Vermont Blacksmith John Deere founded the company in Grand Detour, Illinois in 1837. He made a number of tools but his most famous one was the steel plow, which made plowing much easier. Compared to iron or wooden plows, soil did not stick to steel, allowing farmers to move continuously rather than stopping every few feet to remove the soil. The new plow quickly became incredibly popular and by 1849, the business was producing 2,000 of them each year.In the early 20th century, tractors started to be built and the company was eager to expand into that area. As a result, in 1918, the company bought the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, which had manufactured the best tractor called the Waterloo Boy. The company sold the tractor under the Waterloo Boy name until 1923 when it introduced its own tractor called the Model D. In the coming decades, the company began to manufacture construction and forestry equipment. The museum opened in 2015.

The John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum features antique tractors, engines, and farming equipment on display. There are also interactive exhibits and visitors can climb in some of the tractors. 

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The John Deere Tractor &amp; Engine Museum tells the story of how the John Deere Company grew from a small business into one of the largest agricultural and construction equipment manufacturing corporations in the world. The museum is in Waterloo owing to the fact that the company's first tractor factory was located here, and it features interactive exhibits and numerous tractors, pieces of farming equipment, and tools on display. Some of the interactive exhibits are geared towards children and visitors can climb onto many of the tractors. Admission to the museum is free.

John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum

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This short drive through Waterloo begins at the city's historic freight depot and continues on to historic downtown buildings such as Veterans Memorial Hall, Hotel Russell Lamson, the Weis House, several museums dedicated to science and history, the Snowden House, and concludes at the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum. 

Railroads were critical to the development of Waterloo in the second half of 19th century. Two had arrived by 1870—the Illinois Central, the Burlington and the Cedar Rapids &amp; Northern Railroad. The Chicago, St. Paul &amp; Kansas City Railroad, which later became the Chicago Great Western Railroad, arrived in 1884. Under the leadership of its president, A.B. Stickney, the company decided to build two depots near the downtown area on either side of the Cedar River to be closer to residents. The closer proximity of businesses to the freight depot would also facilitate the easy transfer of shipments to and from Waterloo.The company built a passenger and a freight depot (other railroads built depots close to downtown by this time as well) and built another passenger depot by 1899. In 1903, the company razed the freight depot and built the current one and also built a new passenger depot, which was demolished in 1973. The University of Northern Iowa acquired the freight depot in 2001.

Now home to the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Urban Education, the Chicago Great Western Railroad built this historic freight depot in 1903. It is the only steam railroad depot remaining in Waterloo and represents the significant role railroads played in the growth and prosperity of the city. The building is utilitarian in appearance but does feature large round arches connected by a band consisting of a smooth concrete blocks, molding, and light-colored brick. The exterior is built of rough-cast concrete blocks, which reflects its industrial purpose. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Chicago Great Western Railroad Freight Depot

Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall was built by the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) from 1915 to 1916. Local chapters of the G.A.R. built the hall as a memorial to soldiers who had lost their lives in the Civil War. The construction was funded by a special tax levy in the amount of $14,000. When ground was broken for construction, current newspapers and membership lists of local patriotic organizations and G.A.R. posts were placed inside the cornerstone. A Waterloo local, H. R. Griffith, was originally supposed to speak at the 1916 dedication ceremony, but could not due to being ill. She was the Department Secretary of the Woman's Relief Corps, which is part of the Grand Army of the Republic. The Memorial Hall was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Unlike most other veteran halls in the area, this one veteran hall had maintained most of its original appearance. The building is adjacent to&nbsp;Soldiers and Sailors Park which was also created to honor Union veterans.&nbsp;

The Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall, also known as the Veterans Memorial Hall, is a Classical Revival veterans hall built from 1915 to 1916 by the Grand Army of the Republic as a memorial to soldiers who died in the American Civil War. The front exterior of the building features a fountain that honors Union veterans and a plaque that includes General John Logan's Memorial Day proclamation. 

