[3] Davenport started to outgrow its previous city hall, which had been built on Brady Street from 1857 to 1858.

In 1895, in the midst of a deep national economic depression, Davenport built an ornate new City Hall.

The cost was about $90,000 — an astronomical sum at that time — and the City constructed the new building without issuing any municipal bonds.

The bulk of the funds came from a new state law (the "mulct tax") which applied to the city's 150 illegal saloons and amounted to around $50,000 per year.

[8] Debates were held in the city council and among other civic groups until Iowa's prohibition amendment was passed in 1916.

[7] City hall was designed by Davenport architect John W. Ross,[9] and built by Morrison Bros. Construction Company.

[4] As is common with this style, the city hall integrates corner towers, gable ends, rustic stone, and Roman arches.

It also added environmentally friendly features that include bioswales for stormwater and an electric car-charging station.