gold coast tour davenport iowa

A Gold Coast Welcome

The Gold Coast-Hamburg Historic District offers visitors a hearty “Welcome Back!” during its upcoming 2022 home tour.

Five homes will be open for view during the 2022 Gold Coast – Hamburg Historic District Home Tour. Examples of various architectural styles popular between the 1850s and the early 20th Century, such as Italian Villa, Queen Anne, Four Square, and Vernacular houses large and small and spanning seven decades of the neighborhood’s history, will open their doors to visitors. Three have never been on the Gold Coast tour. Several were once in danger of demolition. One was moved from its original location. Each combine original features with their current owners’ contemporary tastes.

Tour goers will learn the stories of the people who built them and the challenges the buildings have faced. Again this year, two buildings that were brought back from vacant/deteriorated condition, the 1861 German American Heritage Center/Miller Hotel and the 1868/1878 Jipp Home & Grocery, will welcome visitors during the tour.

The Hamburg Historic District, known popularly as “The Gold Coast,” was listed in the National Register in the 1980s. It was home to many successful German immigrant families who helped fuel the economic might of 19th century Davenport. By the 1930s, many of the homes had been divided into multi-unit rentals; the area entered a long decline. In the 1980s, new owners began rescuing vacant properties, restoring the buildings and returning many to single family homes. Today, engaged residents make it one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. In 2011, it was the first neighborhood in Iowa to be named a “Great Place” by the American Planning Association.

Ample parking is available along all neighborhood streets and in the parking lot on the north side of 5th Street between Western Avenue and Scott Street.   Limited shuttle service will be available, beginning from the parking lot, and circulating through the neighborhood during tour hours.

Adults $15.00. Children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult.

Tickets for sale at all tour homes and the German American Heritage Center and the Jipp Home & Grocery on day of tour.

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Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District: Davenport, Iowa

Spectacular vistas, superb architecture, and active residents distinguish the Gold Coast-Hamburg Historic District, among Iowa's oldest residential neighborhoods. Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River afford unsurpassed views of the water, Davenport's downtown, and the Illinois side of the Quad Cities. Lining the neighborhood's streets are some of the city's largest and most opulent houses, built between 1840 and 1910 by prominent citizens, many of them German.

Designated Area

Bounded by West 5th Street to the south, West 9 1/2 Street to the north, Vine Street to the west and Ripley Street to the east.

This Gothic Revival home, built by the grandfather of legendary jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke, is now a bed and breakfast. Photo City of Davenport.

Planning Excellence

Gold Coast-Hamburg residents, among the city's most active, have earned a reputation for volunteerism and leadership. Their collective donation of thousands of volunteer hours, which led to the rescue of dozens of historic buildings, contributed to the area's selection for development of Davenport's first neighborhood plan.

Comprising 1,060 acres, the Hamburg Historic District went through a long period of disinvestment in the mid-20th century. As the cost of maintaining large homes increased and the popularity of city living declined, houses were converted to multi-unit rentals. Urban pioneers gravitated to the district in the 1980s when the neighborhood began a period of recovery. In 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

It was at this time that many rental houses were restored to their original single-family grandeur through grassroots efforts and local incentives. Although some of the historic houses have been lost, nonprofits, individuals, and the city have worked to preserve the streetscape by limiting demolitions, funding renovations and landscaping vacant lots.

Recognizing that reuse is a cornerstone of smart growth, residents have diverted tons of materials from landfills. A recently rehabbed store serves as an architectural salvage shop. Sustainability drives choices, such as the recent decision to use energy-efficient, period lighting along Gaines Street, a main thoroughfare linking downtown and St. Ambrose University.

The steep bluffs offer stunning views of the Mississippi River from many neighborhood homes. Photo City of Davenport.

Defining Characteristics, Features

Exemplary Architecture

• Many architectural styles includeing Greek Revival, New Orleans French Quarter cottage, Italianate, Second Empire, Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, American Foursquare
• Palatial homes incorporate high-end amenities such as towers, turrets, wraparound porches, porticoes; several structures recognized as local and national landmarks
• Numerous vernacular houses incorporating Greek Revival and Italianate features — exclusive to Davenport — built by prolific builder and contractor Thomas McClelland

Planning and Preservation

• Street names grounded in past; those running north-south bear the names of prominent local military figures from the early 1800s
• City's comprehensive historic survey (1978-1983) of neighborhoods, districts, and architecture led to National Register listing of 25-square block Hamburg Historic District (1983). Residents successfully petitioned for local historic district status for smaller, 13 block area (1999)
• Davenport's Design Center published Hamburg Historic District Pattern Book to guide new construction and renovation (2007)
• Local neighborhood association effectively lobbied for neighborhood downzoning (1993), eliminating modification of single-family homes to multi-family use
• City funded three programs — grants, tax credits, low-interest mortgages — to increase affordability and feasibility of restoring historic homes
• Neighborhood association endorsed pending amendment to historic preservation ordinance clarifying demolition requirements (2011)
• Strong interest and involvement in planning issues led city to target neighborhood and surrounding environs for development of first sub-area plan (2010)

Committed residents and organizations

• Sense of community pervades mixed-income neighborhood; residents come together for cook-outs, ice cream socials, beautification activities, other events
• Volunteers maintain and improve Gold Coast Park and rehab district structures; 3,000-plus volunteer hours logged in restoration of Christian Jipp Home & Grocery
• Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District Association (1988) sponsors annual summer garden tour, fall home tour (110 structures), winter high tea; funds used for neighborhood beautification
• Edmund Gaines Group, established in 2006, beautifies Gaines Street, plants flower beds, installs energy-efficient LED lighting
• Gateway Redevelopment Group, established in 2004, reclaimed abandoned historic structures and renovated two buildings; both received Preservation Iowa awards. Group holds workshops on financing options for historic property restoration; markets neighborhood
• To enhance enjoyment and improve accessibility of bluffs, neighborhood association installed decorative lighting, faux limestone entry, period railing, wrought-iron arch, park bench, and educational kiosk at city-owned Western Avenue steps

Neighbors and volunteers partner to clean up the Jipp property, a former grocery store and residence now owned by Gateway Redevelopment Group and operated as an architectural salvage store. Photo Marion Meginnis.

Sustainability

• Within walking distance of downtown shops, businesses, government services
• Citibus route 22 runs along Gaines Street, connecting district to downtown and outlying areas
• Restorations keep tons of debris out of landfills — estimated 150 tons alone in the renovation of Jipp property; to encourage reuse, Jipp store opens as architectural salvage shop

THE 5 BEST Davenport Tours & Excursions

Davenport tours.

• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Participate in a Fun Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Zombie Scavengers

2. Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Operation City Quest

3. Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Crazy Dash

4. Davenport City Scavenger Hunt Excursion by Wacky Walks

5. Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by 3Quest Challenge

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Downtown Galena Food and Drink Tour

Groovy Galena Scavenger Hunt

Horseback Rides, Interactions, and Petting Zoo

Canoe/Kayak Day Tour of Mississippi Wildlife & Fish Refuge

Iowa City Scavenger Hunt: City of Literature

• Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Crazy Dash
• Participate in a Fun Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Zombie Scavengers
• Davenport City Scavenger Hunt Excursion by Wacky Walks
• Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by 3Quest Challenge
• Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Operation City Quest
• Isabel Bloom Studio Tour
• Pedal Pub Quad Cities
• Crazy Dash of Davenport
• 3Quest Challenge of Davenport
• Trolley Pub Quad Cities