Volga Opera House: Iowa Time Machine May 7, 1914

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On May 7, 1914, the curtain went up at the Volga Opera House for the first time. The Clayton County venue served as a vital community meeting place for decades. Still, it faced near-demolition and underwent restoration to become part of a great Iowa historic preservation story.

The first show hosted at the space, “The Lion & the Mouse,” set the stage for the venue, serving as a community center for theatrical productions, dances, school functions, and other events. Eventually, the building housed several different businesses, including the Volga City News, a butcher shop, a grocery store, and several bars.

By the early 1980s, the building was in disrepair, and many thought its days might be numbered. However, area farmer Dennis McTaggart bought the building and began slowly making repairs. Sold again in the mid-1980s, the building reopened as a restaurant. However, in 1999, flooding severely damaged the opera house, and the building's future looked bleak.

During the early 2010s, local efforts started to come together to breathe new life into the Volga City Opera House. Community fundraising and grants helped provide funding, and vital repairs and thoughtful restoration work allowed the structure to rise as one of Iowa’s hidden gem venues in a new century. #Iowa #OTD #History #ThisDayInHistory #Entertainment