History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Sioux City Municipal Auditorium and Tyson Event Center

The Sioux City Municipal Auditorium, (today called the Long Lines Family Center), and the Tyson Event Center as seen from the Sioux City Skywalk System:

Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 49: Sioux City Municipal Auditorium
Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 70: Sioux City's Auditoriums and Event Center
Tyson Events Center Mural and Waterfall

Previous articles:
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Introduction
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Maps
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Existing Articles
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Badgerow Building
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Martin Hotel Building
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Mid American Energy Building
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Sioux City Art Center
History from the Skywalk; Sioux City, Sioux City Public Museum

Tommy Bolin Exhibit

On display in the Temporary Exhibit Hall at the Sioux City Public Museum is the Tommy Bolin Exhibit.

The video slide show portrays the timeline of his life. The music selected for the video is his solo performed when he was with Deep Purple during the live concert at Long Beach, California in 1976. This was one of is last performances with Deep Purple as he tragically died later that year in Miami, Florida.

Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 82: Sioux City's Haunted History Part 4: Sioux City Auditorium/Long Lines Family Recreation Center

The second building named the Sioux City Municipal Audotorium, now called the Long Lines Family Recreation Center is haunted by 2 ghosts. One is an employee who lost his life in an electrocution accident, the second is a 12 year old boy.

In the late 1950's an electrician by the name of Rodriguez was manually lubricating the high voltage electrical lines. This had to be done before a show. A day before a show Rodriguez shut the power off to the electical junction so he could lubricate the lines. He told a co-worker it would only take 10 min. and to turn the power back on after that much time. His co-worker waited the 10 min and then turned the power back on. 2 hours later Rodriguez's wife showed up with a new suit because it was his birthday. After a search of the building he was found dead by the electrical panel he was working on earlier. He haunts the building to this day turning lights on and off and the lights flocker when they are not suppsoed to. There is also a general coldness in certain parts of the building where there is not suppoed to be otherwise.

The 12 year old boy who died was hunting pigeons with his friend up on the roof of the building in the 1960's. After becoming seperated his friend left thinking the other had gone home. The boy was not found until 2 weeks later when a foul smell was noticed coming from the bottom of a roof exhause meant for a boiler that was never installed. The 12 year old boy fell 150' down the exhaust shaft hitting many sharp edges and rebar. A very messy sight when he was found. The bottom of the shaft is gone now. People claim to have heard screams in the area where the shaft used to be as well as a feeling of cold in the area near where the bottom of the shaft used to be despite how warm it may be.

I have never heard screams or felt cold in any part of the building I have been in. But I have seen lights flickering on and off when they are not supposed to. One of those times was during a concert I attended. In fact they had to stop the show for a short time to figure out and fix the problem. I have a feeling it was the ghost of Rodriguez paying a visit.

Photo's of the outside of the building today:

Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 70: Sioux City's Auditoriums and Event Center

Over the years Sioux City has had/still has 3 auditoriums/event centers.

The first was on the south west corner of 7th & Douglas Streets. The building is still there today & is now the TV station KCAU Channel 9, the Sioux City ABC affiliate. When it was in use as an auditorium it probably held less then 1,000 people.
Here is some additional info. and a photo of the building:
Municipal Auditorium c. 1912


The second auditorium was built in 1950 and took the place of the first building. It served as the Sioux City Municipal Auditorium until 2002 when the new Tyson Event Center was completed which took the place of the second auditorium. This second building could hold up to about 3,000 people for hockey games and concerts. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. This facility is now the Long Lines Family Receration Center. It houses the Sioux City Parks and Rec. dept. has a climbing wall and recreational facilties and evetns that happen through out the year. Here is additional info. and photo's:
Municipal Auditorium (added 2006 - Building - #06000316)
500 Gordon Dr., Sioux City
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Westerlind, Knute E.
Architectural Style: Moderne
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture, Social
Historic Sub-function: Auditorium, Meeting Hall, Sport Facility
Current Function: Recreation And Culture, Social
Current Sub-function: Auditorium, Meeting Hall, Sport Facility














The 3rd facility is the Tyson Event Center. It can hold up to 10,000 people during concerts & up to 8,000 duriong sport events. It is now the home of the Sioux City Musketeers hockey team and the SIoux City Bandits indoor football team. Completed IN 2002, Sioux city really needed this new facility. The old auditorium could no longer meet the needs of the community. It was built right next to the old facility and does connect it it. Since it was built it has attracted a lot of concert artists and other entertainment venues that it would not have otherwise.Photo's:

Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 49: Sioux City Municipal Auditorium

The Sioux City Auditorium listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the second aduitorum building Sioux City has. It is now called the Long Lines Family Recreation Center. The first was at 7th & Douglas Streets & the 3rd is the Tyson Event Center which is attached to the Long Lines Rec. Center. The fist auditorium is now used by KCAU TV, the ABC affiliate in Sioux City. The progression of the larger entertainment venues speaks volumes about the growth of the city. The first auditorium probably only seated less then 1,000 people. The 2nd only seated about 3,000, the Tyson Event Center seats about 8,000 for sports events & 10,000 for concerts.

Info:
Municipal Auditorium (added 2006 - Building - #06000316)
500 Gordon Dr., Sioux City
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Westerlind, Knute E.
Architectural Style: Moderne
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture, Social
Historic Sub-function: Auditorium, Meeting Hall, Sport Facility
Current Function: Recreation And Culture, Social
Current Sub-function: Auditorium, Meeting Hall, Sport Facility

Photo's: