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A special thanks to Mark Hunter from The History Center for compiling this information about historical Downtown Cedar Rapids for us. For more information on Downtown, the city of Cedar Rapids and Linn County, visit The History Center in Downtown Cedar Rapids.
From its earliest beginnings along the Cedar River with frontier style storefronts to a modern city center with high rise office structures and a diverse mix of retail, entertainment and housing, Downtown Cedar Rapids has consistently functioned as the focus point for this thriving community since 1838.
EARLY HISTORY
The intersection of what is now First Avenue and First Street along the east bank of the Cedar River is where Cedar Rapids began. It was here in 1838 that the first settler, Osgood Shepherd, built a crude log cabin overlooking the "rapids" of the river. Within a few short years, Shepherd's site, along with all the land that today consists of Downtown Cedar Rapids, was owned by two enterprising early pioneers and businessmen, George Greene and Nicholas Brown.
By the late 1840s, Greene, Brown and a number of fellow visionaries established a block of storefronts and businesses adjacent to the river and just south of the site of Shepherd's first cabin. Appropriately, this road closest and parallel to the Cedar River was named Commercial Street. The foundations of what would become present day Downtown were laid. Eventually, businesses extended to four blocks along Commercial Street, today known as First Street East. Commerce and industry were focused on the river in these early days. Until 1870, Cedar Rapids competed with a small community directly across the river known as Kingston. A natural island separated the two towns and the first permanent bridge to connect Kingston on the west and Cedar Rapids on the east was finished in 1859.
It was also in 1859 that the first railroad reached Cedar Rapids. In that year, all of the residences, businesses and small industry were located in a 20 block area that today forms the core of the Downtown district. City leaders in 1859 were aware of the incredible potential for Downtown growth that the railroad would bring and allowed the first track to be placed in the middle of the fourth street east of the Cedar River, three blocks east of Commercial Street. It was hoped that that the area between the river and the new railroad track would quickly become a large prosperous city center, a fine new "Downtown".
It is a testament to the early planners of Downtown Cedar Rapids that today this original railroad track line is still active after 145 years. The track is now in the middle of the Downtown district and is referred to as the "Fourth Street track". The town of Kingston on the west side of the river did not have close access to the early railroads, and this town became known as West Cedar Rapids by January 1871. The island in the Cedar River was purchased by a then ambitious land developer named John May. May's Island would later become a unique development for Downtown Cedar Rapids.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAY TO 1900
As with the rest of the nation, the Civil War curtailed Downtown development in Cedar Rapids for the duration of the conflict. After the War, the years 1870 to 1900 saw tremendous growth for the Cedar Rapids Downtown. The excellent railroad connections to Cedar Rapids to and from other major Midwest cities encouraged large industry to locate here.
In 1873, the Stuart family from Canada and the Higley and especially the Douglas family from Cedar Rapids established an oatmeal mill north of the Downtown, adjacent to the Fourth Street railroad tracks. This mill, initially known as the North Star Mill, grew rapidly and quickly encompassed a six block area within its first 10 years of operation. The company later adopted the name American Cereal Company and by the 1890s began to produce a product line known as "Quaker Oats". The Cedar Rapids Quaker Oats plant established its own skyline of manufacturing buildings and became one of the largest in the nation.
Meanwhile, the Downtown business and retail center of Cedar Rapids was quickly expanding beyond those first few blocks along Commercial (First) Street. By 1870, Downtown extended down First Avenue to Second Street; by 1877 to Third Street; and by 1885 had reached the 4th Street railroad tracks. Major investment in Downtown Cedar Rapids continued throughout the 1880's and 1890's, due largely to Cedar Rapids' excellent location as a Midwest center. The Downtown quickly spread south to Second Avenue and then Third Avenue. Numerous "Business blocks" arose on every corner, proudly bearing the family names of local residents and investors: Dows, Higley, Ely, Waterhouse and Mansfield, to name a few. Many hotels were built at this time to accommodate the huge traveling population.
