Oakhill Jackson in Cedar Rapids in Linn County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Iowa Building

Built 1913

— Iowa Historic Site —

Iowa Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2021

1. Iowa Building Marker

Inscription. This property is listed in
the National Register of Historic Places
Iowa State Historical Department
Division of Historic Preservation

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is November 14, 1913.

Location. 41° 58.59′ N, 91° 39.89′ W. Marker is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in Linn County. It is in Oakhill Jackson. Marker is on 3rd Street Southeast just south of 4th Avenue Southeast, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the right of the main/east entrance on 3rd Street Southeast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 411 3rd Street Southeast, Cedar Rapids IA 52401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Washington High School (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); George Greene (about 700 feet away); First Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Roosevelt Hotel (approx. ¼ mile away); Virgil Powell / King Building Police Station (approx. 0.4 miles away); George B. Douglas House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ausadie Apartment Building

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(approx. half a mile away); Coe College (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cedar Rapids.

Regarding Iowa Building. National Register of Historic Places #83000385. Contributing property in Cedar Rapids Central Business District Commercial Historic District, NRHP #15000757.

From the National Register nomination:
The building was best remembered for the disaster which occurred on the construction site on November 14, 1913. The entire seven story reinforced concrete frame was nearly complete when a roof slab collapsed and precipitated the collapse of the two rear bays of the building. Seven workers died and many were injured. William Lowe (1872-1913), construction superintendent was among the dead. Faulty and insufficient falsework was blamed for the failure. This incident was considered the worst of twenty such similar occurrences in terms of loss of human life which happened throughout the country. Two similar incidents had taken place in Cedar Rapids itself, involving the five story Mullin Building and a large garage-type building. Because the Iowa Building was completed according to plan the next year, it symbolizes the difficulties which were encountered in perfecting
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2021

2. Iowa Building (main/east entrance)
(marker is on right side of main entrance)
this new structural building material and form.

Also see . . . Iowa Building.

The building is seven stories tall and rises 102 feet above the ground. Seven construction workers were killed in 1913 when the top two floors collapsed during construction. The building was completed the following year. It housed a millinery company named the Lyman Company until the building was bought and renamed in 1933.

(Submitted on February 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Iowa Building (<i>northeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2021

3. Iowa Building (northeast elevation)

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 86 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.