Self Guided Virtual Tour 
of Historic Bonaparte

Following are just some of the dozens of interesting historical sites of interest in Bonaparte. 
Come see for yourself!

  1    Meek's Grist Mill – Built  in 1878, at a cost of $15,000, this is a well-preserved and very fine example of a water-powered flour/grist mill once commonly associated with riverside towns throughout much of the 19th century.  The original mill on this site was erected in 1844 by William Meek. The mill, since 1977, has served home to the award-winning Bonaparte Retreat Restaurant. See web site for further information.
  2    Auntie Green Hotel – N.W. Corner of 2nd and Washington, built in 1844, currently owned by the Bonaparte Historical Society and now home to the Auntie Green Museum and the city library. On the upper level porch on the front of the building one can still see the gate in the railing where luggage from atop stage coach arrivals was unloaded for quick access to guest rooms. 

  3    Hanback Pottery Works – Built by Thomas Hanback in 1866, later known as Parker and Hanback and yet later as Hanback and Wilson. At it's peak the pottery turned out about 125,000 gallons of pottery per year as well as drain pipe, flower pots and fire proof bricks. Currently known as the "Old Bonaparte Pottery", it is the only remaining pottery of it's kind in Iowa and considered an archeological treasure.  See web site for further information.
  
  4    Des Moines River Locks – Constructed prior to 1851 of limestone blocks by William Meek. Provided power for a number of  Mills in early Bonaparte. The dam was washed out by the flood of 1903. The mill race is now the setting for a lovely butterfly garden.
  5    Presbyterian Church – N.E. corner of 5th & Texas St. Built in 1901 at a cost of $6,500, it replaced the original church that had been on the same site. It was built to seat 250 and was constructed of pressed brick and Bedford stone. The land where the church sits was donated by  Dr. R.N. Cresap, an early founder of Bonaparte.
  6    Farmers & Traders Bank – c. 1845-50. North of First on West side of Main. Early on one of the Cresap buildings in the community. Probably built at the time of the Mormon Encampment. Housed Bonaparte's first bank ca. 1882. Later a marble works, city library and town hall. Currently a retail establishment.

 
  7    Thomas Christy House – 1839 -  3rd & Main St. - Thomas Christy, merchant, stone mason, was founder of the Farmers & Traders State Bank and had charge of building the first river bridge at Bonaparte. The iron fence around the home was set in lead and the hand hewn stones were fitted together with no mortar between them. The first kerosene lamp ever lighted in Bonaparte was brought to this home by Mr. Christy as well as the first piano in town, purchased in Boston, brought up by Riverboat. 

  8    Meek's Pants Factory – Built  in 1892 by Isaiah Meek, located on west end of First St. directly across from Riverside Park. This factory, along with the woolen and grist mills were in their time known as being among the leading manufacturing interests of the west. For decades, beginning in 1920, this large facility was home to Fairfield Glove company. Currently home of the Bonaparte Inn. See web site for further information.