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Photograph of Metropolitan Opera House
Photograph by Billwhittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Metropolitan Opera House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

From the record

“The Metropolitan Opera House is a historic opera house in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.”

Wikipedia article Metropolitan Opera House (Iowa Falls, Iowa), CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 34 National Register listings published here for Hardin County · listed in 1975 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service · the Wikipedia article

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. 515 Washington St., Iowa Falls, 50126
  • When was it listed? February 1975
  • Category. building
  • Township. Hardin township
  • Architectural style. Renaissance Revival architecture
  • Architect. Omeyer & Thori
  • National Register reference number. 75000690 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

15 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 15 fires within 5 miles of Metropolitan Opera House between 2006 and 2014, burning about 145 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined14
Debris and open burning1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
2 July 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
14 July 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
17 June 2006Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
14 June 2008Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 May 2014Debris and open burning8.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
6 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIowa Department of Natural ResourcesI-35 MM 102, IA
5 April 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources11908 MM AVENUE, IOWA

Every fire recorded in Hardin County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 12 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Metropolitan Opera House: 6 past producers, 6 producers. 6 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Calcium, Phosphorus-Phosphates, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Iowa Falls Tile Co.ClayPast Producer
Sargent Calcium ProductsCalcium, Phosphorus-PhosphatesProducer
Alden Quarry and MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Riekena QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Harms PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Iowa Falls PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Janssen PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Lyman PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Slayton PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Hardin County

Storms near this property

60 of 104 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Iowa Falls, the town this property stands in, in 104 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 32 thunderstorm wind, 27 hail, 24 heavy rain, 7 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1998HailIowa Falls$400,000no account filed
March 2019Flash FloodIowa Falls$200,000Emergency manager reported an ice jam in Iowa Falls has caused rapid rises along the Iowa river. At one point there was an 8 foot rise in 15 minutes.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$100,000Microburst wind event.
May 1999Flash FloodIowa Falls$100,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$100,000no account filed
May 2008FloodIowa Falls$75,000The Mayor of Alden reported that the Alden Elementary School was closed Wednesday due to 4 feet of water in the boiler room and a foot of water in the cafeteria. The water softener, main compressor, and several chemicals have water damage in the boiler room as well.
June 1998FloodIowa Falls$70,000no account filed
July 2019Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$50,000Trained spotter reported many whole trees down, either snapped or uprooted, along with several smaller limbs down throughout town. Some roads were blocked from the downed trees. The local college was without power. Penny hail also occurred.
May 2008Heavy RainIowa Falls$50,000The rain began around 1845 CST Tuesday evening and ended around 0115 CST Wednesday morning. A total of 6.25 inches was reported.
May 2008FloodIowa Falls$50,000The Mayor of Alden reported that several County Roads were washed out or covered with water in and around Alden. The Alden Fire Department was pumping water out of drains due to storm drains running full and manhole covers popping.
June 2008Heavy RainIowa Falls$50,000Water was reported in residential basements.
August 2004LightningIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
July 1999Flash FloodIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
June 1998FloodIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
June 1998FloodIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
August 1993Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$50,000no account filed
June 2001HailIowa Falls$30,000no account filed
May 2008FloodIowa Falls$25,000The Hardin County Sheriff reported the intersection of D15 and D20 closed between Iowa Falls and Alden.
June 2008Heavy RainIowa Falls$25,000Numerous roads closed in the Alden area by flooding with 4.75 inches of rain.
June 2008Flash FloodIowa Falls$25,000Hwy 65 covered by water near the railroad underpass in Iowa Falls.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$25,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$25,000no account filed
June 2015Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$20,000Public reported large trees down in Iowa Falls. Report received via post to WHO TV Facebook page.
March 2008FloodIowa Falls$20,000Shallow water was flowing over county road D15. Water was forced onto highway by blocked culvert in the Alden area.
June 2008Flash FloodIowa Falls$20,000Water was over the road on County Highway D20 between Iowa Falls and Alden.
May 2004HailIowa Falls$20,000no account filed
August 2004Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$15,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$15,000no account filed
September 2017Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Public reported wind damage in and near Iowa Falls, including tree branches and power pole damage. This is a delayed report. Time and location estimated based on radar.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Law Enforcement reported several power lines and large trees down throughout the town of Alden.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Trained spotter reports large trees down across driveway.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000Trees damaged with one 18 inch diameter tree falling on a van.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$10,000no account filed
July 2019Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Trained spotter reported numerous instances of medium to large tree branches down while driving around town, including estimated 12 inch diameter branches. Also reported power out in parts of town. Time estimated from radar.
August 2018LightningIowa Falls$5,000A lightning strike blew a transformer causing a loss of power, internet and cell service.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Five inch diameter tree limbs snapped.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Six to eight tree limbs fell on a vehicle.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000Widespread small tree limb damage and one 8 inch diameter limb snapped. Tree was snapped at Linden and Indiana Ave.
April 2006HailIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
May 2004HailIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
April 2002HailIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$5,000no account filed
April 2007HailIowa Falls$3,000no account filed
April 2007HailIowa Falls$3,000no account filed
June 2025Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000Branches, trees, and powerlines down. Report by Alden Fire Department.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000Tree damage was reported in town with some limbs down.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000Dime size hail was reported as well.
April 2006HailIowa Falls$2,000no account filed
June 1997Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$2,000no account filed
April 2008Thunderstorm WindIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 2005HailIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 2005HailIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 1997HailIowa Falls$1,000no account filed
June 1995Tornado (F0)Iowa Falls$1,000no account filed
May 1999HailIowa Falls$500no account filed
May 1999HailIowa Falls$500no account filed
March 2025HailIowa Falls-Pea to penny sized hail in Iowa Falls, reported from a trained spotter.
March 2025HailIowa Falls-Hail report received via social media.

Every storm recorded in Hardin County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
River Street Bridge0.3 miles1998
Washington Avenue Bridge0.3 miles1998
W. R. C. Hall0.4 miles1993
McClanahan Block0.4 miles1993
Princess-Sweet Shop0.4 miles1993
Sentinel Block0.4 miles1993

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 75000690 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Hardin CountyAll 34 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.