Spirit Lake Public Library

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

From the record

“The former Spirit Lake Public Library is located in downtown Spirit Lake, Iowa, United States. The Civic Improvement Association started a library in a rented commercial building downtown in 1901.”
Wikipedia article Spirit Lake Public Library, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 12 National Register listings published here for Dickinson County · listed in 1980 · category: Building.

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

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Address. 1801 Hill Ave., Spirit Lake, 51360
When was it listed? January 1980
Category. building
Township. Center Grove township
National Register reference number. 80001448 - 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

27 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 27 fires within 5 miles of Spirit Lake Public Library between 2006 and 2019, burning about 711 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 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/undetermined	22
Debris and open burning	3
Arson/incendiarism	1
Misuse of fire by a minor	1

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

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
27 September 2006	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Iowa Wetland Management District	BLOOPER
29 August 2019	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	4.0 acres	Iowa Wetland Management District	KETTELSON
31 July 2017	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Iowa Department of Natural Resources	not named
27 June 2017	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Iowa Department of Natural Resources	not named
5 May 2014	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	52 acres	Iowa Department of Natural Resources	not named
9 April 2009	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Iowa Department of Natural Resources	not named
7 April 2011	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Iowa Department of Natural Resources	25271 182ND ST., CENTER GROVE TWP, SPIRIT LAKE, IA
30 April 2015	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Iowa Department of Natural Resources	not named

Every fire recorded in Dickinson County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 14 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 14 workings within 5 miles of Spirit Lake Public Library: 10 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Frey Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Herman Wedking	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Roth Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unknown	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unknown	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unknown	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Dickinson County

Storms near this property

60 of 81 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Spirit Lake, the town this property stands in, in 81 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 34 hail, 33 thunderstorm wind, 12 flash flood, 2 tornado. 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.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
June 2001	Hail	Spirit Lake	$500,000	Large hail caused severe damage to vehicles and also damaged buildings. Crop damage was suspected in the area but no estimates were available.
June 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$500,000	no account filed
June 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$300,000	Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including large trees blown down. Some of the trees landed on vehicles and houses and caused further damage.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a concrete plant and scattered the debris, resulting in damage to some vehicles. The winds also blew down power lines, resulting in a widespread power outage, and starting a small fire which damaged a house. Tree damage from the winds included several trees blown down.
July 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$50,000	no account filed
June 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$50,000	no account filed
June 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$50,000	no account filed
August 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$20,000	Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage, resulting in a power outage in most of the town of Spirit Lake.
September 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$20,000	Thunderstorm winds damaged grain bins, outbuildings, and other farm equipment.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$20,000	Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage. At least one house was damaged when a tree was blown over onto the roof.
April 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$20,000	no account filed
December 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several power poles. Property damage costs are a rough estimate.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a mobile home and also blew down power lines.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds damaged a small shed.
September 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds moved two outbuildings off their foundations.
July 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorms winds pushed a large tree onto a house, another tree fell across a city street, and a couple of power lines were downed from broken tree limbs.
July 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	A tree and several three-inch tree limbs were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts in Spirit Lake.
June 2024	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	After 2 to 4 inches of rain over a couple hours, flooding of roads resulted in multiple stalled vehicles in Spirit Lake and Okoboji. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for areal and river flooding for Dickinson County.
June 2024	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Three cars stalled in high water ponded in city streets.
June 2024	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Significant street flooding was reported in Spirit Lake.
June 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	A tree fell on a power line just west of Spirit Lake.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a 12 inch diameter limb blown down.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds damaged a fence.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several large trees blown down.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
May 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds damaged a warehouse.
June 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one tree blown down. The winds were accompanied by marble size hail.
June 2014	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rain caused flash flooding of streets, stalling cars.
September 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
July 2010	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rain caused flash flooding of numerous streets.
October 2009	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rain caused flooding of numerous streets, parkland, and low areas in the town of Spirit Lake.
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one large tree blown down.
May 2009	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	Hail covered a patio, and covered the ground up to several inches deep in a few spots.
July 2009	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	Hail was accompanied by wind gusts to 59 mph.
August 2007	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rainfall cuased street and yard flooding in Spirit lake.
July 2007	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	Hail was mostly pea size with a few hailstones up to the size of pennies.
June 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several large trees blown down. A few power lines were also blown down.
August 2006	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rainfall...measured at 3.40 inches in less than an hour...caused widespread street flooding.
June 2005	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rain caused flooding of numerous streets, especially at intersections. Basement flooding was also reported.
August 2005	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rain caused widespread street flooding.
September 2005	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Heavy rain caused flooding of streets at Spirit Lake, with Lake Street being the most severely flooded.
September 2004	Flash Flood	Spirit Lake	-	Rainfall estimated at 3 to 6 inches caused flooding of streets and basements.
September 2004	Tornado (F0)	Spirit Lake	-	A brief tornado caused no reported damage.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Spirit Lake	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
June 2001	Tornado (F0)	Spirit Lake	-	A rope tornado was observed with dust or debris, but there were no reports of damage available.
June 2000	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	Large hail was reported along Highway 71 just south of the state line.
July 1995	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	Hail caused extensive but undetermined crop damage.
June 2025	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
June 2022	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
May 2018	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
June 2014	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
May 2009	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
May 2009	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
July 2006	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
March 2005	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
May 2005	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
June 2005	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
May 2005	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
May 2005	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed
May 2005	Hail	Spirit Lake	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Dickinson 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.

Property	Distance	Listed
Antlers Hotel	0.2 miles	2007
Pikes Point State Park Shelter and Steps	3.1 miles	1990
Spirit Lake Massacre Log Cabin	3.5 miles	1973
Pillsbury Point State Park	4.2 miles	1993
Gull Point State Park, Area B	4.6 miles	1990
Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Historic District	4.8 miles	1991

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 80001448 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Dickinson County	All 12 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.