Sure, they’re expecting to see buildings, but they may not be expecting the number of tall structures that make up the downtown skyline.

Those monumental buildings were constructed during the early 1900s when the city’s economy was booming.

“By 1900, Fort Dodge was blessed with enlightened community leadership,” local historian Roger Natte wrote in his book “Fort Dodge 1850-1970.”

“Influenced by the great World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, dreams were for a city exceeding 50,000 by 1950,” he wrote. “Nationally recognized architects were hired to design the buildings worthy of those dreams. By 1920, Fort Dodge was able to boast of more skyscrapers per capita than any other city in the Midwest, if not the nation.”

-Photo courtesy of the Webster County Historical Society
This panoramic view shows Central Avenue, including the Webster County Courthouse on the left.

Many of those buildings are enjoying second careers as office and apartment buildings. A few others are badly deteriorated and face uncertain futures.

Overall, the presence of such major buildings resulted in downtown Fort Dodge being named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Here’s a summary of landmark downtown buildings.

Webster County Courthouse

The courthouse at the corner of Central Avenue and Seventh Street is the second one to sit at that location. It was built in 1902.

-Photo courtesy of the Webster County Historical Society
The former Fort Dodge Public Library building is shown after the second floor was added.

“One of the Midwest’s leading architects, Henry C. Koch, of Milwaukee, was selected with the instructions to design a building ‘worthy of a city poised on the verge of greatness,'” Natte wrote.

Since the late 1990s, the courthouse has been the site of multiple renovation jobs.

The clock tower was restored during a $6 million job completed in 2020.

The building was rededicated in October 2021 in a ceremony in which the grand master of Iowa Masonic lodges presided.

Former Public Library

-Photo courtesy of the Webster County Historical Society
The former Fort Dodge Public Library building is shown before the second floor was added.

A gift from steel baron Andrew Carnegie led to the construction of the library in the 600 block of First Avenue North.

Koch also designed this building.

In 2000, it was replaced by the library on the City Square. The former library is now an apartment building.

First National Bank/Beh Building

This six-story building at 629 Central Ave. was built in 1908.

-Photo courtesy of the Webster County Historical Society
The Carver Building was originally two floors. An additional six floors were added later.

It originally housed the First National Bank. It was later owned by Carleton Beh, and many longtime Fort Dodge residents remember it being called the Beh Building.

Today, it is Central Place Apartments.

Snell Building

This seven-story building at 801 Central Ave. was built in 1915.

According to Natte, it is named for Richard Snell, an Illinois investor. It was designed by Liebbe, Rasmussen and Nourse, which was considered the top architecture firm in Iowa at the time.

-Photo courtesy of the Webster County Historical Society
The Snell Building is shown under construction in 1914.

It remains an office building today.

610 Central Ave.

When built in 1916, this building housed Prusia Hardware. At eight stories, it is one of the city’s tallest buildings.

It would later house a Sears store. Today it is an apartment building called Heartland Senior Housing.

Carver Building

When constructed, this building at 1003 Central Ave.was just two stories.

In 1922, there was a massive renovation which added eight stories to the building.

For a long time, it housed doctors’ offices. Then it was home to Heartland Communications.

After being vacant, it is now owned by the Fort Dodge based Better Way Project, which is working to fill it with new organizations and businesses.

Wahkonsa Hotel

This building at 927 Central Ave. was completed in 1910. In addition to hotel rooms it included a restaurant, barbershop, beauty parlor, shoe shine shop and clothing store when it opened.

Today it is an apartment building called Wahkonsa Manor.

Warden Plaza

The Warden Plaza at 908 First Ave. S. is the most troubled of the major downtown buildings.

It has sat vacant for more than a decade as various plans to revitalize it have fizzled out.

The eight-story structure was developed by Theodore Warden, an Ohio coal mining investor. It was designed by O.E. Damon.

The original part of the building, constructed in 1914, consists of four stories with a mezzanine. Three more stories were added in 1916. Apartments, including a penthouse with a swimming pool, were added from 1924 to 1926.

In the early part of the 20th century the Warden Plaza included a hotel, stores and apartments.

A tobacco shop, dry cleaner, a radio station, fur shop, coffee shop, a bar, the state liquor store, a restaurant and offices for professionals were in the building over the years.