Sioux City – Walkabout with art and architecture

A walk along Sioux City’s Historic Fourth Street provides an interesting look into the city’s history of architecture, as well as taking in some noteworthy artwork.

The historic district is home to more than a dozen architecture designs from the late 19^th century. Within a two-block walk, you can find buildings constructed between 1889 and 1915. Most are from the Romanesque style.

The Levich Building was constructed in 1905. It’s currently home to a mural representing three buildings. It’s seen better days, with some parts of the painting chipped away. Others may not like it, but it shows a bit of realism to Lisa and me.

The Boston Block Building was constructed in 1890.

We love the look of several of the buildings. One, anchoring a block, offers an interesting appearance. The red brick and curved style impressed me.

Lisa’s favorite building was the old Evans Building. The Romanesque style building was constructed in 1890. It’s served a variety of businesses since the 19^th century, and is currently home to a law firm.

As you walk north on Fourth Street, you cross from the historic district to more modern architecture. The Badgerow Building was constructed in the mid-1930s. The art deco style building prominently features Native American heads around the building. The top of the building appears as a model of a city skyline, but as you get closer, you recognize the Native American heads atop pillars.

The Ho Chunk Centre is a modern building along Fourth Street. Built in 1982 by Terra Industries, the building was purchased four years ago by the Ho Chunk (Winnebago) tribe and renamed. I love reflection views and this building doesn’t disappoint.

Besides beautiful architecture, Fourth Street offers a look at modern sculptures. The sculpture walk consists of about 30 statues scattered about a few blocks.

My favorite was definitely a dragon enjoying a cigar following a “knight meal.” The work on the piece was magnificent, the dragon puffing on a stogy with a knight’s armor and bones beneath him.

I thought it was appropriate that a statue of a bull stood outside the Public Museum, which is home to an exhibit highlighting Sioux City’s stockyard history.

I like that Sioux City supports and promotes its public art. From a statue of a key to a mural on the side of a bank building cool things are happening in the city regarding art. And the city should be proud of itself. We recommend checking out Sioux City’s art and architecture scene.

For more information, please visit www.siouxcityartcenter.org, www.siouxcitymuseum.org and www.visitsiouxcity.org.