owa is richly endowed with a variety of rock resources suitable for building construction, Iand their utility is particularly well displayed in the early architectural heritage of our state. Al- GEOLOGIC SOURCES OF though building stone is still actively quarried at a few places in Iowa, notably at Stone City in Jones HISTORIC STONE County, quarrying was more widespread during the 1800s and early 1900s, before the advent of cement block and poured concrete construction. Wherever ARCHITECTURE rock resources were conveniently located near growing communities and farms, quarry workers labored to extract blocks of rock for building pur- Photo courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa – Iowa City poses, especially for foundations. The blocks were “dimensioned” into desired sizes by using hammer COAL PALACE, OTTUMWA and chisel, leaving marks that often are still visible The Coal Palace, constructed in 1890, was a unique on historic stone buildings across Iowa. Some and imaginative example of geologic materials used quarry operations used rock saws and other me- as building stone in Iowa. Completely veneered FRONT COVER chanical devices to make precision block cuts or to with blocks of coal, it was built to honor area Clusters of quartz crystals, especially rose, white, smoky miners and to publicize the coal resources of and amethyst varieties were used to decorate this wall in create stone lintels, trusses, or decorative pieces. southern Iowa. These coal deposits are the the Grotto of the Redemption at West Bend in Palo Alto Masons used these stone materials to construct County. This view also includes blue-green copper carbonized remains of plants that flourished in minerals, red jasper, pyrite (“fool’s gold”), mounds of houses, churches, stores, public buildings, and tropical coastal lowlands that were present here white chalcedony, sea shells, and small geodes. The about 300 million years ago (Pennsylvanian age). Grotto was hand-built of an extraordinary array of high- bridge piers, which are lasting monuments to their quality specimens brought to the Iowa countryside by skills. The lavish palace-like building displayed a lofty 200- Father Paul Dobberstein between 1912 and 1954. Various rock types have been used in Iowa for foot tower, with a dance floor near the top. In Photo by Paul VanDorpe contrast to its dark exterior, the interior was bright, construction purposes. Limestone and dolomite with vast rooms decorated with colorful displays have been extensively quarried for building stone. made of wheat, oats, corn, sorghum and cattails, including a wall-sized portrait of Chief Wapello. Although most sandstones are not very durable, There was a large auditorium for concerts, plays and some that are cemented by iron minerals provide a speeches, and even a 30-foot tall waterfall. A lasting and attractive building stone, as seen in the reconstructed coal mine was featured beneath the structure. The Coal Palace was dismantled Amana colonies. Other rock materials are important following the 1891 exposition season. locally, including field stones derived from glacial Iowa Department of Natural Resources deposits. Even quartzite, coal, and geodes have Geological Survey Bureau been used. The Geological Survey Bureau has 109 Trowbridge Hall played an important historic role in locating and Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1319 www.igsb.uiowa.edu IN IOWA describing the varieties of stone available for build- ing and other uses in Iowa. Educational Materials: EM-29 (2001) SIOUX CITY PUBLIC MUSEUM

OLD CAPITOL, IOWA CITY The Sioux City Museum is housed IOWA MEN’S REFORMATORY, in the Romanesque-style Pierce ANAMOSA Stately limestone block construction characterizes mansion built in the early 1890s. Iowa’s former territorial capitol and first state It is made of durable purplish The Men’s Reformatory, con- capitol, whose corner- Sioux Quartzite (Precambrian structed in several stages between stone dates to 1840. The age), the oldest bedrock exposed 1872 and 1936, is one of the most imposing blocks of in Iowa. Quartzite quarries are imposing stone buildings in Iowa. Devonian-age limestone located near Sioux Falls and It is composed of dimensioned were hand-quarried at nearby areas of Minnesota and blocks of “Anamosa stone” quarried by Iowa City and along northwestern Iowa. Many convict labor at the neighboring “peni- present-day Coralville outstanding buildings are con- tentiary quarries.” This stone, with its Paul VanDorpe Lake in Johnson County. structed from this enduring stone distinctive laminated appearance, is an attractive and Occurrences of natural in the tri-state region and durable Silurian-age dolomite still quarried for building building stone in the area elsewhere. Photo courtesy of Sioux City Public Museum stone at nearby Stone City. were important in de- ciding the site of Iowa’s capital city. HISTORIC MONTAUK, CLERMONT Photographic Services, The University of Iowa SANDSTONE HOUSE, AMANA This beautiful Italianate mansion of brick and FORT ATKINSON STATE PRESERVE limestone was built in 1874 for William Larrabee, This sandstone house, built in Iowa’s 12th governor. Montauk is 1857, is characteristic of the Fort Atkinson was constructed between an example of building stone used simple and pleasing architectural 1840 and 1842 as a frontier military post for foundations, lintels, and style found throughout the Amana in northeast Iowa to enforce a treaty Lynette Seigley cornices in otherwise colonies. Residential and com- protecting the area’s Winnebagos from brick construction. munity buildings in several of the other Indians. Limestone slabs derived Many buildings from the Amana villages are built from this from the fort’s quarry were used 1800s and early 1900s distinctive locally quarried for the barracks’ foundations Ken Formanek possess stone found- reddish-brown sandstone of and other buildings. The main ations. Later construc- Ken Formanek Pennsylvanian age. Amana’s buildings were limestone- tions are characterized sandstone buildings date walled constructions. Restored by foundations of ce- Paul VanDorpe from the 1850s through buildings as well as stone ruins ment block or concrete. 1870s. are seen today within this state GROTTO OF THE REDEMPTION, preserve. WEST BEND Ken Formanek

The famous West Bend Grotto incorporates an in- credible variety of rock types elaborately encrusted Steve Hall over a concrete framework. Striking rocks, miner- Robert McKay als, crystals, ores, semiprecious stones, shells, and IOWA LAKESIDE fossils came from many localities around the LABORATORY, United States and elsewhere. Construction was WEST OKOBOJI initiated in 1912 under the direction of Father Paul LAKE Dobberstein, whose vision and life- long dedication resulted in this re- Glacial deposits STATE CAPITOL, markable labyrinth across Iowa contain DES MOINES of grotto structures. abundant boulders NEW MELLERAY ABBEY, and cobbles of The state capitol DUBUQUE CO. igneous and building in Des Moines, con- metamorphic origin Photo courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa – Iowa City Many beautiful stone churches can transported via structed from be seen across Iowa, and the New Paul VanDorpe glaciers from Minne- 1872-1884 is a Melleray Abbey near Dubuque is an example of the sota. These easily accessible field stones have been utilized spectacular example of late 19th-century stone construction. rich heritage of religious construction found in our especially for house and barn foundations. The fine example of The granite base was secured from Buchanan County boulders state. This Trappist monastery was constructed by boulder construction shown here is found at Iowa Lakeside and quarries in Minnesota. Limestone blocks comprising the monks beginning in 1868 and continuing into the Laboratory, a state university field station for natural history foundation and lower levels were quarried in Johnson and 1950s. It is composed principally of Silurian-age Lynette Seigley classes and research. Madison counties. Most of the exterior was constructed of dolomite blocks from the monastery’s quarry, with sandstone blocks from quarries in Missouri. Additional stone, edge-blocks and windows of “Anamosa stone.” Jean Prior both local and imported, was used in the interior, including Some intermediate construction is of Indiana a number of decorative marbles. limestone.