The Col Ballroom is a historic building located on the West Side of Davenport, Iowa, USA. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Davenport Register of Historic Properties as Saengerfest Halle.
About
The greatest music event in Davenport history occurred in 1898 when it hosted the 18th annual Saengerfest. It brings together ten local German singing groups as Davenport joint singers. Together they organized and hosted the event. The festival has guests from Davenport, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Elgin, Illinois, Elgin, Iowa, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Manning, Iowa, Moline, Illinois 1,200 singers in , Peoria, Illinois, Rock Island, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. The event drew German-Americans from across the Midwest, and Western Union added additional German operators to spread festival news over the line. An estimated 100,000 people attended the four-day event. The festival concluded with an open-air concert in the Schützenpark attended by 12,000 people.
Preparations for the festival included construction of a 4,000-seat auditorium for the event. A holding company built the timber structure for $4,500. [4] After the festival, the hall was used as a warehouse. In 1906, the new owners added a second floor and the building was completed as a ballroom, called The Coliseum. Destroyed by fire on 21 October 1913.
History
Davenport’s strong musical tradition is due in large part to the influx of German immigrants to the city beginning in the late 1840s. Before 1900, they formed numerous musical groups in the city. Longer-lasting groups include: the Liedertafel (founded 1848), the Boys’ Choir (1851), Strasser’s German Combined Brass Band (1856), the Germania Band (1883), and three others formed in the 1850s. groups, including the Singing Choir of Gymnastics Association, the German Singers Association and the Onretti Association. There were also short-lived musical organizations: Germania Saengerchor, Geing Verein Teutonia, Eintracht Glee Club, Claus Groth Singing Society, Thalia Verein, Harrigaria Maennerchor and Davenport Saengerbund. In 1858, the city hosted its third annual Saengerfest, or song festival, which drew people from across the Mississippi Valley.
Address
- 1012 W 4th St
- Davenport, IA 52802
Hours
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 12:30–14:30 |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 12:00–14:00 |
Reviews
Getting to bathrooms is down a steep flight if steps. Experience there was great but venue didn’t contribute. Really could use a remodel.
Saw my favorite local band play where slipknot started and he signed net to Jimmy Hendricks signature amazing acoustics loved it
Great place bathrooms need updating plus they charge why to much for bèer.
The place is ok i dont have a lot to say went there to watch a wrestling match
We’re lucky to have this facility in Davenport. It is a slice of living history.
Went to the last concery great time will miss it
There are LOTS of bands that could be booked here but it doesn’t happen!
Mens bathroom is downstairs duck or you’ll hit your head on a pipe.
Had a blast at blac youngsta concert!