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Iowa State Fairgrounds

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1886, later, William F. Hackney. E. Grand Ave. at E. 30th St.

The first Iowa State Fair was held at Fairfield in 1854. After being held at several different cities, it was transferred to Des Moines in 1879. A few of the original buildings constructed in 1886 remain, as do the pre-1886 Charles Thorton farmhouse and barn. The 1886 buildings were designed by the Des Moines architect William F. Hackney. The largest of these is the gable-roofed Agricultural Building/Pioneer Building. There is also a group of racehorse barns dating from 1896. The most interesting buildings are discussed in the next eight entries.

Writing Credits

Author: 
David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim

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