Description

Mississippi Valley Fair, 2815 W. Locust St. Davenport, IA 52804 will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, July 24 at 10:00am to celebrate the completed renovation of the iconic fairgrounds entrance – the Twin Towers
The Twin Towers was built at what then was known as the Mississippi Valley Fair and Exposition Grounds in 1920. Designed by prominent Davenport architect Arthur H. Ebeling (1882-1965) and built by Walsh Construction Co., it contained offices and a dozen ticket windows.
It was completed in time for the first fair, a six-day event that opened Aug. 16, 1920, drawing more than 98,000 or 115,000 people, depending upon the various sources of information.
The Towers these days are used for offices, particularly during the fair. The recent renovation included new insulation, heating, plumbing, wiring, steel roof, windows and Internet connections.
Rotten wood under the stucco exterior was replaced and covered by new white stucco that will be illuminated by exterior lighting. New pennants fly atop flagpoles, one on each tower.
The facility also has been made handicap accessible, and there is new exterior concrete and landscaping.