National Register of Historic Places

Dibble House

Eldon, Wapello County, Iowa
Listed
September 30, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74002291

About this property

The American Gothic House, also known as the Dibble House, is a house in Eldon, Iowa, designed in the Carpenter Gothic style with a distinctive upper window. It was the backdrop of the 1930 painting American Gothic by Grant Wood, generally considered Wood's most famous work and among the most recognized paintings in twentieth century American art. Wood, who observed the house only twice in his lifetime, made only an initial sketch of the house—he completed American Gothic at his studio in Cedar Rapids. First owned by Eldon resident Charles Dibble after its construction in 1881–82, the house remained (with one 1897 exception) a private residence well into the late twentieth century. A thirty‑year preservation effort culminated in 1991, when the property was donated to the State Historical Society of Iowa and developed as a historic house museum with a visitors center. The house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, is preserved in its 1930 appearance.

Location

Eldon, Wapello County, Iowa
40.92157, -92.21364

Categories

ARTARCHITECTURE
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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Geology
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

McHaffey Opera House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Eldon Carnegie Public Library
Industrial
0.6 mi
Big 4 Fair Art Hall
Industrial
0.9 mi
"Lockkeeper's" House
Industrial
2.5 mi
Fulton, Fred and Rosa, Barn
Industrial
4.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Dibble House listed on the National Register?

Dibble House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Dibble House?

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

What is the period of significance for Dibble House?

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

Can I research the history near Dibble House?

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