National Register of Historic Places

National Biscuit Company Building

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
May 5, 2009
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
09000273

About this property

The National Biscuit Company Building, also known as National Biscuit Company Flats, is a historic building located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The heavy timber and masonry building was built in 1906. Only half of the planned building was completed, and the north half of the property was later sold. It initially served as a production and distribution facility for the National Biscuit Company. Architect William F. Wilmouth, who designed the company's buildings, is presumed to be the architect of this four-story Neoclassical building. Benson & Marxer served as the contractors. Des Moines was the third largest sales territory for the company. It was one of a few bakeries in the company that produced the Uneeda Biscuit, and it was one of three that produced a corn cracker in the mid-1920s. The National Baking Company would use this building until 1940. Boyt Harness Company, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and Look magazine used it for a warehouse. Carpenter's Local #106 acquired the building in 1981 and used it for meetings and as a place to train apprentices. In 1995 the building was converted into a 54-unit apartment building. The neighboring Herring Motor Car Company Building has also been converted into loft apartments. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Location

1001 Cherry St.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.58428, -93.62824

Categories

INDUSTRY
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

Standard Glass and Paint Company Building
Industrial
0 mi
Herring Motor Car Company Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Clemens Automobile Company Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hotel Fort Des Moines
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Fleming Building
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was National Biscuit Company Building listed on the National Register?

National Biscuit Company Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 2009.

What type of historic resource is National Biscuit Company Building?

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

What is the period of significance for National Biscuit Company Building?

The period of significance for National Biscuit Company Building is recorded as the industrial era.

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