National Register of Historic Places

Hotel Iowa

Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa
Listed
February 5, 1987
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000022

About this property

The Hotel Iowa, now known as the Historic Hotel Iowa, is a historic building located in downtown Keokuk, Iowa, United States. It was built from 1912–1913 and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. A consortium of interests known as the Hotel Iowa Company, including the Mississippi River Power Company who had recently built the Keokuk Dam, planned for and built the hotel. The seven-story structure was designed by St. Louis architect Guy C. Mariner, and built from 1912 to 1913 by the Guaranty Construction Company of Chicago. The Hotel Iowa Company continued ownership until 1926 when it was sold to Ward B. Brown and his wife. For most of its history, the building has served as a hotel until it was converted into a commercial building. However, storefronts housing a variety of commercial interests have always existed on the first floor. The building is significant as the best example of the Chicago Commercial architectural style in the city. It was also the largest hotel in Keokuk and the only one built with "modern" construction methods utilizing "fireproof" and new structural building techniques. The building follows a rectangular plan that measures 140 by 81 feet (43 by 25 m). It rises to a height of 74 feet (23 m). From the second to the seven floors the building is U-shaped. There is an eighth-floor level that houses the elevator machinery. The building is capped by a flat roof that has a raised parapet around its perimeter. The structure is supported by fifty-seven full height reinforced concrete columns. It also features concrete floors and roof with an exterior composed of brick and tile curtain walls. Sullivanesque ornamentation is featured on the main level, and a decorative belt course is located between the six and the seventh floors. The marquees above the Main Street and Fourth Street entrances are believed to be original.

Location

401 Main St.
Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa
40.39526, -91.38214

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.

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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Keokuk Young Women's Christian Association Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. John's Episcopal Church and Parish Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
Harrison, E. H., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Sample, Hugh W. and Sarah, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Black Hawk War: Battle of Fort Hamilton Illinois 1832
1832Early Republic
2.4 mi
Skirmish at Yellow Creek
1862Civil War
10.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hotel Iowa listed on the National Register?

Hotel Iowa was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 5, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Hotel Iowa?

Hotel Iowa is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hotel Iowa?

The period of significance for Hotel Iowa is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hotel Iowa?

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