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Title: Schuetzen Park, Davenport, Iowa, Forest Park
Description: In 1870, the Davenport Schuetzengesellschaft (later called the Schuetzen Verein) created this "Schuetzenpark," or shooting park, as a target range for rifle marksmanship. In addition to the shooting and target houses, the park included an inn, dance hall, music pavilion, zoo, bowling alleys, roller coaster, refreshment stands, athletic field, picnic grounds, and other amusements. The popularity of Schuetzen Park began to decline around 1917, when the anti-German hysteria from World War I restricted the activities of German-Americans and led to the prohibition of the use of the German language in public. Many businesses and organizations changed their German names. For a time, Schuetzen Park was renamed Forest Park. The Davenport Schuetzen Verein became known by its English equivalent, the Davenport Shooting Association. The park was dealt another serious blow in 1919 when the "Prohibition Act" outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, which had been a major source of revenue for the park. The park was sold in 1923, and it became the site of the Chiropractic Psychopathic Sanitarium. However, today, much of the property again changed hands to the Davenport Good Samaritan Center and is being preserved as a "Wildpark". The only original park building that remains is the 1911 street car waiting station, which was named a local historic landmark in 1998 by the City of Davenport. It is located at 700 Waverly Road, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. 1907 postmark. Number 2020.
Date Created: 1907
PID: grinnell:18457