Taylor in Cedar Rapids in Linn County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Virgil Powell / King Building Police Station
History Happened Here!
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2021
1. Virgil Powell / King Building Police Station Marker
From 1923 to 1937, the Cedar Rapids Police Department and City Jail occupied the King Building, which stood here from 1910-1969. The department and jail moved to 310 Second Avenue SW in 1937. The city's first African American police officer, Virgil Powell, worked for the department from 1924-1946. The son of former slaves, Powell arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1918 and ran his own car wash before becoming a police officer. By 1936, Powell was promoted to the Identification Bureau, where he implemented new fingerprinting methods. After retiring, he traveled extensively, wrote books and music, and was active in community organizations. Powell died in 1989; he was 99.
Erected by Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission; The History Center; Coe College; and the African American Museum of Iowa.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 41° 58.5′ N, 91° 40.317′ W. Marker is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in Linn County. It is in Taylor. Marker is on 1st Street Southwest just north of 3rd Avenue Southwest, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located along the sidewalk, directly across 1st Street Southwest
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Roosevelt Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Iowa Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); George Greene (approx. 0.4 miles away); Washington High School (approx. half a mile away); First Presbyterian Church (approx. half a mile away); George B. Douglas House (approx. ¾ mile away); Ausadie Apartment Building (approx. 0.8 miles away); Coe College (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cedar Rapids.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. History Happened Here!
Also see . . .
1. Black veterans formed Cedar Rapids American Legion post after World War I.
Virgil Powell, a World War I veteran and a Cedar Rapids police officer who headed the department’s fingerprint bureau, was elected commander of Post 451 in 1939. Virgil Powell was the last commander of Pont-a-Mousson American Legion Post 451, formed after World War I by Black veterans in Cedar Rapids. He was commander from 1939 to 1946, after which the post was absorbed by the Legion’s Hanford Post 5. This photo was taken in 1984 when Powell was 92. (Gazette archives)(Submitted on February 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Virgil Samuel Powell (Find A Grave)
African American Museum of Iowa Collection, gift of Phoebe Smith
2. Marker detail: Cedar Rapids Police Department, 1928
Including Virgil Powell (fourth from left), in front of the King Building, 213 First Street SW.
Murdoch-Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa.(Submitted on February 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2021
3. Virgil Powell / King Building Police Station Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
