National Register of Historic Places

Hawkeye Insurance Company Building

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
April 27, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86000874

About this property

The Hawkeye Insurance Company Building is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Completed in 1869, the building housed the first successful casualty insurance company in the city, which grew to be the largest center for insurance companies outside of the east coast. Prominent local architect William Foster designed the building, and it may be the oldest surviving example of his work. It is also the oldest commercial building in the downtown area that maintains its original integrity. The three-story brick commercial block was designed to be the first part of a larger complex. The Italianate style building features a bracketed cornice and tall thin hooded windows. A two-story annex was completed two years later to the north. Two more three-story sections were completed before 1883. Another prominent Des Moines architectural firm, Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson, converted the building into a hotel in 1913. The original cornice was significantly altered, and the raised basement was eliminated at that time. The building was later converted into an apartment building in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the cornice was restored. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Location

209 Fourth St.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.58558, -93.62165

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
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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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Youngerman Block
Industrial
0 mi
Boyt Company Building
Industrial
0 mi
Hotel Randolph
Industrial
0 mi
Des Moines Saddlery Company Building
Industrial
0 mi
Earle & LeBosquet Block
Industrial
0 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hawkeye Insurance Company Building listed on the National Register?

Hawkeye Insurance Company Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 27, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Hawkeye Insurance Company Building?

Hawkeye Insurance Company Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hawkeye Insurance Company Building?

The period of significance for Hawkeye Insurance Company Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hawkeye Insurance Company Building?

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