This Commission fosters pride in the legacy of beauty and achievements of the past, and promote the use of sites and districts of historic and cultural significance as places for the education, pleasure and welfare of the people of the city.
| *Jeff Thomas | 1-01-27 |
| Lea Bradley | 1-01-29 |
| Deb Savage | 2-01-27 |
| Kurt Moon | 1-01-27 |
| Joy Lapp | 1-01-29 |
(*Denotes Chair)
The Mount Pleasant Historic Preservation Commission (MPHPC) was established in 1988 by city ordinance. This commission is responsible for identifying and documenting historic properties, maintaining records of survey projects, and nominating eligible sites to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). In addition to these activities, the MPHPC may acquire, preserve, maintain, operate, and transfer historic properties to support preservation efforts. The MPHPC also promotes public awareness of historic preservation and local history through educational and interpretive programs.
Property owners often have questions about the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Listing a property individually or as part of a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places does not place any additional restrictions on property owners, nor does it stop changes to a property or demolition of a property. If an owner chooses to use a financial incentive program, the guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation must be followed as a condition of funding. Otherwise, property owners may undertake any type of project without additional review requirements. Buildings listed as contributing in a historic district enjoy the same benefits as buildings listed individually. The federal historic tax credit program, Iowa historic tax credit program, and Historic Resource Development Program grants are popular sources of funding for rehabilitation projects. Owners are encouraged to pursue projects that are sympathetic to the historic character of their buildings, and resources and guidance are available.
The nomination of the Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places was a major project of the Mount Pleasant Historic Preservation Commission (MPHPC) in 2025-26, funded by a Certified Local Government (CLG) from the National Park Service / State Historic Preservation Office. The MPHPC hired Rebecca Lawin McCarley of SPARK Consulting to develop the nomination, which was based on information researched as part of the 2023-24 survey project. The historic district is composed of 137 properties on approximately 14 blocks in downtown Mount Pleasant around Central Park and to the north and east. Overall, there are 170 tabulated resources, including 149 contributing resources and 21 non-contributing resources. The historic district is dominated by two-story brick buildings with integrity dating from the middle of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, with some one-story buildings and some taller three-story or four-story buildings as well. The Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District served as the central business district for Mount Pleasant from the platting of the town with a central square in 1837 through the end of the period of significance in 1981. The nomination was revised and approved by the State Nomination Review Committee on June 12, 2026. The nomination was forwarded to the National Park Service in August 2026 for final review and formal listing.
Link to NRHP nomination for Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District:
Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District – 2026 final with photos
The Mount Pleasant Historic Preservation Commission (MPHPC) received a Certified Local Government (CLG) from the National Park Service / State Historic Preservation Office to complete an intensive level historical and architectural survey project in 2023-24 for downtown Mount Pleasant. The project was structured for the MPHPC to work with a consultant, Rebecca Lawin McCarley of SPARK Consulting, to complete the survey project. Through the work of the MPHPC, consultant, and several dedicated volunteers, extensive research was completed on 137 properties within downtown Mount Pleasant, with the information documented on individual Iowa Site Inventory forms. The project also included the development of a survey report that further documents the overall history of downtown Mount Pleasant and the results of the survey project. This project set the stage for the nomination of the Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
This map outlines the area and buildings included in the survey project. The survey numbers were assigned for the purposes of the project, with the Iowa Site Inventory forms below associated with these numbers.
