This route highlights the recent streetscape projects, redevelopment, and public art along the Cedar River recreation trail. Estimated time: two 15 minute walks (1.6 miles total) looping to and from parking.
Cedar Valley TechWorks & Courtyard Marriott TechWorks Campus is an advanced manufacturing, research and development, innovation, education, commercial, and manufacturing center situated in the historic John Deere Tractor Company R Building located on a 30-acre Brownfield site. The facility serves as a “public-private sandbox” and serves as a regional hub for industry-academic collaborations, especially within the metal casting industry. TechWorks is aligned with higher education institutions Hawkeye Community College and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) providing skilled training in applied advanced manufacturing. TechWorks currently houses Grow Cedar Valley, the Cedar Valley Makerspace, Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub, Productive Resources, the UNI Additive Manufacturing & Design Center, and Lincoln Savings Bank.
At the peak of John Deere’s production in the 1950s, the R Building was an integral piece of the manufacturing plant’s vertical production process. Deere & Company built the C2 Building to expand its production line and continue its extended growth in the industry. In the 1970s, Deere & Company shifted their production efforts to more horizontal strategies and moved their productions toward Donald St. and near the northeastern edge of the city.
Both R and C2 buildings both still stand today, with the backdrop of John Deere’s new manufacturing facility in the distance. The C2 Building has been granted historical significance and opened in 2017 as the Courtyard Marriott Hotel at TechWorks.
Adjacent to the R and C2 buildings is the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum. Visitors can learn about the American company that grew to become a global leader in agricultural equipment. The museum features history of John Deere tractors and engines with hands-on displays, rare artifacts, antique tractors, and much more.
Grand Crossing Development Grand Crossing Development is a new multiuse complex encompassing multiple buildings. The Phase I building is a 68-unit apartment building with heated underground parking, bar and lounge area, and workout facility. Phase II is a mixed-use property with high-end apartments above, while the main floor is home to businesses like Jimmy John’s and Sidecar Coffee. The new development is located on the site of the former Grand Hotel which was severely damaged in the flood of 2008 and ultimately demolished in 2011.
Hawkeye Community College Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center Completed in 2019, the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center combines the programs and services formerly offered at the Metro Center and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center with space to expand programs in a new, three-story, 45,000 square foot building. The building can serve 4,000 students and features a childcare center, energy efficient elements, community meeting space, stage for programming and performances, open gallery for student art displays, and a café. The Center bears the name of Van G. Miller, a prominent Cedar Valley philanthropist known for his generous support of community projects and services. The adult learning center is the first major building project primarily funded from the February 3, 2015, bond referendum, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in Hawkeye Community College’s 10-county service region.
Cedar Valley SportsPlex Developer and philanthropist Rick Young had a vision – an affordable, high-quality fitness facility that is accessible to everyone. A fitness facility would benefit the Cedar Valley in two ways. First, it would improve the health and wellness of citizens. Second, as a cornerstone of Waterloo’s Riverfront Renaissance plan, it would energize economic development. City of Waterloo leaders showed their support by donating two downtown blocks, and Young worked with the Waterloo Development Corporation to raise funds needed for construction. With a solid vision, and the land to build it, the Cedar Valley SportsPlex began to take shape. The facility was opened in 2014 and features several unique spaces including a lap swimming pool with lazy river and water slide, artificial turf multipurpose field, maple floored basketball and volleyball courts with spectator seating, elevated track, free weights and cardio equipment room, and fitness classrooms.
RiverLoop Expo Plaza The two-block downtown plaza is composed of a series of integrated public exposition spaces that serve as flexible outdoor vendor, market, and activity spaces. These spaces and uses provide the Waterloo Convention Center with needed outdoor event space as well as other civic program uses such as farmers markets, auto shows, sports shows, and festival event space. Spaces complement the public market building in a building renovated as part of the original Expo project. The building now houses Verve Kombucha Kitchen & Bar. Complementary streetscape renovations surrounding the Expo site were installed in conjunction with the $4.5 million Expo Plaza development, and the site serves as the visual front door and connection with the Waterloo Riverwalk.
