Photos by Ryan Moffatt
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Boone Photo Page

Boone, Iowa is the county seat of Boone County, and a small city of 12,803 with 26,224 in the Boone micropolitan area.  Located 46 miles northwest of Des Moines and 18 miles west of Ames, Boone is a town that is steeped in railroad history.  Several railroads have historical ties to this community, and Boone still houses major operations for the Union Pacific Railroad.  An electric interurban railway is still functional for tourist purposes and there is a museum and many artifacts from the high point of the community's railroad years. Originally named Montana, Boone changed names and incorporated the nearby city of Boonesboro to become the county seat in 1892.  The prosperity of this town is evident, with the community having entire neighborhoods of well-kept larger homes, a very extensive municipal parks system and an infrastructure built into downtown that is uncommon for a city of 12,000 people.  Today, Boone is still an economically healthy community that is nearby to the Ames and Des Moines MSA's and some of the most scenic river valley parks in the state.

The following photos were taken on a very cold Sunday, May morning.  This explains the lack of activity in what is otherwise the quintessential all-American small town/city.

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Boone "Skyline"- Looking east down 8th Street, the two tallest buildings in downtown Boone can be seen.
May 2005
 
U.S. Bank Building- The 7-story U.S. Bank Building in all her glory.  This historic building is Boone's tallest and reflects a level of prosperity for this community that is uncommon in Iowa cities of this size.
May 2005
 
U.S. Bank Building- Another view of the historic U.S. Bank Building, tallest in Boone.
May 2005
 
Boone National Building- The six-story Boone National Building located on 8th Street was once home to a bank, but has been converted to regular office space and possibly apartment units.  This is the 2nd tallest building in downtown Boone.
May 2005
 
Boone National Building- A close-up of the Boone National Building.
May 2005
 
Corner of 8th and Story Streets- A photo looking southwest at a row of historic commercial buildings with ground floor retail.  This is the main intersection of downtown Boone.
May 2005
 
Antique Clock- On the corner of 8th and Story Streets, this old clock sits adjacent to the U.S. Bank Building.
May 2005
 
Main Street USA- Another look down the stereotypical Iowa Main Street, showing the wall of commercial lining the eastside of Story Street.
May 2005
 
Sidewalk View- Looking down the empty sidewalks of downtown Boone on a cold, Sunday morning.  It looks inviting, all that it is missing is the people.
May 2005
 
Story Street Shops- Another view of a row of commercial buildings on Story Street.
May 2005
 
Downtown Shops- A perfect example of the ornate brickwork and detailing that lies beneath the modernist facades that cover the fronts of many downtown Boone buildings.  The downtown would be substantially improved if efforts were made to fid the buildings of their 1960's modernist facades and restore them back to the early 20th Century glory.
May 2005
 
Downtown Retail- A shot of a downtown row of buildings, demonstrating the architectural diversity found in downtown.  Imagine what some facade improvements would do for this downtown!
May 2005
 
Downtown Boone- Looking north into the downtown core of Boone shows a pleasant streetscape that only be improved by the addition of people visiting downtown.
May 2005
 
Security Savings Bank- An ornate former bank building along 8th has been converted to a law office.
May 2005
 
Downtown Brick- A couple of interestingly detailed commercial buildings found on a side street in downtown.
May 2005
 
Rocho Building- On the east side of 8th Street, another row of notable commercial buildings stand.  In the background is the Boone Municipal Building.
May 2005
 
Downtown Streetview- Looking westward down 8th Street, the U.S. Bank building fills the frame.
May 2005
 
Mason Building- What was once one of the most prominent downtown buildings on the city's main street corner has seen several alterations that don't flatter the look of the building.  The upper floors now serve as apartments.
May 2005
 
Municipal Building- The beautiful Art Deco Boone Municipal Building lies just east of the main downtown core.
May 2005
 
Restored Office- A corner block of commercial buildings on 8th Street have been mostly restored and hold a mix of financial offices and retail shops.
May 2005
 
Boone County History Center- The former downtown Masonic Temple, built in 1907 now houses exhibits on the natural, geological, Native American, military and local history of Boone County.
May 2005
 


Alleyway- An obligatory downtown alleyway shot showing the backs of a row of buildings facing Story Street.

