
0 mi
Youngerman Block
Industrial
0 mi
Taft-West Warehouse
Industrial
0 mi
Hawkeye Insurance Company Building
Industrial
0 mi

Questions about this property

When was Des Moines Saddlery Company Building listed on the National Register?

Des Moines Saddlery Company Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Des Moines Saddlery Company Building?

Des Moines Saddlery Company Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Des Moines Saddlery Company Building?

The period of significance for Des Moines Saddlery Company Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Des Moines Saddlery Company Building?

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 Des Moines Saddlery Company Building will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Polk County

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

Explore PolkCounty ›

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 Des Moines Saddlery Company Building will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report