The design incorporates irrigated event lawns and vibrant brick plaza areas to hold events. Specialty lighting and banner features provide color and event signage while acting as sources of power throughout the site. A series of sign and light towers equipped with programmable LED lighting draw visitors to and through the site and serve as gateways to the Riverwalk amenities beyond.
SingleSpeed Brewing The former Wonder Bread factory closed its operations in November 2012 amidst bankruptcy proceedings. City officials worked with several stakeholders, including the historic preservation commission and Main Street Waterloo, to identify a potential re-use to transform the 0.94-acre site. Built in 1927, the vacant building occupied an entire block within Waterloo’s urban core. In 2015, SingleSpeed owner Dave Morgan purchased the building from the city of Waterloo for $1 with plans of registering it on the National Register of Historic Places while transforming the facility into an open, welcoming beer and dining hall. The massive rehabilitation of the former Wonder Bread factory returned the building to its 1950s glory. It re-opened its doors in April 2017 as SingleSpeed Brewing Company featuring a beer production operation, restaurant, and tap room. The facility was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification status of Gold in October of 2017.
Art Bloc This 72-unit mixed residential and commercial development is located on the riverfront overlooking Commercial Plaza and the RiverLoop Amphitheatre. The seven-story building was constructed in a former parking lot next to the elevated walkway at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre. This long-planned apartment and commercial building was originally conceived in 2000. After multiple delays and failed developer agreements, developer Brent Dahlstrom stepped forward in 2015 to take on the project. The building is anticipated to be completed in 2021.
RiverLoop Parks & Trails This $23 million project has dramatically changed the appearance and function of the Cedar River in downtown Waterloo and consists of three elements. The Cedar River Plaza and Amphitheatre, which opened in the summer of 2012, is an iconic feature along the Cedar River. It was designed with the goal of bringing area residents, tourists, and energy to a formerly industry – and levy – dominated riverfront. The unique steel-frame structure with fabric cover, sound system, and lights has become a popular performance venue on the river’s edge. Nearby Mark’s Park is a hot spot for children with a splash pad and play structures. The space is named after Mark Young, the son of Rick and Cathy Young, who died in a March 2003 motorcycle accident
The Riverwalk Loop consists of new and existing recreational trails that serve as a link in the vast metropolitan trail network. The downtown segments of the RiverLoop include an integrated network of bike paths and pedestrian walkways, scenic overlooks with interpretive signage, and enhanced features such as decorative paving, lighting, signing, shade structures, informational kiosks, and landscaping.
The Cedar River Dam and adjacent river walls were also rehabilitated and new inflatable gates on the dam allow an increase of the pool elevation behind the dam by approximately four feet to enhance recreational boating opportunities.
Riverfront Mural The “Our Freedom Story” mural is a collaboration between 3rd graders from Lowell Elementary and Kingsley Elementary and the Youth Art Team. Together, 15 young artists spent more than 2,000 hours to create a 3,000 square foot mural along the Cedar River at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.
Future Marina The City of Waterloo and the Waterloo Development Corporation are working to create a boating facility on the west bank of the Cedar River just upstream from the Waterloo Center for the Arts. The marina is part of the 2015 Iowa Reinvestment District approval, designed to provide $12 million in state sales and room tax funding for several projects on the Cedar Valley TechWorks campus. The marina will include a floating dock and kayak launches. Additional enhancements include trees, pedestrian-scale lighting, seating, and paved access to the marina. Construction is scheduled to start in the winter of 2021.
History & Culture Walk
This route highlights plans for the Church Row Neighborhood, Grout Museum District sites, new and existing public art, as well as redevelopment in the downtown. Estimated time: two 15 minute walks (1.7 miles total) .
Rensselaer Russell House Museum The Rensselaer Russell House gracefully overlooks the Grout Museum District. This lovely brick structure, inhabited by three generations of the Russell family, is one of the oldest homes in Black Hawk County.
