The Drake University Campus Historic District is located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The historic district contains six buildings. Five of the buildings are collegiate buildings on the Drake University campus and one is a church. The period of significance is from when the university was founded in 1881 to the end of the presidency of Hill M. Bell in 1918. The historic district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. It is part of the Drake University and Related Properties in Des Moines, Iowa, 1881—1918 MPS.HistoryThe historic district comprises six buildings on the southeast corner of the Drake University campus. Five of the buildings belong to the university and other is a church complex. The importance of the district lies in the development of Drake University by the Disciples of Christ and the role the school and the church played in the development of this part of Des Moines. The academic buildings also relate to the role of General Francis Marion Drake, who founded the school and was its major benefactor in its early years, and the progressive period of the school’s early president Hill M. Bell.Drake University was established in 1881 and is the oldest institution of higher education in the city. Initially the Disciples of Christ held their services on the Drake campus. University Place Christian Chapel was organized in 1888 with 382 charter members. In 1977, Central Christian and University Christian Churches merged to form First Christian Church at this site. Old Main was the first building constructed in brick on the Drake campus. The other campus buildings in the historic district were built in the first decade of the 20th century. The present church building was constructed at the same time, and the adjoining education building was added in 1926. Drake University is no longer affiliated with the Disciples of Christ.
