National Register of Historic Places

Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District

Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa
Listed
August 10, 1995
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
95000968

About this property

Ottumwa Cemetery is a public cemetery located in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. The entrance area of the cemetery forms a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. At the time of its nomination it was composed of four resources, which included two contributing buildings and two contributing structures. The cemetery was established in 1857 when the community outgrew the old cemetery, which was located closer to the downtown area. Ottumwa Cemetery began with 10 acres (4.0 ha). The lots were laid in a grid pattern with meandering roads along the hillsides. It forms an arboretum that contains trees and shrubs that have been planted throughout the city's history. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as a part of the Ottumwa MPS. An ornate receiving vault was built in the cemetery in 1887. It is composed of red brick with terra cotta panels. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. A wrought iron fence was put up along Court Street just after the vault was built. The Edgerly Gateway provides the main entrance into the cemetery. The limestone arch was built in the classical style of a Triumphal Roman arch in 1904. Two years later the combination office and chapel building was built in the Gothic Revival style. It was dedicated to the Union soldiers and sailors who fought in the American Civil War. The building features arched windows and crenelated roofline. Leonidas M. Godley (1836–1904), Medal of Honor recipient from the Civil War Herschel C. Loveless (1911–1989), Governor of Iowa Thomas J. Potter (1840–1888), railroad executive of Union Pacific Railroad Daniel F. Steck (1881–1950), U.S. Senator from Iowa One British Commonwealth war grave, of a World War I Royal Flying Corps Cadet.

Location

1302 North Ct.
Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa
41.03295, -92.40872

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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Nearby Historic Sites

Vogel Place Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Court Hill Historic District
Modern
0.5 mi
North Fellows Historic District
Listed
0.7 mi
Ottumwa Young Women's Christian Association
Industrial
0.8 mi
Hotel Ottumwa
Industrial
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District listed on the National Register?

Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1995.

What type of historic resource is Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District?

Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District?

The period of significance for Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District?

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