Rensselaer Russell, the son of an immigrant carpenter, traveled to Waterloo from New York with his wife and daughter in 1857. He worked in banking and real estate. At age 33, he purchased the block, which later became known as Russell Square, for $750.
Rensselaer and Caroline Russell built the house in 1861 for $5,878.83. As the Grout Museum District’s largest artifact, it has been restored to the 1890s – the period when electricity was added to the home. In an era of gracious living, the Rensselaer Russell house was the showplace of the community. An 1889 Steinway grand piano, one of the first grand pianos in the area, was the center of many gatherings, and is the jewel of the Russell family collection. Listed on the National register of Historic Places, the Rensselaer Russell House Museum is often cited as Iowa’s finest example of Italianate architecture.
Snowden House This Victorian Italianate architectural style home was completed in 1881 and occupied by the William Snowden family. During the winter, heating of the home was so difficult that the family retreated to their apartment over Mr. Snowden’s pharmacy. Thus, it became known as the Snowden Summer Home.
Since Mr. Snowden had three daughters, the home was a gathering place for many young people and became a center of culture and music. Originally, the large drawing room was a parlor with a sitting room to the northeast. The drawing room also served as a music parlor where many young people were instructed in their first piano lessons.
William Snowden died in 1889, making his wife, Delia, sole owner. She transferred the property to Lillian Russell Lamson. On September 15, 1922, the Snowden House was purchased by the Waterloo Woman’s Club. The Snowden Foundation, created in 1984, owned the property until August 13, 1997, when it joined the Grout Museum District. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its exterior.
Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium The Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium opened in 1993 in response to the increased interest in the Grout Museum District’s science programs. Described as a “playground for the imagination,” this interactive science center provides fun hands-on exhibits that demonstrate how science affects everyday life. The hands-on science center makes learning scientific principles fun through interactive exhibits and formal demonstrations. Exhibits focus on light and electricity, momentum, liquids, gases, and sound.
Washington Park Open public spaces have always been an important part of the development of the City of Waterloo. In 1855 Charles and America Mullan promised to donate land to be the site for the Black Hawk County courthouse. When an alternate site was found, the land was sold to the city for $450 to be a “public square and pleasure ground” for the people of Waterloo. Over the years, the area has been used for floral gardens, playgrounds and ball diamonds, music and arts festivals, and pet parades. In 1963 the Parks Department added the Japanese teahouse and pavilion along with a pond, walkways, and shrubs.
Silos & Smokestacks Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 55 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. Through the development of a network of sites, programs, and events, Silos & Smokestacks’ mission is to interpret farm life, agribusiness, and rural communities - past and present.
Silos & Smokestacks is committed to telling the story of American agriculture from many different perspectives. Both the history and future of agriculture is diverse and cannot be shared without recognizing contributions by all races and cultures with respect and dignity.
RiverLoop Expo Plaza The two-block downtown plaza is composed of a series of integrated public exposition spaces that serve as flexible outdoor vendor, market, and activity spaces. These spaces and uses provide the Waterloo Convention Center with needed outdoor event space as well as other civic program uses such as farmers markets, auto shows, sports shows, and festival event space. Spaces complement the public market building in a building renovated as part of the original Expo project. The building now houses Verve Kombucha Kitchen & Bar. Complementary streetscape renovations surrounding the Expo site were installed in conjunction with the $4.5 million Expo Plaza development, and the site serves as the visual front door and connection with the Waterloo Riverwalk.
The design incorporates irrigated event lawns and vibrant brick plaza areas to hold events. Specialty lighting and banner features provide color and event signage while acting as sources of power throughout the site. A series of sign and light towers equipped with programmable LED lighting draw visitors to and through the site and serve as gateways to the Riverwalk amenities beyond.
Sullivan Brothers Plaza In May 2021, the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center changed names to the Waterloo Convention Center. The name change was unanimously approved by City Council to provide easier recognition. The plaza surrounding the center was named the Sullivan Brothers Plaza. The five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo died in November 1942 when the ship USS Juneau sank off Guadalcanal during World War II. The City worked with the Sullivan family to develop plans for this new plaza.
