National Register of Historic Places

Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
December 6, 1990
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
90001854

About this property

The Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma Johnson House is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa. The house is an unusual example in Des Moines of Châteauesque design elements added to a late Queen Anne style house. The design was attributed to Des Moines architect Oliver O. Smith and was built by local contractor Charles Weitz. The 2½-story brick structure features large massing, a prominent front-facing gable, two full-height polygonal side bays, steeply pitched hipped roof, smooth and rough wall surfaces, contrasting courses, and the fleur-de-lis motif executed in stone, ceramic tile, and glass. The house was built for Nicholas and Emma Johnson. He was a sea captain who later farmed in Madison County before he and his second wife Emma settled here in her hometown. While it was built as a single-family house, it was converted into a funeral home in 1933 and it remained as such at least into the 1990s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Location

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.60004, -93.64519

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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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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
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Nearby Historic Sites

Newens Sanitary Dairy Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Peak, George B., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Evans, Edward B. and Nettie E., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Denny, Professor Charles O., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Bell, Hill McClelland, House
Industrial
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House listed on the National Register?

Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 6, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House?

Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House?

The period of significance for Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House?

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