Downtown Davenport in Scott County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Natatorium
— Davenport Civil Rights History Walking Tour —
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2022
1. The Natatorium Marker
Inscription.
The Natatorium public swimming pool, pictured above, located here from 1922-1977, was one of Davenport's public facilities successfully integrated during the Civil Rights Movement. In the later 1950s, members of Davenport's African-American community no longer accepted the whites-only admissions policy. After all, they were taxpayers too. Their protests, with support from the Catholic Interracial Council, led to what city officials considered as a reasonable compromise. The pool opened once a week to Blacks only. The pool would then be drained and refilled before whites would use it. In response to this, Charles and Ann Toney built a swimming pool behind their home at 1010 Western. Blacks could access this pool any day of the week in the long, hot summers. The Natatorium was eventually opened on a non-segregated basis in the late 1960s., Photos courtesy of Davenport Public Library
The Natatorium public swimming pool, pictured above, located here from 1922-1977, was one of Davenport's public facilities successfully integrated during the Civil Rights Movement. In the later 1950s, members of Davenport's African-American community no longer accepted the whites-only admissions policy. After all, they were taxpayers too. Their protests, with support from the Catholic Interracial Council, led to what city officials considered as a reasonable compromise. The pool opened once a week to Blacks only. The pool would then be drained and refilled before whites would use it. In response to this, Charles and Ann Toney built a swimming pool behind their home at 1010 Western. Blacks could access this pool any day of the week in the long, hot summers. The Natatorium was eventually opened on a non-segregated basis in the late 1960s.
Location. 41° 31.191′ N, 90° 34.528′ W. Marker is in Davenport, Iowa, in Scott County. It is in Downtown Davenport. Marker can be reached from the intersection of West River Drive (Business U.S. 61) and North Main Street
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, on the right when traveling east. Marker is near Dillon Fountain. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Riverfront Trail, Davenport IA 52801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2022
2. The Natatorium Marker
Hostetler Studio via Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive (Public Domain), circa 1925
3. The Natatorium
Exterior view of the facility. The Dillon Fountain is on the left.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 239 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 13, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