Building Murals In 2021, two colorful murals were painted on a pair of buildings parallel with the frontage road along Washington Street and visible from the U.S. Highway 218 overpass. Inspired by Iowa’s natural landscape, prairies, and native plant species, the welcoming paintings are meant to serve as an informal gateway into downtown Waterloo. The project was a partnership between the city of Waterloo and the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities, a program of the University of Iowa Office of Outreach and Engagement. The Waterloo Center for the Arts worked with U of I students in the College of Art & Art History to design and install the public art murals meant to reflect the values, stories, and identity of Waterloo.
Former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Depot Constructed in 1910, the former depot’s abbreviated Richardsonian Romanesque design centers on a stocky central tower. Brick walls with stone trim have been set on a slightly projecting rusticated masonry base. Overscaled lunette windows on the second floor of the central tower provided light for the principal passenger waiting area. The former depot now houses an office.
Lou Henry Hoover Garden Born in Waterloo, Iowa in 1874, Lou Henry Hoover is best remembered as the wife of U.S. President Herbert Hoover. She was, however, much more than what one expected from a first lady of her time, earning her the distinction of “First Modern First Lady”. To celebrate Lou Henry Hoover and her Iowa roots, the Church Row Neighborhood Association and the Public Art Committee of the Waterloo Cultural and Arts Commission commissioned a site-specific sculptural installation of bronze sculptures and interpretive cast bronze relief panels. The garden was officially dedicated and opened in 2017.
The site of the garden was the childhood home of Lou Henry. Sidewalks and trees cross through the park. Two bronze sculptures bookend the park which sits across Washington Street from the Grout Museum. Three-sided pillars feature plaques detailing the history of Hoover’s life. Wife. Mother. Scholar. Traveler. First Lady.
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum For more than 150 years, Iowa men and women 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.
Whether as National Guards, as Reservists, or regulars in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Or Coast Guard – most returned home to continue their lives. But for some families, there was nothing more than the painful image of a cemetery in a distant land.
The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum is dedicated to ensuring that an appropriate house is established to hold their stories and related artifacts in trust so they will be remembered and preserved for generations to come. Opened in 2008, the Museum consists of over 35 interactive exhibits. Interviews collected via the Voices of Iowa Oral History Project total over 1,500.
Grout Museum of History and Science If you are curious about the museum’s history, you would have gotten along famously with its founder, Henry Grout. The Waterloo native was curious about the world around him. That curiosity, along with his generosity, has been on display for generations of inquisitive museum visitors.
You can see Grout’s interest in everything from his occupations in the 1880s through his retirement in 1918. Railroad worker. Farmer. Miner. Realtor. Traveling salesman. State legislator.
He loved to travel, to collect reminders of places he visited, and to share his finds with children in the community. By the time of his death, Grout had collected over 2,000 objects. His will established an endowment and named trustees to care for his collection, which was displayed for many years at the local YMCA (now the River Plaza building on 4th Street). The current building was completed in 1956 and opened to the public as a not-for-profit museum. The Grout Museum of History and Science features permanent and continually changing exhibitions of area history, and the only public planetarium in Northeast Iowa. It is also home to the James, Robert, and Dick McKinstry Funded Library, northeast Iowa’s largest genealogical reference library. The library also contains an archival collection numbering 21,617 maps, photographs, oral histories, audio/video tapes, clippings, and documents relating to the Cedar Valley.
Carnegie Library West Branch From 1892 to 1917, the Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded 99 grants totaling $1,495,706 to build 101 public libraries in Iowa. Unusually, Waterloo was granted one library but requested funding for two after a disagreement on where to place the library resulted in additional funding from Carnegie. The West Branch was dedicated on February 23, 1906. The East Branch Library was constructed at 715 Mulberry St. Both buildings now house offices.
