NEWS | July 14, 2025

Eagle Point Park Project Highlighted at Prairie School Symposium

 

WJE sponsored the Prairie School Legacy in Iowa Symposium, a two-day event highlighting the work of architects Alfred Caldwell and Frank Lloyd Wright and their impact on midwestern architecture. Architect Mike Ford presented on our historic preservation work at three Alfred Caldwell-designed structures in Dubuque’s Eagle Point Park.

Featuring limestone pavilions, garden beds, a lily pond, and sweeping views of three states atop Mississippi River bluffs, the 164-acre Eagle Point Park is a National Register Historic District. In 2024, WJE was tapped by the City of Dubuque to develop a Historic Structures Report to guide the rehabilitation and restoration of three of Caldwell’s structures. We compiled the history and historical context of the park, documented the structures in their current condition, evaluated their significance and integrity, and identified appropriate treatments for the three areas—the Indian Room, Veranda Rooms, and Bridge Complex.

Mike’s presentation, “Discover Eagle Point Park,” explained how, through the use of rock-faced stone quarried nearby and Prairie Style design concepts, Alfred Caldwell created inviting shelters for park visitors that harmonize with the land and natural terrain.