Pentacrest

The Pentacrest is the Old Capitol and a collection of four buildings on the campus of the University of Iowa that surround the Old Capitol — Jessup Hall, Macbride Hall, MacLean Hall, and Schaeffer Hall — on a four-block-sized parcel of land in Iowa City, Iowa. The Old Capital exhibits the Greek Revival style while the four buildings that surround it display Beaux-Arts architecture.

Macbride Hall, which houses the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History.
Pentacrest
Old Capitol, center of the Pentacrest
LocationBounded by Clinton, Madison, Jefferson, and Washington Sts. Iowa City, IA
Coordinates41°39′41″N 91°32′09″W
Built1842 (Old Capital), 1898
ArchitectJohn F. Rague (Old Capital), Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson
Architectural styleBeaux-Arts
Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.78001230 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 29, 1978

Description

The Pentacrest is a four-block park-like area including the zero-point of the street grid of Iowa City. The axes are defined by Iowa Avenue and Capitol Street. The exact center is marked by the Iowa Old Capitol Building, which was used as the first state capitol.[2]

The borders of the Pentacrest are Jefferson Street on the north, Washington Street on the south, Madison Street on the west, and Clinton Street on the east.

History

The Pentacrest was not always the Pentacrest. Other buildings have been located on the site. The present configuration is a relatively recent one that was established during the 20th century. Calvin Hall once belonged to the Pentacrest, and was located where Macbride Hall currently is. The decision was made that all buildings of the Pentacrest should be the same color; therefore, Calvin Hall was moved intact across Jefferson Street and Macbride Hall was built in its place.[3]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. S.J. Klingensmith and M.H. Bowers (1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Pentacrest". National Park Service. Retrieved July 13, 2016. with five photos from 1977 and before
  3. "Moving Calvin Hall: Rearranging the Pentacrest in Old Gold - Spectator@IOWA - Monthly News for UI Alumni and Friends - The University of Iowa". spectator.uiowa.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-13.


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