EAGLE POINT PARK

Eagle Point Park draws visitors from around the United States.

EAGLE POINT PARK. Popular north end recreation area overlooking the ZEBULON PIKE LOCK AND DAM. The park was a dream of Judge Oliver Perry SHIRAS, organizer of a citizens' commission in April 1908, with Frank J. Piekenbrock and Herbert Adams.

The nucleus of the park was created from eighty acres purchased on June 12, 1908, from Alphons L. RHOMBERG. The site was intended as a picnic and recreational area. Charles Robinson was hired by the citizens' committee as the landscape architect for the park. Charles Lowrie was retained as the park planner, and Thomas Jess, a surveyor, prepared the plans.

Improvements to the land in 1908 totaled $10,000. A fence was installed along the bluff for protection of visitors. Ravine Road, the entrance to the park, was constructed in the valley south and west of the park using teams of horses and manual labor. Inexpensive labor was also used to erect hitching posts, rest rooms, tables, and benches.

Eagle Point Park was opened to the public in 1909. After trading one-half acre of land with the EAGLE POINT LIME WORKS, a set of stairs was constructed allowing people to reach the park from Rhomberg Avenue. Breath-taking views of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER were available from landings located along the staircase that crept up the bluff. A water system was installed within the park. By October 1909, Riverside Pavilion, the first in the park, was completed.

Eagle Point Park, then 133 acres, was dedicated on June 17, 1910. Shiras refused the honor of having the park named in his honor by requesting that the park be named remembering the legend of EAGLE POINT. By the time of the dedication, $36,000 had been contributed. Maintenance and improvement funds, originally raised by private contributions, were later provided through taxes. A memorial pavilion in honor of Shiras was constructed through the collection of $4,000 in contributions. When the shelter house on Gun Point was dedicated to Shiras in 1921 the park consisted of 146 acres.

The construction of a proposed street car entrance to the park was blocked by the Ham estate at the base of the bluff. Negotiations were completed with Sarah Ham on May 1, 1911, when a price of $8,500 was agreed upon for the necessary land. Ham's refusal to then sign the bill of sale held up the construction for another year until May 1912.

Work began almost immediately. UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY laid track and constructed a turnaround and waiting station for $10,000. The spur line, gradually climbing the 6 percent grade into the park, was opened on September 28, 1912. The first car, carrying company officials, left Eighth and Main and stopped at the DUBUQUE CITY HALL for city officials, before proceeding to the park. A crowd estimated at five thousand heard the opening day speeches.

The development of the forestry stage of Eagle Point Park has been credited to P. L. Phelps, a forestry expert from Rockford, Illinois, and former supervisor of national forests in the Pacific Northwest. Under his direction, dead timber, trees stunting the growth of other trees, and trees blocking road construction were removed. To eliminate the possibility of political or religious differences ruining the peaceful park atmosphere, rallies were held outside the park near HAM HOUSE.

In 1933 as part of Dubuque's centennial celebration, the Neuman LOG CABIN was moved from Second and Locust STREETS to the park. Believed to be the oldest cabin in Iowa, the building was the scene of the first Mass celebrated in Dubuque.

Fish ponds, rock walls, and Indian council rings in the park were created through a WPA project during the administration of Franklin Roosevelt. (Photo Courtesy: http://www.dubuquepostcards.com)