Church Row The story of Waterloo’s Church Row neighborhood, in many ways, reflects the past, present, and future of the entire Waterloo community. The historic and grand homes of Church Row convey a sense of the prosperity at the turn of the 20th century that made Waterloo known as the “Factory City in Iowa”. The neighborhood’s early inhabitants were prominent bankers, real estate developers, business executives, and other wealthy residents attracted to the area because of its panoramic vista and close proximity to the economic heart of the city. Today, those historic properties are home to an increasingly diverse population who, as part of the backbone for the local labor force, are no less vital to the economic well-being of the entire community. Church Row continues to contribute substantially to the cultural and economic capital of the city.
Veterans Way Walk This 30 minute loop will highlight redevelopment of downtown and the vision for Veteran’s Way, an art & history walk linking existing sites which honor the service of Waterloo Veterans and new artistic features to create an attractive destination for visitors and residents. Estimated time: 30-minute loop starting from Expo Plaza and back again (1.5 miles). RiverLoop Expo Plaza The two-block downtown plaza is composed of a series of integrated public exposition spaces that serve as flexible outdoor vendor, market, and activity spaces. These spaces and uses provide the Waterloo Convention Center with needed outdoor event space as well as other civic program uses such as farmers markets, auto shows, sports shows, and festival event space. Spaces complement the public market building in a building renovated as part of the original Expo project. The building now houses Verve Kombucha Kitchen & Bar. Complementary streetscape renovations surrounding the Expo site were installed in conjunction with the $4.5 million Expo Plaza development, and the site serves as the visual front door and connection with the Waterloo Riverwalk. The design incorporates irrigated event lawns and vibrant brick plaza areas to hold events. Specialty lighting and banner features provide color and event signage while acting as sources of power throughout the site. A series of sign and light towers equipped with programmable LED lighting draw visitors to and through the site and serve as gateways to the Riverwalk amenities beyond.
Waterloo Public Library Founded in 1896, Waterloo Public Library began service in two rented rooms, one on the east side and one on the west side of the Cedar River. In 1906, the Library moved to its new Carnegie buildings which saw extensive remodeling and additions over time. The Library’s current building, constructed in 1938, began as Waterloo’s post office and federal building. It served as such until 1979 when the post office was relocated. In 1977, Waterloo voters approved a $3.65 million bond issue to renovate the building for use as a library. This renovation preserved the modified Italian Renaissance architecture. Two murals on the Library’s first floor, painted in 1940 by Edgar Britton, were retained during the renovation. A student of Grant Wood, Britton received $2,500 in payment for his work under a New Deal program which funded art in federal buildings. “Exposition” depicts the National Dairy Cattle Congress; “Holiday” is a picnic scene. The murals are tempera applied directly on the walls utilizing the fresco technique. They are considered good examples of the 1930’s Midwestern style of regional art. Multiple renovations have taken place since to accommodate new technology and increase collection space.
SingleSpeed Brewing The former Wonder Bread factory closed its operations in November 2012 amidst bankruptcy proceedings. City officials worked with several stakeholders, including the historic preservation committee and Main Street Waterloo, to identify a potential re-use to transform the 0.94-acre site. Built in 1927, the vacant building occupied an entire block within Waterloo’s urban core. In 2015, SingleSpeed owner Dave Morgan purchased the building from the city of Waterloo for $1 with plans of registering it on the National Register of Historic Places while transforming the facility into an open, welcoming beer and dining hall. The massive rehabilitation of the former Wonder Bread factory returned the building to its 1950s glory. It re-opened its doors in April 2017 as SingleSpeed Brewing Company featuring a beer production operation, restaurant, and tap room. The facility was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification status of Gold in October of 2017.
Art Bloc This 72-unit mixed residential and commercial development is located on the riverfront overlooking Commercial Plaza and the RiverLoop Amphitheatre. The seven-story building was constructed in a former parking lot next to the elevated walkway at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre. This long-planned apartment and commercial building was originally conceived in 2000. After multiple delays and failed developer agreements, developer Brent Dahlstrom stepped forward in 2015 to take on the project. The building is anticipated to be completed in 2021.
