The Overview Mansion: 1901 - Offered at $499,900

Perched majestically on a bluff overlooking downtown Davenport, The Overview Mansion is arguably the most significant architectural landmark in Iowa’s historic Gold Coast (Hamburg Historic District).

Listed by: Donna Arnold, CRS 563-505-2258, Keller Williams Legacy Group

Designed in 1901 by the acclaimed regional architects Clausen & Burrows for dry goods magnate August Steffen Jr., this 6,238 sq ft Georgian Revival masterpiece is crafted from rare golden-honey Roman brick.

Over the past decade, the main floor underwent a painstaking, museum-grade restoration—from custom molds created to replicate intricate plasterwork to globally sourced period lighting and professionally cleaned hand-painted murals.

Remarkably, the sale even includes the original hand-carved lion’s-head dining set, which was tracked down and returned to its rightful home.

With major mechanical overhauls complete (including two geothermal HVAC systems), this historic estate is ready for a preservationist to finish the upper level en-suites and claim one of the finest Mississippi River views in the Midwest.

Property Snapshot

Price: $499,900 ($80/sq. ft. — rare value for this scale!) 💰

Location: 412 W 6th St, Davenport, IA 52803 📍

Beds/Baths: 4 🛏️ / 2 🛁 (Configured with plumbing/space for 4 full baths)

Square Footage: 6,238 sq ft (Livable) / 9,357 sq ft (Total Structure) 📐

Year Built: 1901 🕰️

Lot Size: 0.73 Acres (Corner bluff lot) 🌳

Heating/Cooling: Dual Geothermal HVAC Systems ⚡

Architectural & Historical Highlights

Clausen & Burrows Legacy: Frederick G. Clausen and Parke T. Burrows were Davenport’s premier turn-of-the-century architects, known for designing the city’s grandest public structures and Gold Coast estates.

The Grand Staircase: Features a soaring landing framed by a beautifully restored, arched-frame mirror and meticulously duplicated balusters.

Second-Floor Balcony: The restored second-floor landing opens through period doors onto a private balcony overlooking downtown Davenport and the Mississippi River.

Five Fireplaces: Located across the formal dining room, living spaces, and primary bedrooms.

Blank Canvas Upper Level: The second floor has brand-new drywall and paint; the master en-suite (taken to the studs) and southwest en-suite allow you to select your own custom luxury fixtures.

Preservation & Tax Credit Potential

Hamburg Historic District (National Register): Because this property is a contributing structure in a designated National Register Historic District, owner-occupants undertaking substantial historic rehabilitations may be eligible for the Iowa Historic Preservation Tax Credit.

Rehabilitation Incentives: Qualified rehabilitation expenditures on the remaining unfinished spaces (such as the second-floor en-suite bathrooms and upper-level finishes) could earn up to a 25% state tax credit through the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of Iowa.