W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion
Encyclopedia
W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion is located on Beiderbecke Drive in LeClaire Park
, Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993. It is commonly referred to as the LeClaire Park Bandshell.
, the Forrest Block
, the Scott County Savings Bank, The Linograph Company Building
and the Davenport Municipal Stadium (now known as Modern Woodmen Park) . The music pavilion is located just to the east of the stadium along the riverfront.
The music pavilion is a concrete structure built on a raised stone podium. It is rectangular in shape with a peaked roof which levels out to the north and south walls. The structure features distinctive ornamental details, Corinthian columns with twisted-rope shafts, minaret
-shaped pinnacles, iron-grated windows, and side niches. There is complex decorative pattern work at the roofline. Many of the decorative details are finished in bold colors of blue, green, and gold, which contrast with the neutral color of the stone. The pavilion’s facade
faces to the east where an outdoor seating area, set on a concrete slab, is located. To the north of the pavilion is the bust of Davenport native Bix Beiderbecke
, a prominent jazz
musician in the 20th century.
The music pavilion continues to host various public events throughout the year. The Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival
, Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra
’s Riverfront Pops Concert are annual events. President George W. Bush
spoke from the pavilion when he ran for reelection in 2004, as did Barack Obama
in 2007 when he ran for the presidency before the 2008 Iowa Caucus
es.
LeClaire Park
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 a new park that is being developed to the east. The park includes monuments, a bandshell. a baseball...
, Davenport, Iowa
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...
. It was 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...
in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993. It is commonly referred to as the LeClaire Park Bandshell.
History
Starting in 1911 the city of Davenport started two decades of improvement to the riverfront under the leadership of Alfred Mueller, who was the mayor, and William D. Petersen. The Levee Improvement commission, which is responsible for developing the city’s riverfront, was started the same year. LeClaire Park was extensively improved by the commission between the years 1912-1914. The music pavilion, named for Petersen, was built in 1924.Architecture
The pavilion was designed by Rudolph Clausen from the architectural firm of Clausen & Kruse. They also designed other historic buildings in Davenport including the Democrat BuildingDemocrat Building
Democrat Building is located at 407-411 Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
, the Forrest Block
Forrest Block
The Forrest Block is a building located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History :...
, the Scott County Savings Bank, The Linograph Company Building
The Linograph Company Building
The Linograph Company Building is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
and the Davenport Municipal Stadium (now known as Modern Woodmen Park) . The music pavilion is located just to the east of the stadium along the riverfront.
The music pavilion is a concrete structure built on a raised stone podium. It is rectangular in shape with a peaked roof which levels out to the north and south walls. The structure features distinctive ornamental details, Corinthian columns with twisted-rope shafts, minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
-shaped pinnacles, iron-grated windows, and side niches. There is complex decorative pattern work at the roofline. Many of the decorative details are finished in bold colors of blue, green, and gold, which contrast with the neutral color of the stone. The pavilion’s facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
faces to the east where an outdoor seating area, set on a concrete slab, is located. To the north of the pavilion is the bust of Davenport native Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
, a prominent jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician in the 20th century.
The music pavilion continues to host various public events throughout the year. The Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival
Bix 7 Road Race and Memorial Jazz Festival
The Bix 7 Road Race and Memorial Jazz Festival is a road race and music festival held annually in Davenport, Iowa. The race and festival commemorate Davenport native and jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke.-Race:...
, Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra
Quad City Symphony Orchestra
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra is a United States symphony orchestra based in Davenport, Iowa and representing the Quad Cities area. The current music director and conductor is Mark Russell Smith. Established in 1916, the orchestra has a full season, performing six masterwork series concerts,...
’s Riverfront Pops Concert are annual events. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
spoke from the pavilion when he ran for reelection in 2004, as did Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in 2007 when he ran for the presidency before the 2008 Iowa Caucus
Iowa caucus
The Iowa caucuses are an electoral event in which residents of the U.S. state of Iowa meet in precinct caucuses in all of Iowa's 1784 precincts and elect delegates to the corresponding county conventions. There are 99 counties in Iowa and thus 99 conventions...
es.