Historic preservation is the process of celebrating our history through the active use of the built form; keeping businesses in historic, refurbished structures and families in beautiful, historic homes. 

We don't want to mummify buildings like museum pieces. We want to bring new life to them and keep our historic resources in use. A notable example is the Alder Theater, a historic venue that is still in use today. 

You don’t need to be an expert to get involved in historic preservation. It involves everyday people and experts, like consultants, archaeologists, architects, museum curators, librarians, landscape architects, engineers, real estate professionals, and city planners, working together to identify, celebrate, and preserve important historic structures. 

While it may seem overwhelming at first, historic preservation is manageable. City planning staff is here to help citizens navigate the rules.

Reach out to us! City of Davenport planners want to emphasize that if you have questions or would like to get involved, please don't hesitate to call or email us. We are here to help. 

563.326.6198, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, or
[email protected]. Email inquiries received outside of office hours will be answered on the next business day.

Key Words to Know
The following outlines some key elements in historic preservation and explains the legal process involved in historic preservation. 

• Built Form: human made area, structure, space.
• Historic Resources: structure, building, or something else that has been identified as culturally significant to the area or nation. Typically, these are designated by motivated residents and then formalized by experts.
• Local Landmarks: local designated resource. Eligible for State of Iowa tax credits.
• National Historic Resources: local, regional, or national resource registered on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP). Eligible for federal and state tax credits.
• National Register of Historic Places: Honorary list of properties and places designated as historic by their community.
• Historic Preservation Districts: A group of historic resources. These celebrate the area, improve property value, and offer tax credit for contributing resources. Non-contributing resources typically benefit from the association.
• Tax Credits: dollar-for-dollar deduction of tax owed from qualified work done on a historic or contributing resource. Qualified expense must meet the 10 Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is tasked with finding and nominating resources for historic status and approving work on historic building(s) and non-contributing building(s). 

The Historic Preservation Commission is made up of community volunteers with an interest or background in historic preservation who are appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Members serve three-year terms and meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month in the City Council Chambers of Davenport City Hall. 

The Commission's decision is very important; one wrong move can result in the loss of historic status for a property. The loss of status can decrease property values and forfeit the opportunity for tax credits on work done to the property. 

Find information on the Commission and HPC Business (Meeting Calendar, Agendas, Minutes, Videos, and more) at this link.  

Should you nominate?
Nominating a building or your neighborhood for historic status is an exciting and somewhat lengthy process. Before starting to nominate your building or neighborhood, ask yourself, why are you doing it?

• Is it for the love of the structure?
• Looking for tax credits for work done on the exterior?
• Want to improve the property value(s)?
• Or a mix of all the above?

Knowing why you want to do it, and consulting with Davenport's planning office at (563) 326-6198 or email [email protected] can help get you started on right foot. Our city planners can help guide you on preserving your structure or neighborhood and introduce you to more folks in the world of historic preservation.

Importantly, depending on the scale of your project, you may want to veer toward getting local landmark status verses National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). 

Before you get started
Consider checking out the process overview for Local Landmark Designation and National Register of Historic Places (NHRP) Nomination at the links below. 

• Process and information on nominating a building or structure for Local Landmark Status.

Watch for monthly updates as we explore Davenport's Historic Building and Structures.

• October 2025: Dillon Memorial
• Find prior highlights at this link.