S. H. Kress and Co. Building (Blytheville, Arkansas)
| Company type | Commercial building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (historically), Museum (currently) |
| Predecessor | S. H. Kress and Co. store (until 1974) |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Fate | Converted to museum |
| Successor | Delta Gateway Museum |
| Headquarters | Blytheville , United States |
| Products | Retail goods (historically), museum exhibits (currently) |
Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NRHP The Kress Building is a notable commercial structure located at 210 West Main Street in Blytheville, Arkansas. This two-story edifice combines concrete and steel framing with brick and terra cotta cladding. Presently, it houses the Delta Gateway Museum, which showcases the historical narrative of Blytheville and its neighboring regions.
History
Constructed in 1938, the building was among the earliest in Blytheville to utilize steel framing techniques. The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program recognizes it as one of the state’s premier examples of Art Deco architecture. The retail chain S. H. Kress and Co. operated from this location until 1974. During the mid to late 1980s, a Family Dollar store occupied the premises. Subsequently, the building served as the headquarters for the local United Way. Eventually donated to the municipality, it underwent renovation in 1997 to become the Blytheville Heritage Museum and also accommodate the Blytheville branch of Main Street Arkansas.
This property was officially entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. It is also a contributing element within the Blytheville Commercial Historic District, which holds its own NRHP designation.
Description
The ground-floor exterior, excluding the plate glass storefront windows, is adorned with terra cotta panels, while the upper story predominantly features cream-hued brickwork. The second-floor windows are framed by ivory terra cotta embellished with fluted designs and shell motifs.
Delta Gateway Museum
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The Delta Gateway Museum commenced operations within the Kress Building in November 2011. Originating from plans developed in 2009, this institution is owned by the city of Blytheville and managed by the Delta Gateway Museum Commission. Its exhibits concentrate on chronicling the town’s development from its establishment in the 1880s through contemporary times. Prominent displays highlight the region’s former inhabitants of the Mississippian culture, the early twentieth-century cotton industry, and include a reconstructed tenant farmer homestead.
See also
External links
- Official website of the Delta Gateway Museum
- City of Blytheville’s page for the Delta Gateway Museum
References
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Commercial buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas
- Art Deco style architecture in Arkansas
- Commercial structures completed in 1938
- S. H. Kress & Co.
- National Register of Historic Places in Mississippi County, Arkansas
- Buildings established in 1938 in Arkansas
- Blytheville, Arkansas
- Museums located in Mississippi County, Arkansas
- Individually recognized contributing properties within historic districts on the National Register in Arkansas