Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

H&H Building

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

1. H&H Building Marker

Inscription. The H&H building was built in 1908 by J.H. Himmelberger & W.H. Harrison, two of Cape Girardeau's most prominent businessmen. It was the first steel reinforced structure built in Cape Girardeau and has served as a commercial center for the business community. The building is recognized as a prominent cornerstone of the westward expansion of the Broadway Business District. All exterior walls are of smooth red brick, and accented with limestone elements. The south and east sides of the building, that face Broadway and Fountain Streets, are more ornamental with projecting window openings and molded limestone sills, corners edged with limestone Quoins and a main floor lined with storefronts, flanked by limestone pilasters and topped with a molded cornice. In 2018, the building was renovated by local developers and investors to restore and preserve the integrity of the building's exterior facade, interior lobby, architectural details and corridors throughout the building while integrating modern fixtures, finishes and technology. The building is located within the Marquette Tech District and is the home to a Courtyard Hotel by Marriot.

National Register of Historic Places — 2003
Missouri Main Street Connection —
States Best Large Scale Project — 2019

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these

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topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 37° 18.385′ N, 89° 31.344′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. It is on Broadway Street just west of North Fountain Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the right of the south entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Broadway Street, Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Marquette Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Royal N'Orleans (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Opera House (about 500 feet away); The Southeast Missourian Building (about 500 feet away); The Art of Printing / Gathering & Disseminating News (about 500 feet away); Ivers Square Civil War Monuments (about 700 feet away); Grant in Southeast Missouri

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

2. H&H Building Marker

The marker is mounted on the right/east side of the south entrance.

(approx. 0.2 miles away); St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

Regarding H&H Building. National Register of Historic Places #03000653.

From the National Register Nomination:
The H&H Building exemplifies the Commercial Buildings, ca. 1850-1950 property type. The lower storefront on the east and south elevations have large plate glass windows with bronze metal frames divided by a series of square Tuscan pillars. The primary entrance is a recessed marble entry flanked by round Tuscan columns centered on the south facade. The second through fifth floors are red brick with limestone quoining. Symmetrically placed metal double-hung windows with limestone sills and lintels are on the south and east. Originally, the south and east elevations included an elaborate cornice line with dentil molding, highlighted with a limestone balustrade. In 1936, this was removed because of safety issues. The cornice line separating the first and second floors was replaced in the 1950s because of water damage. Except for the replacement of these elements, the exterior and interior walls remain intact, along with the original limestone quoining,
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

3. Himmelberger & Harrison Building (southeast elevation)
lintels, sills, primary recessed entry, storefront pilasters and columns.

Also see . . .
1. Himmelberger and Harrison Building (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
Also known as the Liberty National Life Building and H & H Building, it was built in 1907–1908, and is a five-story red brick, H-shaped structure. It is a steel reinforced concrete building on a poured concrete foundation with a full basement. It features a recessed marble entry flanked by round Tuscan order columns.
(Submitted on November 15, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. National Register of Historic Places Nomination. (Submitted on November 15, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 715 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.