Historic buildings dating from the middle of the 19th century through the latter part of the 20th century are found throughout Muscatine. These buildings provide a glimpse into times of the past and reflect the history of the community through the built environment. Research on historic buildings
reveals information on the history of the occupants, owner, and architecture. Additionally, it provides another thread to the overall quilt of Muscatine’s history. Many resources to research the history of a building can be found at the Musser Public Library, including city directories, census records, and historic newspapers. Research on some buildings in Muscatine has been completed through projects of the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission, as well as other organizations in Muscatine and Muscatine County.
Identification and evaluation of the historic buildings in Muscatine is one of the primary goals of the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission. The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission was formed by local ordinance in 2000, consisting of five members. They hold regular monthly meetings, open to the public. As part of their responsibilities and duties, they launched a phased program to identify, evaluate, register, and protect the cultural resources of Muscatine. They completed a Planning for Preservation Study during 2002-2003 as the first phase of this program. The development of the historic contexts and survey of the downtown commercial district was recommended as the first phase of a comprehensive survey and evaluation program for the City of Muscatine, completed in 2004-2005. The West Hill neighborhood survey was recommended as a future project as well, and it was completed in 2005-2006. This report also included additional recommendations for future survey areas. Iowa Site Inventory forms were prepared for each property within the survey areas, and they can be found by following the links below. In 2012-2013, the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission followed up these earlier projects by surveying the Fair Oak neighborhood (west of Weed Park) and the Colver Street neighborhood.
Historic buildings or neighborhoods that are found to have historic significance and integrity are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Properties found to be eligible must go through a nomination process to be listed. The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service. The two historic districts – the Downtown Commercial Historic District and the residential West Hill Historic District – were nominated and listed through efforts of the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission in 2006 and 2008. A third residential historic district – the Fair Oaks Historic District – was nominated and listed through efforts of the commission in 2020. Additionally, 16 individual properties in Muscatine have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Properties in Muscatine listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
National Register of Historic Places Nominations
Survey projects completed by the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission:
Historical and Architectural Survey of Downtown Muscatine – report and survey forms
Historical and Architectural Survey of the West Hill Neighborhood in Muscatine – report and survey forms
Historical and Architectural Survey of the Fair Oaks neighborhood in Muscatine – survey report
Historical and Architectural Survey of the Colver Street neighborhood in Muscatine – survey report
A research project related to 19th century Black history and the Underground Railroad in Muscatine and Muscatine County entitled A Survey of Underground Railroad, African American, Emancipation, and Antislavery Themes in Muscatine and Muscatine County, Iowa, completed by Rebecca Lawin McCarley of SPARK Consulting for the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission in 2024-2025 is available online under Black History in Muscatine County.
Finally, a documentation project entitled Tire Vulcanizing, Filling Stations, and Garages, 1920-2017 completed by Branden K. Scott for the City of Muscatine in 2017 prior to the demolition of the Howard and Deem Auto Supply garage at 507 E. 2nd St outlines history of this building as well as additional information on the automotive industry in Muscatine.