Jump to content

Ola Babcock Miller Building

Add links
Coordinates: 41°35′34″N 93°36′9″W / 41.59278°N 93.60250°W / 41.59278; -93.60250
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Monkbot (talk | contribs) at 02:58, 10 January 2021 (Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 2 templates: del empty params (1×); hyphenate params (2×);). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Iowa State Historical Building
Ola Babcock Miller Building is located in Iowa
Ola Babcock Miller Building
Ola Babcock Miller Building is located in the United States
Ola Babcock Miller Building
LocationE. 12th and Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa
Coordinates41°35′34″N 93°36′9″W / 41.59278°N 93.60250°W / 41.59278; -93.60250
Areaapproximately 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1898-1899
1904-1910
ArchitectOliver O. Smith
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
NRHP reference No.78001251[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 14, 1978

The Ola Babcock Miller Building, also known as the State Library of Iowa, is an historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as the Iowa State Historical Building.[1]

History

The State Historical Department was established by the Iowa legislature in 1892. It was originally housed in three rooms of the Iowa State Capitol building. The west wing of this building was completed in 1899, and the Historical Department occupied it in March 1900. The legislature appropriated funds to complete the building, and it was finished in 1910. The building was designed by Des Moines architect Oliver O. Smith, and it is considered a good example of the Beaux Arts style.[2] It is one of the oldest buildings in the Capitol Complex.[3] The state historical society remained here until their present building was completed in 1987. After a historic renovation the building was renamed in honor of Ola Babcock Miller, Iowa's first female Secretary of State.[3] The building now houses the State Library of Iowa, which has occupied space in the building since 1912.

Architecture

The 260-by-70-foot (79 by 21 m) building features a facade that is organized into five parts, with three projecting pavilions that are connected by hyphens.[2] The raised basement is faced in rusticated stone while the walls are composed of hollow tiles that are faced with limestone veneer. The plan for the central pavilion is a Greek cross. The portico is arraigned distyle in antis with columns of the Ionic order. It is capped with a dome. The building's low, horizontal appearance contrasts with the relatively compact verticality of the capitol building across the street.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Jack J. Musgrove. "Iowa State Historical Building". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-10-09. with photo(s)
  3. ^ a b "History". East Village Des Moines. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ola_Babcock_Miller_Building&oldid=999426266"