Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Perry (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Jones Business College, and Bruce's Snowball Market No. 1 Addition. Also, be sure to include Perry Carnegie Library Building in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Perry (Iowa).
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St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Catholic church in Perry, Iowa. St. Patrick's Catholic Church is a historic Catholic church located in Perry, Iowa, United States. The parish is part of the Diocese of Des Moines. The church building, which is built of stone in the Gothic Revival style, and the rectory were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.[1]
Address: 1312 3rd St, 50220-1525 Perry
Jones Business College
Jones Business College, also known as the Jones Building, is a historic building located in Perry, Iowa, United States. C. Durant Jones was a social activist who supported the cause of Prohibition. Jones developed and promoted the "Jones Chautauqua System," which was a series of Chautauqua-style productions that promoted the temperance movement across Iowa in the 1910s. He also owned and operated a normal school and a commercial school. All three of these ventures were operated from this building from 1913, when it was built, until 1921. The foundation and walls of this structure are composed of poured concrete, a reaction to the fires that plagued Perry. After its academic and administration use, the building was converted into apartments. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[2]
Bruce's Snowball Market No. 1 Addition
Bruce's Snowball Market No. 1 Addition is a historic building located in Perry, Iowa, United States. The two-story brick structure with Art Deco styling was built in 1930. It was an addition to a building, non-extant, that was built in 1922 on the edge of the downtown area. It is an example of a grocery store suited to people who own automobiles and could drive to acquire goods and services. The building follows an irregular plan that conforms to the irregularly shaped site. It is also the terminus of a significant urban view in town. The structure features brickwork and cast concrete trim in chevron patterns there were popular in Art Deco decor. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[3]
Perry Carnegie Library Building
The Perry Carnegie Library Building, also known as the Carnegie Library Museum, is a historic structure located in Perry, Iowa, United States. The Perry Library Association was established in 1894, and William Tarr served as its first librarian. Andrew Carnegie accepted Perry's application for a grant for $10,600 on January 13, 1903. The Des Moines architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen designed the Neoclassical building that was built by local contractor Courtney and Bolt. It opened in September 1904 was dedicated on December 10.
The "L" shaped building is designed to fit into its triangular lot. The inside of the "L" is filled in and features a rounded outer wall. The building served as a public library for close to 90 years when a new library was built across the street. It was then renovated for use as a library museum. Its collection includes many of the 1,000 original titles from the library, a special collection of Midwest literature, women's fiction, children's books, and books on literacy and libraries. The Carnegie Library Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It was included as a contributing building in the Downtown Perry Historic District in 2000.[4]