Black Hawk County Soldiers Memorial Hall

Increased industrialization development began Waterloo in the 1890s, particularly after an interurban railway line arrived in 1896. Booster organizations on either side of the Cedar River played a large role in attracting businesses and industries to the city through the selling of stocks and lots. The city continued to grow and prosper into the 1920s as a result of this competition. The population increased from 12,580 in 1900 to 26,698 in 1910 and Waterloo became one of the states top manufacturing centers. Agriculture contributed significantly to the economy as well, especially before and during World War I when demand for farm products was high. Many in the city wanted a modern hotel but it wasn't until Clyde and Lillian Russell-Lamson decided to take on the project in 1912. They sold lots to residents and agreed to use the money raised to help fund the hotel's construction. The Chicago architecture firm Marshall &amp; Fox was hired to design it and when it opened in 1914 it had 250 rooms and 150 private or connecting bathrooms. The hotel also featured billiard tables, a private dining room with a capacity of 100 people, sample rooms for traveling salesmen, a barber shop, an even an artesian well. The hotel established itself as one of the prestigious buildings in the city. In 1919 rival booster organizations formed the Greater Waterloo Association, which, as noted above, chose the prestigious hotel for its offices. The hotel was also where local radio and television stations originated by a company called Black Hawk Broadcasting Company. On November 4, 1947, the company's first broadcast of radio station KWWL aired from the hotel. The first television broadcast then occurred in 1953. The company moved to a new location in 1958. The hotel operated until the 1960s when it was converted into an apartment building. It was remodeled again in the late 1990s.

The former Hotel Russell Lawson is one of Waterloo's most important historic landmarks. Erected in 1914, it is significant for its its size, design, and association with the city's industrialization of the early 20th century. In terms of architecture, the building is an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture. Its design is typical of an early 20th-century hotel and it also includes elements of Georgian Revival architecture as well such as keystones, arches on the first floor, and dentils along the cornice. The building housed the offices of an organization called the Greater Waterloo Association, which persuaded industries to come to Waterloo. The hotel was named after its primary investors Clyde O. Lamson and Lillian Russell Lamson. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, it is now an apartment building.

Hotel Russell Lamson

Henry Weis established his business, called the North Star Company, in 1875 in the town of Burlington. In 1891, he relocated to Waterloo, which had convinced several factories to move to the city during this period. As alluded to above, Weis made a significant contribution to the egg production industry by designing the machinery that made the egg paper fillers. Although his business was relatively small and the egg industry was not a significant part of Iowa's economy, his paper fillers—along with the introduction of ice-cooled storage facilities in the 1890s—did help grow the industry. These innovations were particularly important for small farms that produced eggs. The success of his business gave Weiss the financial means to build the house. He retired in 1921 and the business continued to operate, it appears, into the 1930s. By then, the technology to freeze eggs had been perfected and paper fillers were no longer needed.Weis, his wife, and their daughter Laura lived in the house, which she acquired after Weis died in 1927. She sold it in 1934 and the new owners converted it into apartments. It appears the house became a single-family residence again in the 1970s. When it became a bed and breakfast is unclear. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Local factory owner Henry Weis built this elegant home in 1902. Over a century later, this house is a Waterloo landmark for its architecture, age, and connection to Weiss, whose factory manufactured egg paper fillers that protected eggs during shipment. Designed by local firm Murphy &amp; Ralston, the house reflects the transition from the Queen Anne style to the Colonial Revival style at the turn-of-the century. Queen Anne elements include the wraparound porch, a small second-story porch, and full height bays. Colonial Revival features include the fluted Ionic columns, the dentils running along the cornice, and decorative foliated designs. The house now operates as the Wellington Bed &amp; Breakfast.

Henry Weis House (Wellington Bed & Breakfast)

The museum is named after Henry Whittemore Grout (1858-1932), who was a local entrepreneur, politician and collector. As an adult he was a railroad worker, farmer, miner, realtor, traveling salesman, and a state legislator from 1910 to 1918. He also traveled extensively and collected items from the places he visited. There were over 2,000 items in his collection by the time he passed away (he died suddenly of a heart attack while giving a talk). Before he died, Grout drafted a will that established an endowment and named trustees to be in charge of the collection, which was first put on display at the YMCA. The current building was erected in 1956 and the museum has remained here ever since.

The Grout Museum of History &amp; Science explores the cultural and economic history of Waterloo. It located directly next to the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum and is part of the Grout Museum District. It features two permanent exhibits and temporary exhibits, the largest genealogical reference library in northeast Iowa, and the only planetarium in northeast Iowa. One of the permanent exhibits, Engine of the Heartland, shows how Waterloo became an important industrial center. The other permanent exhibit, Pioneer Hall, tells visitors about pioneer life when Iowa became a state in 1846. The genealogical library houses a collection of over 21,000 items including photographs, maps, and oral histories.

