National Register of Historic Places

Lexington, The

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
December 12, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76000800

About this property

The Lexington, also known as Lexington Apartments, is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The five-story brick structure on a raised basement was completed in 1908 as the city's first high-rise apartment building. It was designed and built by local architect-builder Fred Weitz. The exterior features a Colonial Revival style entrance with a recessed door, arched fanlight, and engaged Doric style columns that support the pediment. Wrought iron balconies are located on the two floors above the entrance. On the interior there are two apartments on every floor, and they originally featured servant's quarters. They have subsequently been converted into other purposes. The upper floors are served by a large, open-cage brass elevator. The building purportedly had paranormal activity involving its elevator. It was renovated between 2012 and 2014. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The building was included as a contributing property in the Sherman Hill Historic District in 1979.

Location

1721 Pleasant St.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.58998, -93.64077

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
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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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
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Sherman Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase and Decrease)
Listed
0 mi
Benham, F. A., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Wallace, Henry, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Greenwood Park Plats Historic District
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Maish House
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Lexington, The listed on the National Register?

Lexington, The was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Lexington, The?

Lexington, The is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Lexington, The?

The period of significance for Lexington, The is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Lexington, The?

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