The Humphrey Center, also known as Old Main, is an historic building located on the campus of

Grand View University Grand View University is a private liberal arts university in Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 1896 and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the university enrolls approximately 2,000 students and is accredited by the Highe ...

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...

, United States. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1978.

History

The

Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The American Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) was one of the many Christian denomination, denominations formed when Lutherans immigrated to America. Originally known as the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (DELCA), the predominant ...

began planning Grand View College in 1893, and the school opened in 1896. with This building was completed in 1895 and housed all of Grand View's operations for a half century. It was designed by Marinus Jensen and Frank James. The Danish Renaissance elements in the building's design was important to the Danish immigrants to the United States who founded the college. Its features are identical to those found at the Belmont Seminary in

Bedford, Virginia Bedford is an incorporated town and former Independent city (United States)#Virginia, independent city located within Bedford County, Virginia, Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of the ...

. They are reminiscent of the architectural style that was popular during the reign of

King Christian IV Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and king of Norway, Norway and List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein, Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is t ...

(1596-1648). The building contained the residence for the college's president and his family as well as all its students, the cook, and other personnel. The library, classrooms, chapel, bookstore and other facilities were also housed there. In 1997 the building was renovated and it was renamed the Humphrey Center at that time. It now houses the administrative offices for the university.

References

{{Historic Des Moines structures School buildings completed in 1895 Buildings and structures in Des Moines, Iowa National Register of Historic Places in Des Moines, Iowa University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa Grand View University University and college administration buildings in the United States