Link to survey report:
Intensive Level Historical and Architectural Survey of Downtown Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Historical and Architectural Survey 2023-2024
- DT-000 – MP Downtown Historic District – 44-02280
- DT-001 – 101 W Washington St – Central Park – Iowa #44-00086
- DT-002 – 100 W Washington St – Capitol Savings and Loan – Iowa #44-00441
- DT-003 – 110 W Washington St – Hi-Hat Café – Iowa #44-00443
- DT-004 – 112 W Washington St – J.J. Parker Building – Iowa #44-00444
- DT-005 – 200 S Jefferson St – Sinclair Station – Iowa #44-00413
- DT-006 – 204 S Jefferson St – Taylor Motors Used Cars – Iowa #44-00217
- DT-007 – 203 S Jefferson St – Taylor Motors – Iowa #44-02251
- DT-008 – 201 S Jefferson St – V.F.W. Building – Iowa #44-00216
- DT-009 – 204 W Washington St – Home Furniture – Iowa #44-00445
- DT-010 – 204 S. Jackson – Mt Pleasant Fire Station – Iowa #44-02275
- DT-011 – 203 S Jackson St – Kauffman Chiropractic – Iowa #44-02240
- DT-012 – 300 W Washington St – Medicap Pharmacy – Iowa #44-02276
- DT-013 – 309 W Washington St – Dickey’s Prairie Home & Maid-Rite – Iowa #44-02278
- DT-014 – 301 W Washington St – Mustang Market – Iowa #44-02277
- DT-015 – 217 W Washington St – Modern Laundry – Iowa #44-00447
- DT-016 – 211 W Washington St – Smitty’s Cleaners – Iowa #44-00446
- DT-017 – 129 S Jefferson St – Drug Town – Iowa #44-02250
- DT-018 – 119 S Jefferson St – West Side Café and Tavern – Iowa #44-00211
- DT-019 – 117 S Jefferson St – Ruby Dry Cleaners – Iowa #44-00210
- DT-020 – 115 S Jefferson St – Lash Building – Iowa #44-00209
- DT-021 – 113 S Jefferson St – Kennedy’s Dairy – Iowa #44-00208
- DT-022 – 111 S Jefferson St – Ernst Building – Iowa #44-00207
- DT-023 – 109 S Jefferson St – Commercial building – Iowa #44-00206
- DT-024 – 107 S Jefferson St – Commercial building – Iowa #44-00205
- DT-025 – 103 S Jefferson St – Hoaglin’s Variety Store – Iowa #44-00204
- DT-026 – 101 S Jefferson St – First National Bank – Iowa #44-00203
- DT-027 – 220 W Monroe St – City Hall – Iowa #44-00377
- DT-028 – 300 W Monroe St – Universal Motors Co – Iowa #44-02264
- DT-029 – 301 W Monroe St – Complete Eye Care Center – Iowa #44-02265
- DT-030 – 106 N Jackson St – Bud’s Super Valu – Iowa #44-00180
- DT-031 – 104 N Jackson St – Skerik Parts Service Co – Iowa #44-02239
- DT-032 – 225 W Monroe St – Masters Building – Iowa #44-00378
- DT-033 – 217-219 W Monroe St – McLeran Building – Iowa #44-00376
- DT-034 – 215 W Monroe St – Mt Pleasant News Building – Iowa #44-00375
- DT-035 – 211 W Monroe St – Galer & Galer Building – Iowa #44-00374
- DT-036 – 101 N Jefferson St – Insurance Plan Savings & Loan – Iowa #44-00184
- DT-037 – 103 N Jefferson St – Hoaglin’s – Iowa #44-00185
- DT-038 – 105 N Jefferson St – City Hall Block – Iowa #44-02241
- DT-039 – 109 N Jefferson St – Brown’s Shoe Fit Co – Iowa #44-00188
- DT-040 – 111 N Jefferson St – C.C. Warhurst Grocery – Iowa #44-00190
- DT-041 – 113 N Jefferson St – Thompson Building – Iowa #44-00192
- DT-042 – 115 N Jefferson St – Martin & McAdam Building – Iowa #44-00193
- DT-043 – 119 N Jefferson St – Weir Building – Iowa #44-00194
- DT-044 – 121 N Jefferson St – Burket Hardware – Iowa #44-00195
- DT-045 – 123 N Jefferson St – Harlan-Hoaglin-DeJaynes Building – Iowa #44-00197
- DT-046 – 125 N Jefferson St – Harlan-Hoaglin-Walker Building – Iowa #44-00198
- DT-047 – 127 N Jefferson St – Dougherty Building – Iowa #44-02242
- DT-048-49 – 129 N Jefferson St – Shannon Building – Iowa #44-00199
- DT-050 – 207 W Madison St – W. Fletcher and Harriet Dougherty House – Iowa #44-02254
