Union Station (Davenport, Iowa)

Last updated
Union Station
and Burlington Freight House
Union Station and Burlington Freight House (Davenport, Iowa).JPG
South façade along the railroad tracks
USA Iowa location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location120 S. Harrison St.
Davenport, Iowa
Coordinates 41°31′12″N90°34′39″W / 41.52000°N 90.57750°W / 41.52000; -90.57750 Coordinates: 41°31′12″N90°34′39″W / 41.52000°N 90.57750°W / 41.52000; -90.57750
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1924
Architectural style Colonial Revival
MPS Davenport MRA
NRHP reference No. 83002521 [1]
Added to NRHPJuly 7, 1983

Union Station, also known as Union Station and Burlington Freight House, is located along the riverfront in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings are in a section of downtown with several historic structures. Across Ripley Street to the west is the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House, and to the east across Harrison Street is the Dillon Memorial. On River Drive northwest from the Burlington Freight House is The Linograph Company Building. Across Beiderbecke Drive to the south are the W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion and the Mississippi River.

Contents

History

Union Station Union Station and Burlington Freight House.jpg
Union Station

Rail service through Davenport was being discussed and planned to start in 1842. [2] Up to this point, however, the Mississippi River had never been crossed by a bridge anywhere. That was accomplished by 1856 when the first railroad bridge was built between Davenport and Rock Island, Illinois, and the city's rail history began. By 1895 several rail lines already passed through Davenport when Frank Blair organized the Davenport, Rock Island and North Western Railway (DRI & NW). In five years the company completed its route to Clinton, Iowa and the Crescent Bridge (1899) across the Mississippi between Davenport and Rock Island. The bridge is downstream from the site of the first railroad bridge that crossed the river. [3]

In 1901, the DRI & NW was purchased by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CBQ). The Milwaukee Road already operated in Davenport while the CBQ did not, this purchase brought its operations to the city. The three railroads each had a station in Davenport and in 1916 plans were made to build a union station on the riverfront. [4] They were revised in 1923 and the following year the DRI & NW and its parent companies built Union Station on the levee grounds. After World War II passenger service started to fade until it was discontinued in the 1950s.

The building eventually became a Trailways bus station. The main floor of the station was used as a visitor's center from the 1990s to 2017. The upper floors and the freight house are office space. A $450,000 renovation of the facility was completed in 2009. [5] It is the only passenger train station remaining in Davenport. [4]

Architecture

Burlington Freight House Burlington Freight House (Davenport, Iowa).JPG
Burlington Freight House

Union Station and the Burlington Freight House are two separate buildings that are joined by a wood post and beam shelter. The station has twin facades. The rail side faces south and the north side faces a parking lot on River Drive. Similarly, the freight house was built with docks on the north and south sides of the building in order to facilitate the transfer of cargo.

The station is a two-story, Georgian Revival, tan brick building. [4] It is built on a concrete foundation. The building features a stylized Greek temple front on the north and south elevations, which emphasizes the building's entrances. The temple features four columns that are attached to the building with tapered, square shafts and stylized capitals. The columns support a Classical entablature that includes dentils, round medallions, and stepped fascia. A heavy cornice crowns the perimeter of the building. The building features rectangular windows on both floors, but the first-floor windows are framed with arches. Keystones made of concrete highlight the windows. Deep awnings are above the primary entrances.

The Burlington Freight House is a single-story building that is constructed with the same materials as Union Station. [6] As mentioned above the building featured docks, with oversized doors on both the north and the south sides of the building. The south dock, however, has been removed to accommodate an access ramp. The architectural style is the same as that of the station. The decorative details on the freight house are limited to a horizontal band of concrete at the cornice level and concrete window sills.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crescent Rail Bridge</span> Bridge in Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois

The Crescent Bridge carries a rail line across the Mississippi River between Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois. It was formerly owned by the Davenport, Rock Island and North Western Railway, a joint subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which was split in 1995 between then-joint owners Burlington Northern Railroad and Soo Line Railroad, with BN getting the bridge and the Illinois-side line, and Soo Line getting the Iowa-side line. Since then, after spinning off its lines in the area to I&M Rail Link, later Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad, the lines were repurchased by the Canadian Pacific Railway, parent of the Soo Line. Meanwhile, BN has merged into the BNSF Railway, the current owner of the bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis Great Northern Depot</span>

The Minneapolis Great Northern Depot, also known as Great Northern Station, was a passenger railroad station which served Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. It was built in 1913 and demolished in 1978. It was located on Hennepin Avenue next to the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and across the street from the main Minneapolis Post Office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railroads in Omaha</span>

Railroads in Omaha, Nebraska, have been integral to the growth and development of the city, the state of Nebraska, the Western United States and the entire United States. The convergence of many railroad forces upon the city was by happenstance and synergy, as none of the Omaha leaders had a comprehensive strategy for bringing railroads to the city.

