Henry Adams Building

Iowa, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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The Henry Adams Building in Algona, Iowa, designed by Louis Sullivan in 1912, exemplifies the architect's celebrated "Jewel Boxes"—a series of small Midwestern structures built between 1909 and 1919. Despite never functioning as a bank, this compact, rectangular structure embodies the hallmarks of Sullivan's later work: simple massing, clearly defined structure, and abundant fenestration including street-facing windows and a skylight that floods the interior with natural light. Assisted by draftsman Parker Berry, Sullivan employed design principles—particularly in the entrance detailing—that resembled the work of his former associates Purcell & Elmslie. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 under its original name, the Land and Loan Office Building, it now houses the Algona Chamber of Commerce.