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Monday 9am - 11am Thursday 10am - 2pm Friday 10am - 2pm

Davenport School Museum

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Davenport School Museum

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The official page for the Davenport School Museum located at the J.B. Young Opportunity Center 1st Floor, Davenport, Iowa.

11/01/2026

Buchanan Elementary was located at 4515 Fairmount. The building opened in January of 1971. It closed June 1, 2023. It has been repurposed as the Quad City Veteran Outreach Center.

11/01/2026

Monroe opened in 1940 at 1926 W. 4th St. The design reflects the nature of the neighborhood, which was where most of the factories and foundries were located then. It was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 2002.
Of the six school buildings constructed during this period, Monroe is considered "the most impressive in quality of design." Its Moderne elements are found in the bands of windows, corner windows, glass brick, and curved walls. The building was constructed by T.S. Willis. Ground for the new building was broken in 1939 and classes were begun in 1940.
The Davenport School Board voted to close Monroe at the end of the 2023 school year.

10/31/2026

Washington Elementary was built at 1608 E. Locust St. It opened in 1940, along with five other new elementary schools. Federal funds, acquired through the Public Works Administration, a New Deal program, were matched by voter approved local funds. It was demolished in 2023.

10/29/2026

Retired Johnson School teacher Deanne Homann (taught 1966-1994) brought into the museum some world maps circa 1930's. She worked at Johnson School when they were replaced with new maps.
Very interesting to see the European & Middle East countries prior to WWI, WWII & 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
The red stripes around the Middle East means contested area. A League of Nations mandate placed it under British Empire administrative control.
Sue & Vicki took care of storing them & entering the donated objects into our museum software PP5.
Thanks
Lynn Hallowell-Nyenhuis

10/23/2026

J.B. Young
The original school address for J.B. Young was 1709 N. Harrison. After the facility was repurposed the address changed to 1702 N. Main.
The school’s namesake, J. B. Young, served as principal of the Davenport High School from 1868 through 1878. He succeeded Phebe Sudlow as superintendent of the Davenport Public Schools, remaining in that position until retirement from 1878 through 1907.
He saw completion of the new high school we now call Davenport Central, but retired shortly thereafter. He died Feb. 7, 1917, at the age of 83, and not long afterwards had a new Intermediate School named in his honor.

10/21/2026

Lincoln Elementary School, at 318 E. 7th, opened in 1940 and closed in 2014. The federal government contributed 45% of the costs as part of the Public Works Administration. It became a “fundamental” school. It now houses community organizations.

10/20/2026

Johnson Elementary School, 1730 Wilkes Ave., opened in 1910 and closed in 2002. It was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on November 30, 2004.
It was built as an elementary school in 1910 for the Davenport Community School District and ceased functioning as a school in 2002, when Grant Elementary School also closed. Controversy surrounded the school board's decision to close both schools.
The building was purchased, shortly after it closed, for $165,000 by Dan and Bonita Howes, whose Institute of Therapeutic Massage, is the largest tenant. There are several other businesses located there now.

10/18/2026

Grant opened in 1912 at 216 W. Hayes St. It closed in 2002 amid great controversy, along with Johnson Elementary. The building was sold to the Living Hope Church, which has invested generously to retain and restore the building's original structure and design. The church is preserving the school and has built a small library of books left behind, added books and other artifacts. The building has changed hands again. The Catholic Diocese is said to be the new owner.

10/18/2026

10/17/2026

Longtime Blue Grass Elementary music teacher, Myron E. “Gene” Jebsen passed away May 31st, 2026 following a long illness. He was 82. Prior to his retirement in 2004, Gene had taught elementary vocal music at various schools in the DCSD including Johnson, Buffalo-Perry, Walcott and most significantly Blue Grass, where he devoted the last 20+ years of his teaching career. Music was his passion, and it was with this passion that he lovingly spent decades encouraging and inspiring students to love and appreciate all that music had to offer.
Please join the family for a memorial service at 11am November 7th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley, Iowa. (Luncheon following) We look forward to sharing memories and remembering the good times.

Gene was my father and if there's any way you could please post this information for anyone who would be interested there at the school or within the district I'd very much appreciate it. Thank you!
Submitted by Julie Spurgeon

Address

1702 N. Main Street
Davenport, IA
52803

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 11am
Thursday	10am - 2pm
Friday	10am - 2pm

Telephone

+15633367540

Website

https://www.facebook.com/DavenportSchoolMuseum

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