Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District



The Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District is situated on and below the limestone bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, the Hamburg Historic District lies north of Downtown Davenport and encompasses over 25 square blocks. A mixture of elegant mansions and simple homes, Hamburg was home to the middle and upper class German families who had immigrated to Davenport from their native Germany. Many of these immigrants came to this area with little money. They settled in Davenport, realizing the possibilities that were at hand with the ever expanding western frontier, and they made their fortunes here. These prominent residents were bankers, doctors, dry goods & grocery wholesalers, politicians, lumber barons, newspaper publishers, brewery owners, bakers, and retailers of all kinds. These German immigrants were instrumental in transforming Davenport from a 19th century village in the 1850’s into the 21st century city we see today.1

Reference
1. Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District. Retrieved March 21, 2009 from
www.davenportgoldcoast.com/documents/WalkingTour07.pdf

Links
Take a quick tour of Davenport, Iowa Architecture

Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District

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