Kahl Building
Historic place in Iowa, United States
title: "Kahl Building" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["office-buildings-completed-in-1920", "buildings-and-structures-in-davenport,-iowa", "office-buildings-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places-in-iowa", "theatres-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places-in-iowa", "national-register-of-historic-places-in-davenport,-iowa", "individually-listed-contributing-properties-to-historic-districts-on-the-national-register-in-iowa", "skyscraper-office-buildings-in-iowa", "skyscrapers-in-iowa", "chicago-school-architecture-in-iowa", "1920-establishments-in-iowa"] description: "Historic place in Iowa, United States" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahl_Building" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Historic place in Iowa, United States ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox NRHP"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Kahl Building |
| nrhp_type | indcp |
| nocat | yes |
| partof | Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District |
| partof_refnum | 100005546 |
| image | Kahl Building (Davenport, Iowa).JPG |
| location | 326 W. 3rd St. |
| Davenport, Iowa | |
| coordinates | |
| locmapin | Iowa#USA |
| built | 1920 |
| builder | Walsh-Kahl Construction Co. |
| architect | Arthur Ebeling |
| Rapp and Rapp | |
| architecture | Early Commercial |
| added | July 07, 1983 |
| area | 1 acre |
| mpsub | |
| refnum | 83002456 |
| :: |
| name = Kahl Building | nrhp_type = indcp | nocat = yes | partof = Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District | partof_refnum = 100005546 | image = Kahl Building (Davenport, Iowa).JPG | caption = | location = 326 W. 3rd St. Davenport, Iowa | coordinates = | locmapin = Iowa#USA | built = 1920 | builder = Walsh-Kahl Construction Co. | architect = Arthur Ebeling Rapp and Rapp | architecture = Early Commercial | added = July 07, 1983 | area = 1 acre | mpsub = | refnum = 83002456 The Kahl Building is a historic building located in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The building also includes the Capitol Theatre.
Kahl Building
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Kahl_Building_detail.JPG" caption="Decorative details"] ::
The Kahl Building is ten stories tall and rises 146 ft above the ground. It was designed by Davenport architect Arthur Ebeling who used as inspiration the works of Chicago architects William Holabird, John Root and Louis Sullivan. In fact Sullivan's Wainwright Building in St. Louis is considered a model after which the Kahl Building was designed. Sullivan's influence can be seen in the more elaborate ornamentation on the lower floors while the upper floors are relatively plain. Their decoration is confined to recessed spandrel panels. The building is capped with a staccato pairing of round-arch windows and an elaborate cornice.
In 1920, the building was constructed by Henry Kahl and Walsh-Kahl Construction for $1.5 million.
In 1994 the family of Davenport Banker V.O. Figge and his wife Elizabeth, who was Henry Kahl's daughter, donated the building to the Scott Community College Foundation, which used it for academic purposes. The Eastern Iowa Community College District announced in August 2014 their intention to leave the Kahl Building and relocate to a new campus in the former First Federal Savings and Loan Association Building and First Midwest Bank building on West Third Street between Brady and Main streets. The new college campus was opened in January 2018, and the Kahl Building was sold to Jim Bergman of JNB Capitol Building for $2 million in June. A $20 million project renovated the Kahl Building into 65 market-rate apartments. That project was completed in 2023. It preserved the building's original gold elevators, marble floors, handcrafted plasterwork, and detailed artwork.
Capitol Theatre
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Capitol_Theater_marquee_-_Davenport,_Iowa.JPG" caption="Capitol Theater marquee"] ::
The Capitol Theatre opened on December 25, 1920. Builder Henry C. Kahl wanted to provide a 2,500-seat, palace-type theater. Kahl planned a luxurious movie theater larger than any in Davenport or Iowa. When opened, the theater boasted grand pianos, gold leaf decoration, and several chandeliers. Its interior was designed by the Chicago firm of Rapp & Rapp. The organ received a $75,000 restoration in 2000, and it is now the only Wicks theater organ that remains in its original home. In 1925, a 7-story stage house and stage expansion were constructed. It was designed by the Davenport architectural firm of Clausen & Kruse. Priester Construction Company of Davenport was the general contractor. The theater joined the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) circuit in 1927. It discontinued operating as a working movie theater in 1977 and was the last of the city's movie palaces in operation at the time. By 2023 it had been 14 years since the theater had been used for any performance.
A variety of performers have performed on its stage including vaudeville shows. It hosted the Winter Dance Party in 1959 that included Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens before their deaths five days later in an airplane crash outside of Clear Lake, Iowa. The Capitol currently has a capacity of 2,000 seats. The Kahl Building's renovation includes the Capitol Theatre whose planned use will be for small concerts, plays, comedians, and movies. In 2023, a $24 million renovation and restoration of the theater was completed. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on July 12, and the first concert in venue by Blackberry Smoke is scheduled on September 29, 2023.
References
References
- {{NRISref. 2009a
- Jennifer Irsfeld James. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District". Downtown Davenport, Iowa.
- "Kahl Building/Capitol Theater". [[Emporis]].
- Svendsen, Marlys A., Bowers, Martha H.. (1982). "Davenport—Where the Mississippi Runs West: A Survey of Davenport History & Architecture". City of Davenport.
- Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs - State Historical Society of Iowa. "Kahl Building/Capitol Theatre". [[Davenport Public Library]].
- ["National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Kahl Building"]({{NRHP url). [[National Park Service]].
- (June 14, 2018). "Kahl building sold; will become apartments". [[Quad-City Times]].
- Barb Ickes. (August 12, 2014). "EICC, Restoration St. Louis to partner on $50M downtown project". Quad-City Times.
- Alma Gaul. (January 16, 2018). "New SCC Urban Campus opens for classes". Quad-City Times.
- Gretchen Teske. (July 19, 2023). "Downtown Davenport bounces back, looks forward". Quad-City Times.
- (July 12, 2023). "Downtown Davenport historic Capitol Theatre holds ribbon cutting with special announcement". [[KWQC-TV]].
- (April 6, 2010). "Facts about the Capitol Theatre". Quad-City Times.
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