Historic Keokuk Iowa Driving Tour

Entries on This Tour

Located in the east end of Rand Park, this memorial commemorates Sauk Chief Keokuk (c.1780-1848), who was one of the most famous Indian leaders during the first half of the 19th century. He was known for his friendly relations with Americans and cooperation and diplomacy with the federal government. The city of Keokuk is named after him. The memorial, which was erected in 1913, consists of a stone base with the original marble marker of Keokuk's first grave and statue of Keokuk overlooking the Mississippi River. Some of Keokuk's remains are buried underneath the base.

2. Keokuk National Cemetery

One of 155 national cemeteries around the country, Keokuk National Cemetery was established in 1862 during the Civil War and contains the remains of more than 600 Union soldiers and eight Confederate prisoners of war. Veterans of subsequent wars and active duty service members are also buried here. It is 2.75 acres in size and is divided into two sections (east and west) with two separate entrances. The superintendent's lodge, which is in the eastern section, is a historic building erected in 1870 and designed by quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs in the Second Empire style. The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

3. Church of All Saints

Church of All Saints is a historic Catholic church built in 1885. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places primarily for its excellent late Gothic Revival architecture. Built of red brick, notable features include a 180-foot central tower, two 75-foot corner towers (all three are topped by spires), lancet stained glass windows, and buttresses. The Church of All Saints was first known as St. Peter Church.

4. U.S. Post Office and Courthouse

Constructed in 1888, Keokuk's historic post office and courthouse features a distinctive seven-story clock tower. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in part because of its Late Victorian architecture which includes features such as a red brick exterior, round-arched windows and entryways, limestone trim, dormers, and decorative terra cotta. Lee County is the only one in Iowa with two county seats and this was the second courthouse constructed in the county (the other is in Fort Madison).

5. Samuel F. Miller House and Museum

Owned and operated as a museum by the Lee County Historical Society, this historic home was built by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel F. Miller in 1859. Miller (1816-1890), who served on the court from 1862 to 1890, was also a doctor. He is notable for being the first U.S. Supreme Court justice from west of the Mississippi River and for authoring the court's decision in the 1873 Slaughterhouse Cases (see below). Miller wrote hundreds of opinions during his 28-year tenure on the court. The house is well preserved and includes numerous historical items and furnishings including paintings of Chief Keokuk and Miller, a square grand piano, clothing, dolls, and old medical instruments. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

6. Lock and Dam No. 19

Known today as the Keokuk Energy Center, Lock and Dam No. 19 is the largest privately owned and operated dam and hydroelectric power plant on the Mississippi River. It was built in 1913 and the current lock was constructed in 1957. The lock is 1,200-feet long and 100-feet wide, and the dam itself is nearly a mile long at 4,620 feet. The original lock and dry dock, which are next to the 1957 lock, are no longer used. The powerhouse was built in 1913 and contains 15 generators that produce 60Hz of alternating current. The entire site comprises the Lock and Dam No. 19 Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ameren Missouri, which is a subsidiary of the Ameren Corporation, owns and operates the facility. Visitors can view the lock and dam from a public platform that overlooks the site.

7. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis House

Congressman, engineer, U.S. Army major general, and Keokuk mayor Gen. Samuel R. Curtis (1805-1866) built this historic home in 1849. Curtis was one of the leading figures from Iowa during the 19th century. He is best known for his victories during the Civil War at the Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862 and the Battle of Westport in 1864. As for the house, in addition to its association with Curtis, it is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture with elements of the Adamesque style included in the design. It features a large porch with Ionic columns, diamond-paned windows on the second floor, and decorative garland. The house is privately owned but is open to the public as an Airbnb rental. According to the Airbnb listing, President Abraham Lincoln dined and stayed overnight at the house.

8. Hotel Iowa

Constructed in 1913, this historic hotel demonstrates the growth of Keokuk in the early 20th century and the city's optimism that their community would become one of the commercial centers on the Mississippi River. The building features a projecting metal cornice with brackets and an exterior composed of brick and decorative terra cotta. The former Hotel Iowa building is also the best example of Chicago Commercial architecture in Keokuk, with seven stories that reach a height of 74 feet. The building is now a residence for senior citizens called the Historic Hotel Iowa and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

9. George M. Verity River Museum

George M. Verity is a historic sternwheel steamboat that is now located in Keokuk and home to a small museum that preserves the history of river traffic along this section of the Mississippi River. This craft is historically significant as it remains one of only three steam-powered towboats in the United States. Built as the SS Thorpe in 1927 in Dubuque, this craft entered service by towing barges on the upper Mississippi. The craft was renamed by her new owner in the 1930s and became an official historic landmark in 1989.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Historic Keokuk Iowa Driving Tour

Created by Clio Admin on December 27th 2021, 6:12:30 pm.

Get a QR Code for this tour

Description

This short drive through Keokuk includes stops at area museums, historic homes, landmark buildings such as Hotel Iowa, and sites such as Lock and Dam Number 19 that were central to the city's development. Highlights of the tour include a historic sternwheel riverboat that now operates as a museum, the home of General Samuel R. Curtis, Keokuk National Cemetery, and a monument dedicated to the Native American leader Chief Keokuk.

Entries on This Tour

Historic Keokuk Iowa Driving Tour

Description

Share