Davenport City Hall

Davenport City Hall is a four-story municipal building constructed in Richardsonian Romanesque style using reddish sandstone blocks, featuring three corner towers and wide arched openings on its facades. The structure stands at the intersection of Harrison Street and West Fourth Street in the heart of downtown.

The building was constructed between 1894 and 1895 based on designs by architect John W. Ross, who won a national competition for the project. The city funded the construction without issuing bonds, employing unconventional financial methods to pay for this major civic building.

The building reflects how the growing city organized its institutions and gave physical form to its local government in the early 1900s. Its central downtown location made city business a visible part of daily life in the community.

The building sits at a main downtown intersection that is easy to reach on foot from nearby attractions. Since it remains an active government office building, visitor access may be limited to certain hours or areas depending on current operations.

Construction costs were partly funded through taxes levied on local saloons under Iowa's mulct tax law, an unusual revenue method for civic building projects. This creative approach to funding shows how the city avoided traditional borrowing to pay for major public works.

Location: Davenport

Architects: John W. Ross

Architectural style: Richardsonian Romanesque

GPS coordinates: 41.52417,-90.57639

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:43