National Register of Historic Places

Smouse, David W., Opportunity School

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
October 23, 2002
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
02001251

About this property

The David W. Smouse Opportunity School is a historical building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The building was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Proudfoot, Rawson, Souers & Thomas in the Tudor Revival style. The school opened in 1931 and served the educational needs of 165 students with physical disabilities who were unable to attend a regular public school. It was the only school in Iowa that was built to desegregate handicapped children, who were generally institutionalized in isolation. The facility was designed for their individual needs. The blackboards were tilted to prevent glare for the visually impaired, and rooms were designed to carry sound vibrations for the hearing impaired students. Large windows and three courtyards provided fresh air. One of the courtyards had a fountain. The restrooms were adapted, temperature controls in each classroom, and a rooftop playground was included in the building's design. A swimming pool was added in 1955. Financial gifts were used to purchase works of art throughout the building. Imported ceramic tiles, wrought iron signs, working fireplaces and decorative light fixtures also adorned the facility. The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Location

2820 Center St.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.59125, -93.65502

Categories

ARCHITECTUREEDUCATION
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Smouse, David W., Opportunity School

This page lists Smouse, David W., Opportunity School. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
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
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Smouse, David W., Opportunity School report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Woodland Place Historic District
Pre Contact
0.2 mi
Mahnke House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Ingersoll Place Plat Historic District
Modern
0.3 mi
Scott, Mary A. and Caleb D., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Reynolds, Anson O., House
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Smouse, David W., Opportunity School listed on the National Register?

Smouse, David W., Opportunity School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 23, 2002.

What type of historic resource is Smouse, David W., Opportunity School?

Smouse, David W., Opportunity School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Smouse, David W., Opportunity School?

The period of significance for Smouse, David W., Opportunity School is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Smouse, David W., Opportunity School?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Smouse, David W., Opportunity School will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Polk County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Polk County.

Explore PolkCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Smouse, David W., Opportunity School will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report