May 2005
 
Boone and Scenic Valley Train- Boone's railroad history lives on with what is the community's largest attraction.  The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is a leisure train that takes passengers on scenic dinner rides through the Des Moines River Valley, including a ride over Iowa's tallest bridge: The Kate Shelley High Bridge.  Learn more about the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad by visiting their website.
May 2005
 
Boone and Scenic Valley Train- Usually a view of a train you never want to see, the quiet, but still operational tracks of the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad see more frequent use during the warmer spring and summer months.  You can't help but be enamored by all of the train memorabilia in and around Boone.
May 2005
 

Boone and Scenic Valley Train Station- The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad Depot is the original Boone train station that has been converted to serve the leisure rail line.  The building was restored for use in 1985.
May 2005
 
Boone and Scenic Valley Rail Cars- A caboose, passenger car and other railroad memorabilia are on display at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad depot.
May 2005
 
Dining Car on Display- A former Chicago and Northwestern luxury dining car waits its next round of patrons for a ride on the dinner train.
May 2005
 
Old Locomotive- A circa-1940 steam locomotive on display at the Boone and Scenic Valley train station.
May 2005
 

Chamber of Commerce Building- A former railroad yard operations center on Story Street has been preserved and converted to the offices of the Boone Chamber of Commerce.
May 2005
 
Founder's Park- Sinking in the point that Boone has railroad history, Founder's Park is located on a downtown street corner and has a restored caboose, history mural and several small monuments.
May 2005
 
Boone County Courthouse- Constructed in 1917 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the Boone County Courthouse was designed in the Beaux Arts Renaissance style. 
May 2005
 
Boone County Courthouse- Another shot of the courthouse looking southwest.
May 2005
 
Boone Biblical College - Near the Boone County Courthouse, what appears to be an interesting old building on the site of the former Boone Bibilical College. The building use to house a seminary, an orphanage, senior housing, and was one time even the home of GFGQ FM radio station. Across the street is the former dormitary for the college, which appears to still be in use.
May 2005
 
Boonesboro- The odd thing about the setup of Boone is that for whatever reason, the majestic county courthouse is located about a mile away from the rest of downtown in an area casually referred to as Boonesboro.  This district acts a much smaller secondary commercial district that has its own downtown.  This section of Boone was settled as a different community and later incorporated, or was there some kind of territorial dispute for the location of the courthouse?
May 2005
 
Boonesboro- Another row of commercial buildings in west Boone, that form a small secondary downtown district near the Boone County Courthouse.  This stretch of buildings looks to hold two pubs and a former tattoo parlor.
May 2005
 
Church Steeples- A row of churches line the streets of the western portion of downtown Boone.  Pictured are two of many of the churches in this neighborhood.
May 2005
 

First Presbyterian Church- A photo of the eye-catching steeple of the First Presbyterian Church just west of downtown.  This church is among many historical churches in the immediate area.
May 2005
 
Trinity Lutheran Church- This important looking Lutheran Church is located in a nice neighborhood just to the west of downtown.
May 2005
 
Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace- This small home just west of downtown Boone is the birthplace of former first lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower.  The restored home features historical photos and mementos of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower's life.
May 2005
 
Italianate Home- A neighborhood full of well-preserved and restored historic homes sits immediately west of downtown.  The Italianate architecture style seems to have been particularly prevalent in Boone.
May 2005
 
Italianate Home- Another Italianate home across the street from the one above.
May 2005
 
Italianate Home- Yet another great looking home, that appeared to have had some kind of business on the first level.
May 2005
 
Brick Victorian Home- A unique looking brick Victorian home near downtown.
May 2005
 
Nice House- A prominent four-square house sits on a very visible corner, fronting Story Street, Boone's main drag.
May 2005
 
Nice Homes- Not particularly large homes, but an example of well maintained homes from circa 1930's.  There seems to be an air of affluence to Boone that isn't found in many Iowa cities of this size.
May 2005

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