National Register of Historic Places

Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House

Ames, Story County, Iowa
Listed
July 9, 2008
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
08000684

About this property

The Sigma Sigma–Delta Chi Fraternity House, also known as the Iowa House, is a historic building in Ames, Iowa, United States. It is located at 405 Hayward Drive. It was built and used as a fraternity chapter house for more than eighty years and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Sigma Sigma was a local fraternity founded sometime between 1907 and 1913 at what was then called Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. It grew in size and attempted to become a national fraternity beginning in the 1920s. The charter became constructing a new chapter house on the Ames campus. The fraternity went dormant while they built this building, but they reformed by 1927. At that time, their chapter house was valued at $35,000 ($648,707 in today's money). They merged with the national fraternity Delta Chi in 1933. This merger gives the building its name Sigma Sigma–Delta Chi Fraternity House. The chapter remained active at the renamed Iowa State University until 2001 when membership declined significantly and it became inactive. Delta Chi sold the building in 2006. The former chapter house was converted into a bed and breakfast called Iowa House. The structure underwent a major renovation between 2007 and 2008. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Architecturally, Sigma Sigma–Delta Chi Fraternity House is a combination of the American Craftsman and Tudor Revival styles. It faces both Hayward Avenue and Knapp Avenue. It is a large 21⁄2-story brick structure built in 1924. The building is capped with a hip roof that is intersected by steeply pitched gables at a lower level. There are also wide eaves with exposed beams. A porte-cochère is located on the north side of the building facing Knapp Avenue, which is a unique feature among the historic fraternity and sorority houses associated with Iowa State University.

Location

405 Hayward Ave.
Ames, Story County, Iowa
42.01919, -93.65183

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
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

Cranford Apartment Building
Industrial
0.3 mi
Delta Upsilon Chapter House
Industrial
0.4 mi
MacDonald, Gilmour B. and Edith Craig, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Alumni Hall
Industrial
0.4 mi
Colonials Club House
Colonial
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House listed on the National Register?

Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 9, 2008.

What type of historic resource is Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House?

Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House?

The period of significance for Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Sigma Sigma-Delta Chi Fraternity House?

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