The Hamburg Historic District is one of Iowa’s largest historic districts and received national designation as an historic district in 1984. The neighborhood was home to many of Davenport’s early German settlers beginning in the mid-19th century. A portion of the neighborhood is located in Davenport’s Original Town section, within the earliest boundaries established by the city when it was chartered in 1836.
Beginning in the 1960’s, the neighborhood suffered decline and decay as downtown businesses faced economic setbacks and competition from suburban expansion. Beginning in the 1980’s, people began moving back into the neighborhood and reclaiming it. The Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District Association’s goals include maintaining the history and diversity of the District, assuring protection of historic buildings and structures, and preserving the written history of the neighborhood.
The historic homes of the Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District contain some of the oldest and most significant architectural styles in the State of Iowa.