- DT-051 – 205 W Madison St – Couchman Clinic – Iowa #44-02253
- DT-052 – 203 N Jefferson St – Fellowship Cup – Iowa #44-02247
- DT-053 – 207 N Jefferson St – Elgar Law Office – Iowa #44-02248
- DT-054 – 209 N Jefferson St – State Farm Insurance – Iowa #44-02249
- DT-055 – 210 N Jefferson St – Sandy’s – Iowa #44-02246
- DT-056 – 206 N Jefferson St – Christian Science Church – Iowa #44-02245
- DT-057 – 204 N Jefferson St – Megorden Building – Iowa #44-02244
- DT-058 – 202 N Jefferson St – McCoid Building – Iowa #44-02243
- DT-059 – 200 N Jefferson St – United States Post Office – Iowa #44-00786
- DT-060 – 122 N Jefferson St – Harlan House (Hotel) – Iowa #44-00196
- DT-061 – 112 N Jefferson St – Mt Pleasant Implement Co – Iowa #44-00191
- DT-062 – 110 N Jefferson St – Goe Building – Iowa #44-00189
- DT-063 – 108 N Jefferson St – Cole Brothers – Iowa #44-00187
- DT-064 – 106 N Jefferson St – City Hall and Fire Station – Iowa #44-00186
- DT-065 – 125 W Monroe St – Hill-Hayes Building – Iowa #44-00373
- DT-066 – 123 W Monroe St – Becker’s Jewelry – Iowa #44-00372
- DT-067 – 121 W Monroe St – O’Connor Clothing Store – Iowa #44-00371
- DT-068 – 119 W Monroe St – Rukgaber Hardware – Iowa #44-02263
- DT-069 – 117 W Monroe St – Lane’s Ready to Wear – Iowa #44-00370
- DT-070 – 115 W Monroe St – McCandless Building – Iowa #44-00369
- DT-071 – 111 (107-109-111-113) W Monroe St – Union Block – Iowa #44-00368
- DT-072 – 103-105 W Monroe St – Crane Building – Iowa #44-00367
- DT-073 – 101 W Monroe St – National State Bank – Iowa #44-00366
- DT-074 – 105 N Main St – Saunders Building – Iowa #44-00240
- DT-075 – 107 N Main St – Commercial building – Iowa #44-00241
- DT-076 – 109-111 N Main St – Pitcher Building – Iowa #44-00242
- DT-077 – 115 N Main St – Masonic Temple Theater – Iowa #44-00246
- DT-078 – 119 N Main St – Burton Chiropractic – Iowa #44-00249
- DT-079 – 121-123 N Main St – Dyall Building – Iowa #44-00251
- DT-080 – 127 N Main St – Spurgeon’s – Iowa #44-00254
- DT-081 – 101 W Madison St – Iowa-Illinois Telephone Company – Iowa #44-02252
- DT-082 – 213 N Main St – J.F. Sargent House / D.L. Cookes Funeral Home – Iowa #44-00259
- DT-083 – 212 N Main St – Case Memorials – Iowa #44-02258
- DT-084 – 210 N Main St – Spry Building – Iowa #44-02257
- DT-085 – 208 N Main St – Garrison Building – Iowa #44-00258
- DT-086 – 206 N Main St – Masonic Temple – Iowa #44-02256
- DT-088-87 – 202-204 N Main St – Wettach Building – Iowa #44-02255
- DT-089 – 200 N Main St – Mount Pleasant Public Library – Iowa #44-00257
- DT-090 – 130 N Main St – Main Street Café – Iowa #44-00256
- DT-091 – 128 N Main St – Snell Building – Iowa #44-00255
- DT-092 – 126 N Main St – Bergdahl Building – Iowa #44-00253b
- DT-093 – 124 N Main St – Virden Building – Iowa #44-00253a
- DT-094 – 122 N Main St – McClure Building – Iowa #44-00252
- DT-095 – 120 N Main St – Bud’s Flower Shop – Iowa #44-00250
- DT-096 – 118 N Main St – Walker Building – Iowa #44-00248
- DT-097 – 116 N Main St – Smith Building – Iowa #44-00247
- DT-098 – 114 N Main St – Smith & Linn Building – Iowa #44-00245
- DT-099 – 112 N Main St – Dilger Building – Iowa #44-00244
- DT-100 – 110 N Main St – Budde-Singer Building – Iowa #44-00243
- DT-101 – 100 N Main St – Brazelton House (Hotel) – Iowa #44-00239
- DT-102 – 115 E Monroe St – Colonial Apartments (Asbury Chapel) – Iowa #44-00331
- DT-103 – 104 N Adams St – Taft Warehouse – Iowa #44-02231
- DT-104 – 201 E Monroe St – Zuhn Building – Iowa #44-00332
- DT-105 – 205 E Monroe St – Sater Blacksmith Shop – Iowa #44-02259
- DT-106 – 211 E Monroe St – Hunt Building – Iowa #44-02260
