Washington Park (Dubuque, Iowa)

Small public urban park in Downtown Dubuque, Iowa, USA

United States historic place

Washington Park

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

U.S. Historic district
Contributing property

The Gazebo at Washington Park.

Location| Dubuque, IA
Coordinates| 42°29′56.86″N 90°40′4.98″W﻿ / ﻿42.4991278°N 90.6680500°W﻿ / 42.4991278; -90.6680500
Part of| Cathedral Historic District (ID85002501)
NRHP reference No.| 77000515 [1]
Added to NRHP| July 14, 1977

Washington Park (also known as Washington Square) is a small public, urban park (1 acre) located in Downtown Dubuque, Iowa, United States. The park encompasses an entire city block, bordered on the north by West 7th Street, on the west by Bluff Street, on the south by West 6th Street, and on the east by Locust Street. The park is located between the city's post office and the Dubuque Museum of Art.

It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977,[1] and it was included as a contributing property in the Cathedral Historic District in 1985.[2]

## History

[edit]

The block where Washington Park is located today was one of the original 35 blocks plotted out by surveyor G.W. Harrison in 1833 when the city was founded. From the beginning, the land was set aside for public use. The first church and first jail in Iowa were located on this land. In 1857, the area was designated as Washington Park.

In 1877, the Dubuque City Council had all the buildings on the block torn down. Shrubs and flowers were planted, walkways were established, and a 40-foot (12 m)-high Oriental gazebo was built on the grounds for $200.[3] This gazebo, which was built by local architects Fridolin Heer and Edward Eaescher, was widely viewed as one of the finest pavilions in the area. On August 24, 1877, approximately 2,000 people attended the formal dedication of the park.

In 1878, a public drinking fountain was erected in the park. The city paid for half the cost, with the remaining half covered by private donations. A statue of Dr. Henry Cogswell was placed on top of this drinking fountain. Cogswell had promised the city that he would donate a statue for the fountain (which was supposed to be of a local heroine who had walked some distance to stop a train before it could come to a washed out bridge and derail). When the statue was uncovered for the first time, it turned out to be a statue of Cogswell. The statue remained in place until 1900, when a group of vandals pulled the statue down and buried it under what would be a new sidewalk. The following day, the new sidewalk was poured which entombed the object. The water fountain was gone by 1912, however, the statue is rumoured to still be buried under a sidewalk at the park.

Public events at the square over the years included Buffalo Bill Cody's "Authentic Wild West Show" performing in 1896 and President William McKinley giving a speech in 1899.[3]: 3

By the beginning of the 20th century, the gazebo was gone. Later, during the 1970s, the park underwent a $60,000 restoration. New trees, flowers, and shrubs were planted. New lights crafted to look like antique gas lamps were placed in the park. A new steel 3/4 size replica of the original gazebo built by Bradley Iron Works was placed on the site. This restoration was made possible by the Dubuque Jaycees who made a large financial contribution to the City of Dubuque. Also the Dubuque Jaycees had put together a time capsule using a donated grave vault. Boxes were handed out to the public who were asked to place items in the boxes and return to the Park when they would be placed in the time capsule. Once the boxes filled the vault it was sealed and buried right next to the southern side of the gazebo under the rock with the plaque that explains it is not to be opened for 100 years. That opening is set for the year 2076.

During the summer of 2005, Washington Park underwent further improvements. The streets surrounding the park have been rebuilt, and the walkways in and around the park have been replaced. Lampposts designed to look like late 19th and early 20th century models have also been placed in and around the park. Again without the Dubuque Jaycees large financial contribution this project would have been delayed. The Dubuque Jaycees has a special interest in Washington Park. Numerous times the group has been called upon and responded financially for the betterment of the park. The Group also decorates the park with a holiday theme each and every year.

## See also

[edit]

* Parks in Dubuque, Iowa

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 15, 2006.
2. ^ Lisa Hawks; Pam Myhre-Gonyier. "Cathedral Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved January 3, 2017. with photos
3. ^ a b James D. Miller (1977). "National Register of Historic Places Registration:". National Park Service. Retrieved July 12, 2016. with two photos from c.1890 and 1968

* v
* t
* e

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Topics|

* Architectural style categories
* Contributing property
* Historic district
* History of the National Register of Historic Places
* Keeper of the Register
* National Park Service
* Property types

Lists by state|

* List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state:
* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Lists by insular areas|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Minor Outlying Islands
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* Virgin Islands

Lists by associated state|

* Federated States of Micronesia
* Marshall Islands
* Palau

Other areas|

* District of Columbia
* American Legation, Morocco

Related|

* National Historic Preservation Act
* Historic Preservation Fund
* List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places
* University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places

* National Register of Historic Places portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

National Register of Historic Places in Dubuque, Iowa

Civic|

* Carnegie-Stout Public Library
* Dubuque City Hall
* Dubuque County Courthouse
* Dubuque County Jail
* Julien Dubuque Monument

Clubhouses|

* Dubuque YMCA Building

Commercial buildings|

* John Bell Block
* Bishop's Block
* Diamond Jo Boat Store and Office
* German Bank
* Interstate Power Company Building
* Roshek Brothers Department Store
* Security Building
* Town Clock Building
* Ziepprecht Block

Education|

* Old Chapel Hall
* Sacred Heart School

Historic districts|

* Cathedral Historic District
* Dubuque Millworking Historic District
* Eagle Point Park Historic District
* Fenelon Place Residential Historic District
* Four Mounds Estate Historic District
* Holy Ghost Catholic Historic District
* Jackson Park Historic District
* Langworthy Historic District
* Lock and Dam No. 11 Historic District
* Loras College Historic District
* Old Main Street Historic District
* St. Mary's Catholic Church Historic District
* Seminary Hill Residential Historic District
* Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
* Upper Iowa Street Historic District
* Upper Main Street Historic District
* Washington Street and East 22nd Street Historic District
* Washington Residential Historic District
* West Eleventh Street Historic District

Houses|

* Andrew–Ryan House
* Garland House
* Mathias Ham House
* Charles T. Hancock House
* Ora Holland House
* Hollenfelz House
* Kelley House
* Langworthy House
* T. Ben Loetscher House
* McMahon House
* Johann Christian Frederick Rath House
* Redstone
* J.H. Thedinga House

Industrial buildings|

* Dubuque Casket Company
* Dubuque Freight House
* Dubuque Star Brewery
* Metz Manufacturing Company
* George W. Rogers Company Shot Tower
* Schroeder-Klein Grocery Company Warehouse

Parks|

* Washington Park

Religious buildings|

* St. John's Episcopal Church
* St. Luke's Methodist Episcopal Church
* St. Patrick's Catholic Church
* St. Raphael's Cathedral

Theatres|

* Grand Opera House
* Orpheum Theatre and Site

Transportation|

* Julien Dubuque Bridge
* Dunleith and Dubuque Bridge
* Fenelon Place Elevator
* WILLIAM M. BLACK (dredge)

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dubuque County, Iowa
List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa
*[No.]: number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template