National Register of Historic Places

Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery

Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa
Listed
October 30, 1997
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
97001293

About this property

Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery, also known as Mary Elizabeth Day Care Center, is a historic building located in Sioux City, Iowa, United States. This is the oldest child day care facility in the state of Iowa, and the state's second-oldest preschool. The Sioux City Day Nursery was established in 1914 by the Wall Street Mission, a local settlement house operated by the Methodist Episcopal Church. They moved here in 1926, which is the first building designed as a day nursery in Iowa. The two-story brick Renaissance Revival building was designed by local architect Jurgen A. Raven, and built by The Lytle Company, a Sioux City construction firm. Parents were responsible for paying for at least part of their children's care, but it was also subsidized by religious institutions, private associations, and individuals. During the Great Depression, both the federal and state governments began to fund and license child care. The Works Progress Administration was involved in the 1930s. A garage and playhouse designed by Sioux City architect Knute E. Westerlind was built in 1940, and it is part of the historic designation. The facility was renamed the Mary Elizabeth Day Care Center in 1990. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Location

814 Court St.
Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa
42.50859, -90.39544

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYARCHITECTURE
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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Nearby Historic Sites

Schulein, Ben and Harriet, House
Industrial
0.7 mi
Sioux City Free Public Library
Industrial
0.8 mi
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Industrial
0.9 mi
Motor Mart Building
Industrial
0.9 mi
Everist, H. H., House
Industrial
1.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Attack on Sinsinawa Mound
1832Early Republic
5.4 mi
Skirmish at Gratiot's Grove
1832Early Republic
7.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery listed on the National Register?

Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 30, 1997.

What type of historic resource is Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery?

Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery?

The period of significance for Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Mary Elizabeth Day Nursery?

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