RiverLoop Parks & Trails This $23 million project has dramatically changed the appearance and function of the Cedar River in downtown Waterloo and consists of three elements. The Cedar River Plaza and Amphitheatre, which opened in the summer of 2012, is an iconic feature along the Cedar River. It was designed with the goal of bringing area residents, tourists, and energy to a formerly industry – and levy – dominated riverfront. The unique steel-frame structure with fabric cover, sound system, and lights has become a popular performance venue on the river’s edge. Nearby Mark’s Park is a hot spot for children with a splash pad and play structures. The space is named after Mark Young, the son of Rick and Cathy Young, who died in a March 2003 motorcycle accidentThe Riverwalk Loop consists of new and existing recreational trails that serve as a link in the vast metropolitan trail network. The downtown segments of the RiverLoop include an integrated network of bike paths and pedestrian walkways, scenic overlooks with interpretive signage, and enhanced features such as decorative paving, lighting, signing, shade structures, informational kiosks, and landscaping. The Cedar River Dam and adjacent river walls were also rehabilitated and new inflatable gates on the dam allow an increase of the pool elevation behind the dam by approximately four feet to enhance recreational boating opportunities.
Park Avenue Bridge The Waterloo Park Avenue Bridge over the Cedar River was built in 1938. It is the only bridge that has been built at this location. Originally the bridge carried U.S. Highway 63 across the river, however by 1970 the highway designation was removed from this corridor. The city of Waterloo was able to obtain funding and resources through the Public Works Administration (PWA) to build the Park Avenue Bridge. PWA was a Federal New Deal program of the Great Depression era specifically created by the national Industrial Recovery Act of June 1933. The structure was designed by Sverdrup & Parcel and built by A. Guthrie and Company. The bridge retains its original railings, lamp post bases, and concrete pier supports under the bridge. The bridge needs replacement due to its age and condition. Park Avenue Bridge (along with the 11th Street Bridge) will be reconstructed starting in the winter of 2021. Reconstructing these two bridges will provide vital and resilient links in the downtown area that improve mobility, especially during future flood events, and provide better connectivity to both sides of the Cedar River for all modes Masonic Temple Lofts Waterloo was in the midst of a period of economic growth that would see its population double each decade from 1890 to 1910. By 1918, the local Masons felt the need for a new larger facility. Property at the intersection of E. Park Avenue and Mulberry Street was acquired in 1920. Local architect John G. Ralston - a fellow Mason - was chosen to design the new building in what has been termed the “Phoenician Revival” style. The exterior walls were completed in 1925, but the interior was never fully completed. The building’s upper two levels were never finished, leaving one large, cavernous space with a series of walkways and catwalks, with massive iron-girder structural work. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.In 2013, the Waterloo Masonic Lodge sold their downtown building to move to a more modest accommodation at 607 Bishop Avenue. Park Avenue Lofts LLC purchased the building for $550,000. The developer completed a historic renovation of the century-old building in 2021, creating urban lofts with character, charm, and modern amenities. Key features include 27 loft-style residential units, co-working space for professionals, and common lounges and fitness center.
Elks Club The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a nationwide organization whose membership, over 13 decades, has consisted of tens of millions of American citizens. The Waterloo Elks Lodge first opened its doors in Waterloo on October 12, 1894. After being located in several downtown buildings in its early years, the Lodge constructed its present facility in 1924. The stately building was designed to reflect the character of the Old Italian Villas. Extensive use of marble, tile, Bedford brick, black walnut, and stained glass enhance the architectural decor which is still preserved today. In 2007, the Waterloo Elks Lodge facility underwent renovations to preserve its grand and magnificent architecture and make the Lodge operate more efficiently. The Waterloo Elks Lodge continues to be a favorite gathering place for local business and community groups, celebrations, and weddings.
