Davenport Hotel (Davenport, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
The Davenport Hotel is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa
, United States
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is currently an apartment building called The Davenport
as Davenport's finest hotel. The other hotels that belong to this era are the Dempsey Hotel (1913), the Blackhawk Hotel
(1915) and the Hotel Mississippi
in 1931. It was considered the first “modern” hotel in the city, and was touted as one the finest hotels in the Mississippi River Valley when it opened. The hotel featured such amenities as fireproof construction, elevators, a dining room, and sample rooms for traveling salesmen. The building’s interior also featured “steam heat, hot and cold water, telephones and electric lights, heavy brass bedsteads with box springs and hair mattresses, velvet carpets and fancy window draperies, quartered oak and Flemish oak furniture, mahogany combination tables and writing desks and beveled mirrors.” It was also the first of Davenport’s “tall buildings.”
The Davenport was built a block away from the new Rock Island Railroad station making it convenient for travelers. However, it was undermined by the Dempsey Hotel, which was built next to the station and provided moderately priced rooms. The more elegant Blackhawk Hotel also resulted in loss of business to the Davenport and the hotel was sold to the Blackhawk Hotel company in 1916.
The building remained a hotel into the 1960s, but it eventually became an apartment building. It was extensively renovated in mid-1980s at a cost of $5.5 million.
(1924), and the Federal Court House
(1932–1933).
The building is six-stories in height and was constructed in brick over a steel structure. It most likely has a concrete and brick foundation. The building’s character is defined by its form as its decorative elements are more reserved. The six-story “towers” surround a two-story entrance in the center, which creates a sense of mass and enclosure. The building’s exterior decorative elements were confined to a cornice, which is now gone, and the main entrance. The first floor of the building contains retail space and apartments on the upper floors.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is currently an apartment building called The Davenport
History
The construction of the Davenport Hotel in 1907 ushered in the third phase of hotel construction in the city of Davenport. It replaced the Kimball HouseBurtis-Kimball House Hotel/Burtis Opera House
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 NRHP in 2008. The theatre building has been...
as Davenport's finest hotel. The other hotels that belong to this era are the Dempsey Hotel (1913), the Blackhawk Hotel
Blackhawk Hotel
The Blackhawk Hotel is an eleven-story brick and terra cotta building located in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has returned to its original name Hotel Blackhawk. The hotel is located next to the north building of the RiverCenter, Davenport's convention center, and across the street...
(1915) and the Hotel Mississippi
Hotel Mississippi-RKO Orpheum Theater
The Hotel Mississippi-RKO Orpheum Theater is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hotel Mississippi was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 2005...
in 1931. It was considered the first “modern” hotel in the city, and was touted as one the finest hotels in the Mississippi River Valley when it opened. The hotel featured such amenities as fireproof construction, elevators, a dining room, and sample rooms for traveling salesmen. The building’s interior also featured “steam heat, hot and cold water, telephones and electric lights, heavy brass bedsteads with box springs and hair mattresses, velvet carpets and fancy window draperies, quartered oak and Flemish oak furniture, mahogany combination tables and writing desks and beveled mirrors.” It was also the first of Davenport’s “tall buildings.”
The Davenport was built a block away from the new Rock Island Railroad station making it convenient for travelers. However, it was undermined by the Dempsey Hotel, which was built next to the station and provided moderately priced rooms. The more elegant Blackhawk Hotel also resulted in loss of business to the Davenport and the hotel was sold to the Blackhawk Hotel company in 1916.
The building remained a hotel into the 1960s, but it eventually became an apartment building. It was extensively renovated in mid-1980s at a cost of $5.5 million.
Architecture
The Davenport Hotel was designed by a local architecture firm, Temple and Burrows. They were also responsible for the Blackhawk Hotel, the Union Savings Bank and TrustUnion Savings Bank and Trust
Union Savings Bank and Trust is located downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is now known as the Union Arcade. The Schmidt Block, which is immediately to the east of the Union Arcade, is also listed on the...
(1924), and the Federal Court House
United States Post Office and Court House (Davenport, Iowa)
The United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa is a historic post office and courthouse building located in Davenport in Scott County, Iowa. It is a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.-Predecessor building:...
(1932–1933).
The building is six-stories in height and was constructed in brick over a steel structure. It most likely has a concrete and brick foundation. The building’s character is defined by its form as its decorative elements are more reserved. The six-story “towers” surround a two-story entrance in the center, which creates a sense of mass and enclosure. The building’s exterior decorative elements were confined to a cornice, which is now gone, and the main entrance. The first floor of the building contains retail space and apartments on the upper floors.