Cedar Rapids was ideally located as a Midwest stopping point. The location of Cedar Rapids was central to cities such as Chicago, St. Paul, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis. Coast to coast railroad lines passed through Cedar Rapids and development surged. More and more people liked Cedar Rapids when they visited and more and more stayed here, establishing higher numbers of new businesses, 95% of them in the Downtown district.
A 25 block area from the Cedar River to the railroad tracks and from the Quaker Oats plant to Third Avenue East was built into a bustling Downtown city center within only 30 years. Many of the early residences in this area, built before 1870, were quickly displaced. The citizens of Cedar Rapids immediately built residential districts east of the railroad tracks, extending the city limits at a rapid rate. A streetcar trolley system was established in 1879 to provide easy access to the Downtown from these new "farther out" residential areas. Cedar Rapids was indeed a true city by the 1880's; no longer just a "walking" town.
A highlight of Downtown development in this era happened in 1880. Early pioneer George Greene, shortly before his death, oversaw the start of construction of a large opera house theatre that opened in December of 1880. Greene's Opera House was at that time the "largest and best in the Midwest between Chicago and Denver". At this early date, Cedar Rapids business leaders understood that in order to succeed, a city center needs to have not only plentiful amounts of companies offering jobs, numerous retail and service businesses and fine hotels, but they also understood that excellent entertainment options were key to a thriving Downtown.
20th CENTURY: 1900-1955
By 1905, Downtown Cedar Rapids was growing faster than ever and was ready to diversify and expand beyond the physical limits established thirty years earlier. Development to the north was limited to the edge of the Quaker Oats facility. This was especially true after a massive fire in March 1905 that obliterated virtually the entire cereal mill. Almost immediately, the Quaker Oats Company rebuilt the Downtown Cedar Rapids plant, constructing larger and sturdier structures and doubling the size of the plant. A more impressive Quaker Oats skyline was established and still exists today. It is a vital component of the "look" of Downtown Cedar Rapids.
To the east, the Downtown had grown so quickly that every available lot was fully developed for commercial purposes to the train tracks. In 1897, a 400 foot long passenger train station had been built south of Third Avenue adjacent and parallel to the 4th Street tracks, encouraging growth to the east and south of the existing Downtown.
As early as 1910, the areas beyond the tracks to the east were developed as new extensions of the Downtown area, replacing residences that were only 30 to 40 years old. This expansion to the east was highly accelerated after 1920, when the Lincoln Highway was firmly routed through Downtown Cedar Rapids. The Lincoln Highway (later U.S. 30) was the first national highway from the east coast (New York City) to the west coast (San Francisco) and brought much development to this new section of Downtown Cedar Rapids. For many years, the Lincoln route ran down Second Avenue and automobile related businesses emerged. A six block stretch of Second Avenue east of the train tracks was dubbed "Automobile Row", consisting of auto dealers, repair shops and gas stations. This continued well into the early 1950s.
Downtown Cedar Rapids also was rapidly expanding south after 1910. Once again, city leaders and planners were looking ahead. A 35 block area from 4th Avenue to 9th Avenue and from the Cedar River to 5th Street was targeted for Downtown expansion. This was to be a "wholesale" district consisting of heavy duty high rise warehouses, small factories, wholesale companies and several railroad freight houses, all meant to service the Downtown retail, housing and entertainment core to the north.
The wholesale district was very successful. Between 1910 and 1950, over 40 new structures were built and occupied. Just to the south of this wholesale district has been and still is today one of the oldest surviving historic neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids. This area is a mix of residential and commercial properties initially occupied by members of the largest ethnic immigrant group to settle in Cedar Rapids, people from regions of Eastern Europe formerly known as Bohemia and Czechoslovakia, an area now known as the Czech and Slovak Republics.
To the west, Downtown Cedar Rapids expanded in a very unique way after 1900. May's Island in the Cedar River was initially utilized for small homes and retail shops, including a large furniture business known as Smulekoff's Island Store. On the west side of the river, in the area formerly known as the "Downtown" of Kingston, a small retail sector flourished but only consisted of a few blocks.