- DT-107 – 217 E Monroe St – Buss Building – Iowa #44-02261
- DT-108 – 200 E Monroe St – Rec Center – Iowa #44-02262
- DT-109 – 114 E Monroe St – Professional Office Building – Iowa #44-00330
- DT-110 – 100 S Main St – Henry County Savings Bank – Iowa #44-00293
- DT-111 – 102 S Main St – Mt Pleasant Bank and Trust Co – Iowa #44-00294
- DT-112 – 106 S Main St – Crane Hardware – Iowa #44-00295
- DT-113 – 108 S Main St – Eshelman Building – Iowa #44-00296
- DT-115-114 – 110-112 S Main St – Schliep Building – Iowa #44-00297
- DT-116 – 114 S Main St – Mt Pleasant Fruit Supply – Iowa #44-00298
- DT-117 – 116 S Main St – Seifert’s – Iowa #44-00299
- DT-118 – 118 S Main St – Timmerman-Burd Building – Iowa #44-00300
- DT-119 – 120 S Main St – Louisa Building – Iowa #44-00301
- DT-120 – 124 S Main St – Stough Building – Iowa #44-00302
- DT-121 – 111 E Washington St – Van Allen Building – Iowa #44-00414
- DT-122 – 100 E Washington St – Henry County Court House – Iowa #44-00442
- DT-123 – 117 E Washington St – Dairy Queen – Iowa #44-02266
- DT-124 – 109 S Adams St – C.D. Swailes Auto Service – Iowa #44-00103
- DT-125 – 201 E Washington St – Quick Break – Iowa #44-02267
- DT-126 – 207 E Washington St – Henry Co Supply Co-op – Iowa #44-02268
- DT-127 – 209 E Washington St – Conoco Service Station – Iowa #44-02269
- DT-128 – 107 S Harrison St – L.F. Willard House – Iowa #44-02237
- DT-129 – 301 E Washington St – Henry County Savings Bank – Iowa #44-02270
- DT-130 – 200 S Adams St – St Michael’s Rectory – Iowa #44-02271
- DT-131 – 202 E Washington St – St Michael’s Episcopal Church – Iowa #44-02272
- DT-132 – 204 E Washington St – Mt Pleasant Police Station – Iowa #44-02273
- DT-133 – 300 E Washington St – Congregational Church – Iowa #44-02274
- DT-134 – 207 S Harrison St – Mt Pleasant Professional Center – Iowa #44-02238
- DT-135 – 204 E Clay St – Wilcox Welding Service – Iowa #44-02236
- DT-136 – 300 S Adams St – Henry County Abstract Co – Iowa #44-02232
- DT-137 – 106 E Clay St – Henry County Jail and Sheriff’s Quarters – Iowa #44-02234
- DT-138 – 106B E Clay St – County building – Iowa #44-02235
- DT-139 – 104 E Clay St – Donald Gartin Law Office – Iowa #44-02233
- DT-140 – 206 S Adams St – Jesse and Florence Allender House – Iowa #44-02279
Several buildings in Mount Pleasant have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places over the last 50 years. Click below on links to these earlier nominations.
- Old Main – Iowa Wesleyan College (1973)
- Harlan-Lincoln House – 101 W Broad St (1973)
- Henry County Courthouse – 100 E Washington St (1981)
- Brazelton House – 401 N. Main St (1983)
- Mount Pleasant Public Library – 200 N. Main St (1983)
- G.W.S. Allen House – 207 E Henry St (1985)
- Brazelton House Hotel – 100 N. Main St (1986)
- Henry Ambler House – 405 N Broadway St (1986)
- Harlan House Hotel – 122 N Jefferson (1987)
- First National Bank – 101 S. Jefferson St (1991)
- Budde-Singer Building – 110 N. Main St (1991)
- Masonic Temple Theater – 115 N. Main St (1991)
- Henry County Savings Bank – 100 S. Main St (1991)
- Timmerman-Burd Building – 118 S. Main St (1991)
- Louisa Building – 120 S. Main St (1991)
- Zuhn Building – 201 E. Monroe (1991)
- National State Bank – 101 W. Monroe (1991)
- Union Block Building – 109 W. Monroe (1991)
- McCandless Building – 115 W. Monroe (1991)
- City Hall – 110 W Monroe St (1991)
- Masters Building – 221 W. Monroe (1991)
- Justin Ball House – 500 W Monroe St (1994)
- George and Margaret Cooper House – 400 W Monroe St (1997)
- Second Baptist Church – 407 W Saunders St (2014)