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Hotel Iowa

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United States historic place
Hotel Iowa
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Hotel Iowa is located in IowaHotel IowaShow map of IowaHotel Iowa is located in the United StatesHotel IowaShow map of the United States
Location401 Main St.
Keokuk, Iowa
Coordinates40°23′43″N 91°22′55″W / 40.39528°N 91.38194°W / 40.39528; -91.38194
Arealess than one acre
Built1912-1913
Built byGuaranty Construction Company
ArchitectGuy C. Mariner
Architectural styleCommercial
NRHP reference No.87000022
Added to NRHPFebruary 5, 1987

The Hotel Iowa, now known as the Historic Hotel Iowa, is a historic building located in downtown Keokuk, Iowa, United States. It was built from 1912–1913 and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

History

A consortium of interests known as the Hotel Iowa Company, including the Mississippi River Power Company who had recently built the Keokuk Dam, planned for and built the hotel. The seven-story structure was designed by St. Louis architect Guy C. Mariner, and built from 1912 to 1913 by the Guaranty Construction Company of Chicago. The Hotel Iowa Company continued ownership until 1926 when it was sold to Ward B. Brown and his wife. For most of its history, the building has served as a hotel until it was converted into a commercial building. However, storefronts housing a variety of commercial interests have always existed on the first floor. The building is significant as the best example of the Chicago Commercial architectural style in the city. It was also the largest hotel in Keokuk and the only one built with "modern" construction methods utilizing "fireproof" and new structural building techniques.

Architecture

The building follows a rectangular plan that measures 140 by 81 feet (43 by 25 m). It rises to a height of 74 feet (23 m). From the second to the seven floors the building is U-shaped. There is an eighth-floor level that houses the elevator machinery. The building is capped by a flat roof that has a raised parapet around its perimeter. The structure is supported by fifty-seven full height reinforced concrete columns. It also features concrete floors and roof with an exterior composed of brick and tile curtain walls. Sullivanesque ornamentation is featured on the main level, and a decorative belt course is located between the six and the seventh floors. The marquees above the Main Street and Fourth Street entrances are believed to be original.

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. The American Architect, vol. CII, no. 1926, p. 10 (1922). Jacobson also attests to Mariner being the architect in his NRHP nomination text, but then confusingly lists architect Hugh L. Cooper, who was president of the Hotel Iowa Company, as the architect of the building.
  3. ^ James E. Jacobsen. "Hotel Iowa". National Park Service. Retrieved 2018-12-10. with photos
  4. "Pierce Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Topics
Lists by state
Lists by insular areas
Lists by associated state
Other areas
Related
National Register of Historic Places in Lee County, Iowa
Denmark Lee County map
Donnellson
Farmington
Fort Madison
Franklin
Keokuk
Montrose
Primrose
West Point
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee County, Iowa and List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa
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