Davenport, Iowa, was part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1814, during the War of 1812 the British military, along with the Saux and Fox Indian tribes fought against the Americans near Davenport. In August, Major Zachary Taylor, later President, fought a battle east of what is now Credit Island Park, in Davenport. An outpost was set up at Fort Armstrong and George Davenport and Antonie LeClaire were stationed there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Village of East Davenport</span> United States historic place

The Village of East Davenport, also known simply as The Village, is located along the Mississippi River on the southeast side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as the Davenport Village. At the time of its nomination it included 145 contributing properties, most of which were working-class housing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House</span> United States historic place

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House, known locally as The Freight House, is a historic building in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crescent Warehouse Historic District</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

The Crescent Warehouse Historic District is a 10.5-acre (4.2 ha) historic district in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. The district is a collection of multi-story brick structures that formerly housed warehouses and factories. Most of the buildings have been converted into loft apartments. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeClaire Park Bandshell</span> United States historic place

The W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion, commonly referred to as the LeClaire Park Bandshell, is located on Beiderbecke Drive in LeClaire Park, Davenport, Iowa. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First National Bank Building (Davenport, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

The First National Bank Building is an historic building located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 2020 it was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District. The building is now known as the US Bank Building, its main tenant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davenport Hotel (Davenport, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

The Davenport Hotel is a historic building located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 2020 it was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District. It is currently an apartment building called The Davenport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wupperman Block/I.O.O.F. Hall</span> United States historic place

The Wupperman Block/I.O.O.F. Hall is a historic building located just north of downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 2020 it was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Koester Building</span> United States historic place

The Nicholas Koester Building is an historic building located in the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. The building is a two-story brick structure that sits on the southeast corner of West Third and Fillmore Streets. It is part of a small commercial district near the historic German neighborhoods and the industrial areas along the Mississippi River. It is a typical commercial building in the West End which combines commercial space on the first floor and apartments on the second floor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burtis–Kimball House Hotel/Burtis Opera House</span> United States historic place

The Burtis–Kimball House Hotel and the Burtis Opera House were located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. The hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It has since been torn down and it was delisted from the National Register in 2008. The theatre building has been significantly altered since a fire in the 1920s. Both, however, remain important to the history of the city of Davenport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schick's Express and Transfer Co.</span> United States historic place

The Schick's Express and Transfer Co. was located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The building became part of the Petersen, Harned, von Maur department store complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clifton (Davenport, Iowa)</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

Clifton is a historic building located in the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. The residence was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was included as a contributing property in the Riverview Terrace Historic District in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeClaire Park</span>

LeClaire Park is a public park located along the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is situated between two other riverfront parks: Centennial Park on the west and River Heritage Park, a new park that is being developed to the east. The 400-acre (1.6 km2) park includes monuments, a bandshell, a baseball stadium and it is one of the terminal points for the Davenport Skybridge. The Riverfront Parkway pass through the park. Other features of the park include picnic shelters, horseshoe pits and river access for fishing. Moored off the park’s levee is a riverboat casino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton Belt Freight Depot</span> United States historic place

The Cotton Belt Freight Depot is a former freight depot of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway in the Near North Riverfront neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and named "Best Old Building" by the Riverfront Times, a weekly newspaper in St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Freight House</span> United States historic place

The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Freight House, also known as the Rock Island Freight House, is a historic building located in Burlington, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubuque Freight House</span> United States historic place

The Dubuque Freight House is a historic building located in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. Built by the Chicago, Burlington and Northern Railroad (CB&N) in 1901, this was the third and last freight house built by a railroad in the Ice Harbor area. The other two facilities were built by the Illinois Central Railroad (1872) and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad (1874). These other two railroads were older, larger, and monopolized the bridge and tunnel that crossed the Mississippi River. The CB&N was fortunate that their freight house was located along the water's edge in that the river boats could tie up next to the building and load and unload cargo, and the railroad put box cars on ferries that docked in the Ice Harbor. The Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works were headquartered on the west end of the facility for 20 years beginning in 1952. Founded in 1852 as the Iowa Iron Works, they provided engines, boilers and other equipment for river boats, and water craft for the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is now a part of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

The Burlington and Northwestern Railway (B&NW) was a 3 ft narrow gauge railroad system in Iowa that operated during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It connected Burlington, Iowa with branches to Washington and Oskaloosa, Iowa. Incorporated in 1875 as the Burlington and Northwestern Narrow Gauge Railway Company, it began carrying traffic in 1876, when it also dropped 'narrow gauge' from its corporate name. The line reached Washington in 1880, operating over 52.5 miles (84.5 km) of track. In 1881, the Burlington and Western Railway Company, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) was formed to connect the line to Oskaloosa, completed in 1883. For two decades, both lines were operated as a single system, until on June 20, 1902, the system was widened to standard gauge and the B&NW was adsorbed by the B&W. Later that year, the system was leased to the CB&Q, and in 1903, the entire system was deeded to the CB&Q.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Svendsen, Marlys A.; Bowers, Martha H. (1982). Davenport where the Mississippi runs west: A Survey of Davenport History & Architecture. Davenport, Iowa: City of Davenport. p. 5-4.
  3. Renkes, Jim (1994). The Quad Cities and the People. Helena, MT: American and World Geographic. p. 37.
  4. 1 2 3 Martha Bowers; Marlys Svendsen-Roesler. "Union Station & Burlington Freight House". National Park Service . Retrieved 2015-11-29. with photo
  5. Tory Brecht (June 23, 2009). "Union Station renovation to debut to the public". Quad-City Times . Davenport . Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  6. "Union Station & Burlington Freight House". Davenport Public Library. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
Preceding station Burlington Route Following station
Rock Island
toward St. Louis
St. LouisSavanna Le Claire
toward Savanna
Preceding station Milwaukee Road Following station
Buffalo
towards Kansas City
Kansas City  Savanna Bettendorf
Via Clinton
towards Savanna
Rock Island
Via Fulton
towards Savanna
Oakton
towards Maquoketa
Maquoketa  Davenport Terminus
Oakton
towards Monticello
Monticello  Davenport