Oakhill Jackson in Cedar Rapids in Linn County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Iowa Building
Built 1913
| | Iowa Historic Site | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2021
1. Iowa Building Marker
the National Register of Historic Places
Iowa State Historical Department
Division of Historic Preservation
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. 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. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Strand Theater (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Washington High School (about 600 feet away); George Greene (about 700 feet away); Paramount Theater Building (about 700 feet away); Sustainable Surfacing (approx. 0.2 miles away);
this page online
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 completedaccording to plan the next year, it symbolizes the difficulties which were encountered in perfecting this new structural building material and form.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 20212. Iowa Building (main/east entrance)(marker is on right side of main entrance)
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.)
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 323 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
