City of Clear
Lake
— Historic Sea
Wall
RDG effectively authored a nomination for this structure to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the premier recognition for any building or structure. The nomination was developed to honor the structure, as an important and much valued example of WPA projects in Iowa.
RDG prepared the formal nomination that successfully resulted in this structure being listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The process included researching the original construction and architectural modifications that had occurred over the years; studying historic photographs and other documents; authoring detailed descriptions of the site and the structure; justifying the structure's significance both in terms of its architecture and its history in the community; documenting changes throughout the house's history; and assessing the current conditions. The resulting report demonstrates the sea wall's historic significance not only to the Clear Lake community, which already knew its importance, but also to the state of Iowa. RDG then presented the research findings to the Iowa State Nominations Review Committee, and incorporated their comments, as appropriate. RDG was also hired to help on a number of approaches to repair and rehabilitate the iconic Clear Lake Sea Wall. The original wall, which was completed under the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression in 1936, had suffered decades of weather and water wear and tear. RDG completed a Conditions Report to identify the specifics and severity of the wall's current conditions, and then helped prepare the necessary construction documents to direct those much needed repairs.