Starting in 1908, plans were put in place to transform the island into a unique attraction for not only the Downtown, but for the entire city of Cedar Rapids. The concept of a "Municipal Island", an island used for government purposes. It was designed to be the only island used for such a purpose in North and South America. This is still true today. From 1923 to 1925, a County Courthouse was constructed on the south end of the island. Fill dirt allowed the island to expand its size to the north and in 1927-1928; a city government building was built on the north end of the island. Known as the Veterans Memorial Building, it houses the Cedar Rapids City Hall and features a Roman style coliseum. The size and shape of this building was meant to attract attention...and to help give Downtown Cedar Rapids a special landmark and unique identity.
In addition to expanding its boundaries, the original central section of the Downtown area adapted to the changes that the 20th Century introduced. With space at a premium, Downtown Cedar Rapids buildings got taller and more elaborate. Retail flourished. The modern department store was perfected over and over again, with the largest being Armstrong's and Killian's. Downtown Cedar Rapids became a favorite regional shopping destination, often advertised as "Eastern Iowa's Shopping Center". In addition to ten major department stores by the 1950's, Downtown Cedar Rapids boasted 18 hotels, a large popular dance ballroom, over 150 specialty retail shops and restaurants and several movie theatres. Two of the grandest of these theatres were both opened in 1928. The Iowa Theatre and the Capitol (later the Paramount) Theatre were fine successors to the old Greene's Opera House, which had closed earlier in 1922. The Iowa and Paramount were built as true movie palaces. Today Cedar Rapids is fortunate to have both structures active as entertainment venues: The Iowa is now known as Theatre Cedar Rapids, a local community theatre. The Paramount is a Performing Arts Center that is truly a showplace for the Downtown as it was back in 1928.
1955 - PRESENT
The past 50 years have presented new challenges and opportunities for Downtown Cedar Rapids. Downtown areas across the United States were forced to redefine their functions as suburban areas grew and modes of transportation changed.
When suburban shopping centers appeared in Cedar Rapids in 1956 and 1960, the Downtown area responded in the spirit of challenge and opportunity. Cedar Rapids Department store Armstrong's constructed a new larger store in 1959 at 3rd Avenue and 3rd Street SE and competitor Killian's expanded their store to include more retail space and parking ramp facilities. These actions gave Downtown Cedar Rapids a continued strong retail base. Downtown remained a viable retail center well into the 1980's. This fact encouraged other new investment in the Downtown in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's, with much of this investment tied to urban renewal projects similar to cities across America at that time.
The modern high rise building appeared in Downtown Cedar Rapids starting in 1972 with the 21 story Iowa Electric(now Alliant) Tower, followed by the 24 story Cedar River Tower in 1974, the 16 story Five Seasons(now Crowne Plaza) Hotel in 1979 and the 14 story Ground Transportation Center(now APAC Building) in 1983. Riverfront improvements were tied into urban renewal. A series of riverfront green space parks were created on both sides of the Cedar River. Perhaps most indicative of change was the construction of a new Federal Interstate Highway through the Downtown in 1977 and 1978. The route for I-380 was designed to give new visual impact and focus for visitors to Downtown Cedar Rapids. To notice the unique Municipal Island, the modern skyline and the classic view of Quaker Oats.
Since 1990, after nearly a century of primarily retail based development, Downtown Cedar Rapids has successfully transformed to a mix of office, retail, entertainment, housing and recreation, offering unique attractions that can only be discovered in the city's historic heart, where Cedar Rapids' identity is experienced. New investment continues to happen, not only in the historic center of Downtown Cedar Rapids, but also southward in the old Wholesale district. Here, recent projects such as the 8 story GreatAmerica Building(built in 1998) and a new YMCA(built 2002) are blending with historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects such as conversion of wholesale buildings to housing and office/retail use. A mix of old and new architecture continues the fine tradition of diverse and thoughtful planning that signifies Downtown Cedar Rapids at the start of the 21st Century.
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