Grout Museum of History & Science

For more than 150 years, Iowans have stepped forward to take an oath to preserve the union, safeguard democracy and defend against terrorism in times of peace and war. Iowans gave this service in numbers proportionally larger than most states and without the expectation of fame and fortune, a tradition that continues to this day. &nbsp;The $11 million museum opened in November 2008. It is funded, in part, by people just like the citizen soldiers it recognizes.The five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo, Iowa were serving together aboard the light cruiser USS Juneau. On Friday, November 13, 1942,&nbsp;the Juneau along with a number of other U.S. warships, became involved in a series of fierce day and night actions with Japanese warships in the battle for Guadalcanal. In one of those battles, the USS Junea was crippled by a torpedo blast. While heading to a naval base for repairs, a Japanese submarine fired a torpedo into the Juneau, causing her to sink in a matter of seconds. Four of the Sullivan brothers went down with the ship; one brother, George, survived but was then lost at sea. The Sullivan brothers are part of Waterloo's and the nation's history.

The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Iowa residents who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. The museum's central exhibits are dedicated to five brothers who served aboard the USS Juneau and perished during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The museum was completed at a cost of $11 million and opened in 2008.  

Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum

The museum, which is a part of the Grout Museum District, was established out of the need for more science programs, which were being offered at the Grout Museum of History &amp; Science. Carl and Peggy Bluedorn were strong supporters of the idea to build a science museum. Carl, who died in 1997, was a civil engineer and spent his career working at a local concrete manufacturer. He eventually became chairman of the company. Throughout his career, Carl was an active philanthropist. He provided financial support to Iowa State University, where he studied engineering, and to the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus. He and Peggy were also active in community affairs in Waterloo.

Opened in 1993, the Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium is a science museum geared for children featuring hands-on, interactive exhibits on light, electricity, gases, sound, momentum, and liquids. Highlights include a hot air balloon that rises 20 feet up, an angular momentum machine, and a ROBOTIX table. The museum offers temporary exhibits as well. It is named after local philanthropists Carl and Peggy Bluedorn, who contributed funds to establish the museum.

Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium

Rensselaer Russell was born in Ostego County, New York in 1828. His father and grandfather were carpenters, the latter immigrating to the United States seventy-five years prior to the year of Rensselaer's birth His grandfather was able to acquire some land after building several homes for some the wealthiest families in the area putting his carpenter skills to good use. The family business allowed Russell to acquire a good education while providing the connections he needed to start a successful dry goods store. He married his wife, Caroline Richards, in 1853 and returned with her to her father’s farm where he worked as a farmer on the property. In 1858, Russell built his family home in the Italianate style in the small community of Waterloo. Construction of the home was completed in 1861, the same year as the start of the Civil War. Russell continued with his jobs in real estate and dealing dry goods until his death in 1896.His home was one of the first brick houses built in the city and is one of the oldest homes in Waterloo today. Across from his home, Russell purchased land and donated it to the city for a public park. The city selected the name Washington Park for the donated greenspace, and soon after Russell’s passing, the city decided to honor Rensselaer Russell by naming the residential area where he lived Russell Square. Years later, a local historic preservation organization purchased the home, restored it to its former appearance, and converted the private hoe into a local history museum. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the summer of 1973.

Constructed in 1861, this house was one of the first brick houses built in Waterloo and belonged to Rensselaer Russell, a real estate investor, broker, and dealer of dry goods. Russell imported material from the Dubuque, Iowa and Chicago, to build his home which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The home now serves as a public museum that includes period furnishings and exhibits about life in Iowa in the 19th century and beyond.

Rensselaer Russell House Museum

Snowden, his wife Delia, and three daughters didn't live in the house during the winter. It was too difficult to heat it so they lived in the apartment above Snowden's pharmacy. As a result, the house became known as the Snowden Summer Home. The house became a popular place for young people to meet and immerse themselves in culture and music. The drawing room had a piano and many children took piano lessons at the house. Snowden died in 1889 and Delia became the owner. It appears that Delia then sold it to Lillian Russell Lamson who, along with her husband Clyde, helped financed the construction of the former Hotel Russell-Lamson. In 1922, the Waterloo Women's Club bought the house and owned it until, it appears, 1984 when the Snowden House Foundation acquired it. The house became a part of the Grout Museum District in 1997.

Local pharmacist William Snowden built this elegant historic home in 1881. A fine example of Victorian Italianate architecture, it is now used as wedding and event venue and is also a part of the Grout Museum District. The two-story house features a porch with thin wooden posts and decorative arching stickwork, a hip roof with a shallow gable, bracketed eaves, windows with decorative hoodmolds, and an arched main entrance. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

History of Waterloo Iowa Driving Tour

John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information