Lincoln Park Lincoln Park was established in 1854 as a downtown gathering place and remains one of Waterloo’s busiest parks, hosting scores of events annually. In 2020, the City completed a $1 million renovation project including. Key design elements include new park entrance signs, widened decorative concrete and brick walkways, new traditional style benches and light fixtures, bronze dance chimes, and human scale checkerboard.
Vietnam Memorial The Black Hawk County Vietnam Memorial, a black monolith designed by Vietnam veteran R.J. Lundgren of Hudson, bears the names of all Black Hawk County residents killed in Vietnam and two more listed as missing in action. The memorial is located at Paramount Park which was once home of the Paramount Theatre which opened in 1927 and was razed in 1972.
4th Street ConWay Pedestrian Bridge Perhaps nothing signifies “downtown Waterloo” as much as the iconic covered pedestrian walkway on the 4th Street Bridge. The arched steel canopy, constructed for $500,000 in 1976, was a focal point of the “ConWay Plaza” downtown revitalization project, which included a new 4th Street Bridge, streetscaping, and what is now the Waterloo Convention Center. ConWay was a play on “connection”, as the bridge was designed to connect the east and west sides of downtown while the covered walkway encouraged convention center users to frequent east-side businesses. Designed by consulting architect Fedon Petrides and built by John. G. Miller Construction Company, the lighted canopy originally included windows made of Lexan, a transparent plastic. The side windows were ultimately removed by the 1990s to help move the air and improve views. Renovations including painting and canopy window replacements were completed in 2017.
Veterans Memorial Hall Veterans Memorial Hall was constructed in 1915 to recognize the service of soldiers who fought in the Civil War. The effort was led by the Grand Army of the Republic, made up of veterans from the war. Designed by architect J.G. Ralston and built by H.A. Maine Construction, the building was dedicated in January 1916. The audience was full of graying Civil War veterans and their families, whose memories reached back fifty years to remember the cost of war. In two years, they would send another generation off to war. The hall is used for meetings and public events and hosts the solemn “decorating the waters” ceremony on Memorial Day. The beauty of the hall, however, was marred in the past by a ravine and millrace that flowed into the river next to the building. In 1928, the depressions were filled. The Sons of the Union Veterans raised the funds to build the fountain in the new area called Soldiers and Sailors Park. In 1950, the Boy Scouts of America donated a replica of the Statue of Liberty, and in 2000, a veteran’s memorial brick walk was established.
Sullivan Brothers Plaza In May 2021, the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center changed names to the Waterloo Convention Center. The name change was unanimously approved by City Council to provide easier recognition. The plaza surrounding the center was named the Sullivan Brothers Plaza. The five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo died in November 1942 when the ship USS Juneau sank off Guadalcanal during World War II. The City worked with the Sullivan family to develop plans for this new plaza.
Lou Henry Hoover Garden Born in Waterloo, Iowa in 1874, Lou Henry Hoover is best remembered as the wife of U.S. President Herbert Hoover. She was, however, much more than what one expected from a first lady of her time, earning her the distinction of “First Modern First Lady”. To celebrate Lou Henry Hoover and her Iowa roots, the Church Row Neighborhood Association and the Public Art Committee of the Waterloo Cultural and Arts Commission commissioned a site-specific sculptural installation of bronze sculptures and interpretive cast bronze relief panels. The garden was officially dedicated and opened in 2017.The site of the garden was the childhood home of Lou Henry. Sidewalks and trees cross through the park. Two bronze sculptures bookend the park which sits across Washington Street from the Grout Museum. Three-sided pillars feature plaques detailing the history of Hoover’s life. Wife. Mother. Scholar. Traveler. First Lady.
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum For more than 150 years, Iowa men and women 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. Whether as National Guards, as Reservists, or regulars in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Or Coast Guard – most returned home to continue their lives. But for some families, there was nothing more than the painful image of a cemetery in a distant land. The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum is dedicated to ensuring that an appropriate house is established to hold their stories and related artifacts in trust so they will be remembered and preserved for generations to come. Opened in 2008, the Museum consists of over 35 interactive exhibits. Interviews collected via the Voices of Iowa Oral History Project total over 1,500.
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