Des Moines Police Department (Municipal Court & Public Safety)

24 E 1st Street

Started construction in May 1918 occupied in March 1920

*The original bid from Neumann Co, was $416,000 to lower the price they simplified the ornament on exterior & left the 3rd floor hospital unfinished. This reduced the Bid to $350, 000 –cost over runs due to the inflation of building materials after World War I added $143, 000 to the project for a final cost of $493,000 ($7.6 million in 2012 $’s)

Architects: Kraetsch & Kraetsch, Keffer & Jones, Sawyer and Watrous, and Norman Vorse

Building was championed by Mayor John MacVicar and the Federation of Women’s Clubs and financed by bonds

Beaux Arts influenced design

Three story Bedford Limestone veneer over brick masonry

Central recessed porches with heavy Tuscan Columns

Second floor windows have been placed in projection picture frames with winged medallions

Renovated in 1985  for $2.1 million