The Sioux City Art Center holds a permanent collection that focusses on local artists and American art. The museum's roots go back to 1938 when it was part of the WPA program to provide employment for artists.
This iconic Sioux City building has twelve-stories and two facades, one made of terra-cota while the other is exposed brick. The building planning started just before the Wall Street crash of 1929, but while many projects were canceled or scaled back, construction of this building went forward. E.M Badgerow formed a group known as the Jackson Street Building Company to design a building that would pay homage to Badgerow's father, who proved to be one of the pioneers of Sioux City during the 1870s by working several civic duties and investing in its commercial development, notably on Fourth Street. A Native American head adorns the entrance, which also speaks to the region's history prior to its European development before Louis and Clark arrived in the area that was controlled by the Omaha and Yankton Sioux tribes.
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This Sioux City building serves as a reminder of the city's growth during the early twentieth century and the impact of the Great Depression. Plans for the hotel were finalized in the fall of 1929, just before the "Crash of '29." When the Warrior Hotel opened in 1930, no costs had been spared. As a result, most of the investors and those associated with the hotel suffered economically. Despite these challenges, hotel management persisted and the hotel not only survived the Great Depression, but became one of the city's leading hotels from the 1930s through the 1960s. The loss of rail traffic and the creation of less expensive hotels along interstate corridors led to declining business in the hotel's final years. After remaining vacant for much of the 1980s through 2010s, the building underwent a three-year renovation. The hotel was set to reopen in the summer of 2020 just as the COVID19 crisis resulted in a dramatic decrease in travel.
The Davidson Building opened in 1913 as Sioux City's first major downtown commercial office building. The Davidson brothers immigrated to Sioux City from Russia during the 1890s and soon rose to profound financial success as retailers and also became leaders of the city's Jewish community. The office building served as the headquarters for their retail operation. It also serves as a monument to local, successful architect William L. Steele, who studied under the famed Louis Sullivan in Chicago. Steel went on to design many Prairie-Style buildings in Sioux City.
Constructed in 1927, the Orpheum Theatre is the last remaining of three vaudeville theaters built in Sioux City. It was designed by the Chicago firm Rapp and Rapp and its construction was largely financed by local businessman Arthur Sanford, who spent a whopping $1.75 million dollars. When it opened it was one of the largest theaters in the state, featuring 2,650 seats, a large Wurlitzer organ, ornate interior detailing, French damask wall coverings, European oil paintings, plush carpeting, and crystal chandeliers. It was built during the peak popularity of traveling vaudeville acts. It underwent restoration in 1999 and has since been the home of the Sioux City Symphony. A variety of performers, including Sheryl Crow, Jerry Seinfeld, and David Copperfield, have also given shows here.
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The Williges Building stood as the home to the highly successful Williges Company, a fur retailer and manufacturer. The operation served as a dream realized by August Williges who served as a furrier apprentice in Germany in the nineteenth century and then spent two decades in Europe, New York, Illinois and finally in Sioux City attempting to open his own business. He opened his company in Sioux City in 1885 and enjoyed immediate success with the 1930 Williges Building existing as demonstration of the company's growth.
The Woodbury County Courthouse is a building that fills an entire quarter block in Sioux City, IA. It is thought of to be one of the finest Prairie School buildings in the United States. The courthouse was not finished until 1878, even though Sioux City was made the county seat in 1858.
LaunchPAD Children’s Museum focuses on developing children's understanding and appreciation for the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math). The museum features several exhibits. The first one as they enter, called You and Me, teaches children to learn about their own skills and personal statistics and how they are part of a larger community. Other exhibits cover the topics of machines and architecture, wind, water, commerce and trade, and agriculture. There is also an area for infants and toddlers.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This short walk though downtown starts at the Sioux City Art Center and the city's public museum as it works its way north to landmark historic buildings like the Warrior Hotel and Orpheum Theatre. From the tour's concluding stop, it's a relatively short walk to visit Pierce Mansion. Also be sure to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the Sergeant Floyd Museum and Monument.
