The 4th in the series of downtown street walking Tours os the 4th Street Walking Tour (Virginia Street to Pierce Street. Of the 15 buildings listed in the walking tour only 4 are still standing today. In the tour guide it says another is still standing, but that one has been torn down since the guide was created. This is the longest in distance of the walkng tours. There is one final one I will post about later.
Enjoy:
Here is the link to the walking tour guide:
Take a Step Back in Time Walking Tour of Fourth Street (Virginia STreet to Pierce Street#1. On the Northwest corner of 4th & Virginia was Casady Hall. This was one of the first brick buildings constructed in SIoux City. Over the years the building served many purposes. From a hospital to an illegal gambling establishment. Now this corner is a parking lot for the SIoux City Convention Center. Photo:
#2. On the North side of 4th St, between Jennings & Jones was the Lexington Block. The former building had the Richardsonian Romanesque architectureal style. The building housed many businesses & tenants. The last was the Gospel Mission. It was razed in 1987 to make way for the Sioux City Convention Center. The land the convention center uses goes from Virginia to Jones. Current photo:
#3. Even though this walking tour is on 4th St, part of it does extend down to 3rd. On the Northwest corner of 3rd & Jennings is the Warfield, Pratt and Howell Warehouse. It is not a William Steele building, but the architectural firm who designed it did incorporate the Prarie School Style Architecture into it's design. It is currently being renovated into high end condo's for purchase. Photo:
#4. On the Northeast corner of 4th & Jones used to be the Chicago House Hotel. The old building was an example of Beaux Style architecture. It was built to compete with the influx of downtown hotels. On the corner now is the Sioux City Convention Center. Photo:
#5. On the Northwest corner of 4th & Jones was the Peavey Grand Opera House. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1931. On this corner now is the back corner of the Clarion Hotel. Photo:
#6. The Northeast corner of 4th & Jackson was the Metropolitan Block. Built in 1889, this was Sioux City's first "skyscraper". It had the towns first passenger elevator. The building was was torn down in 1970 & the Hilton Hotel was built in it's place. The Hilton is now the Clarion Hotel. Photo:
#7. & #8. On the Southwest corner was the Massachusetts Block. A fire in 1904 which destroyed the buildings along 2.5 blocks along 4th St between Pierce & Jones claimed this building. The Badgerow Building, which is still there today was built betwen 1929 & 1930. Photo:
#9. On the Southeast corner of 4th & Nebraska was the Bolton/Commercial Block. On that corner now is the one side of the Terra Center Building. I have posted about this in previous walking tour posts. Photo:
#10. This shows the North side of 4th St l;ooking west between Nebraska & Pierce Streets. The building Kartons is in is still there as is the Martin building. Photo:
#11 & #12. This shows the South side of 4th St between Nebraska & Pierce Streets. This was the Gilman Block & the H&H Building/Schulein Building/Purslow Block at one time. Now the entire side is used by Central Bank as their building & parking lot. Photo's:
#13. This shows the Southeast corner of 4th & Pierce Streets. I did post about this in the Pierce Street Walking Tour. This corner now has the parking lot of the Central Bank Building. It used to be the Katz Drug Store Building. Photo:
#14. & #15. The Northeast corner of 4th & Pierce used to have the Mondamin Hotel. It burned down in 1912. The Martin Hotel was quickly built in it's place & still stands today, but is not used as a hotel. It has the Martin Tower Apts. in it & the ground floor houses Thorpe & Company Jewlers. Photo:
That is it for the 4th Street Walking Tour from Virginia to Pierce. I hope you enjoy it.
The next 2 in the series of Sioux City Hostory & Culture by Bicycle is the Roth Fountain & the Art's Alive display.
There is one final walking tour. It will be of Historic 4th St. As soon as I have photo's of it I will post it in the blog.
