Nov
29
A Photo Op at the Bandshell
I have a thing for historic bandshells and bandstands. It’s a condition that developed after I began researching the career of my great-grandfather, G. Oliver Riggs. I began to notice how many communities still use them, and how widely the architectural styles vary. Now, whenever I see one – whether it’s vintage or modern – I'm curious about why it was built and how it’s used.
That’s why a Thanksgiving weekend visit to Iowa Falls, Iowa, had to include a stop at Estes Park. The bandshell there, formerly known as the Estes Park Band Shell, was dedicated in 1931 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by L.L Klippel, it cost $3,838 and replaced a pagoda built in 1898. The bandshell is still used today for community events.
That’s why a Thanksgiving weekend visit to Iowa Falls, Iowa, had to include a stop at Estes Park. The bandshell there, formerly known as the Estes Park Band Shell, was dedicated in 1931 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by L.L Klippel, it cost $3,838 and replaced a pagoda built in 1898. The bandshell is still used today for community events.