National Register of Historic Places

Painter-Bernatz Mill

Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa
Listed
January 11, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74000816

About this property

Painter-Bernatz Mill, also known as the Old Stone Mill, is a historic building located in Decorah, Iowa, United States. The original part of the mill was constructed by William Painter in 1851, and it was expanded to its present size in the next year or two. A mill race was constructed from a dam on the Upper Iowa River, and it was routed beneath the building to power the turbine. It was the first of at least 15 mills that used this river as its source of power. The lower two floors are composed of native limestone. The original hip roof was removed sometime between 1874 and 1890 and the present gable roof was built giving the mill a large loft. Diesel power replaced water power in 1947. The building continued to operate as a mill until 1964. It became a part of the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in 1971, and houses exhibits on agriculture and industry. It is also a site in the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The former mill is the oldest building in Decorah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Location

200 N. Mill St.
Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa
43.30997, -91.78904

Categories

INDUSTRYAGRICULTUREART
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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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Decorah Ice Cave
Listed
0.2 mi
Decorah Woolen Mill
Civil War
0.3 mi
Steyer Opera House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Broadway-Phelps Park Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Decorah Municipal Bathhouse and Swimming Pool
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Painter-Bernatz Mill listed on the National Register?

Painter-Bernatz Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 11, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Painter-Bernatz Mill?

Painter-Bernatz Mill is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Painter-Bernatz Mill?

The period of significance for Painter-Bernatz Mill is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Painter-Bernatz Mill?

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