The caretakers of the Iowa Governor’s Mansion will take more steps today toward winning new accolades for the structure, now 133 years old. Dave Cordes, Terrace Hill’s administrator, says he’s working to get the home listed as a National Historic Landmark.Terrace Hill was built for Iowa’s first millionaire, Benjamin Allen, in 1869 and was known then as the Palace of the Prairie. The colonial-style home with its distinctive 90-foot tower is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but Cordes says it would give Terrace Hill more “status” to be known as a National Historic Landmark.Iowa has more than 200 listings on the National Register of Historic Places but only 28 Iowa locations are considered National Historic Landmarks. Cordes says a public hearing will be held at 5:30 P-M before the Des Moines Historic District Commission on the designation.Robert Ray was the first Governor to move into Terrace Hill in 1977. To learn more about Terrace Hill, surf to “www.terracehill.org”. Other National Historic Landmarks in Iowa include: The Amana Colonies, the Dodge House in Council Bluffs, the Dubuque County Jail, Hepburn House in Clarinda, Herbert Hoover’s birthplace in West Branch, Merchant’s National Bank in Grinnell and Old Capitol in Iowa City.
