Gilchrist Supports Akron Opera House Renovation
For nearly 120 years the Akron Opera House has stood as a landmark of cultural life in the small, northwest Iowa town. Now, with support from the Gilchrist Foundation, the community is taking steps to help preserve this historic theater and prepare it for the next century of performances, gatherings and shared experiences.
In 2025 and 2024, the Foundation provided a challenge match of $58,636.47 and $41,363.53 totaling $100,000, for continued restoration and renovation of its historic 1905 facility.
This funding builds on significant local investment and marks a major step toward safeguarding the Opera House’s historic character while creating a welcoming, accessible space for the region.
Supporting this project aligns with the Gilchrist Foundation’s mission to help local organizations take on transformative work that builds long-term impact rather than short-term change.
Preserving a Community Landmark
Organizers of the Akron Opera House renovation have broken down the $1.5 million project into several phases. The plan focuses first on protecting and stabilizing the historic structure, then on restoring original architectural features and finally on modern upgrades that will improve accessibility and community use.
Phase One is now complete and included a comprehensive building assessment and initial renovation design. This groundwork identified structural and preservation needs to guide all future restoration efforts.
Phase Two focused on securing the exterior. It included replacing the roof, repairing the cracked storefront windows, restoring the Opera House’s distinctive round windows and installing new second-story.
Phase Three will use funding from the Gilchrist Foundation to help advance work on the parapet and façade. Plans include restoring the original parapet design, updating storefront windows and creating a central entry that enhances the building’s historic charm. This phase is still underway, with $117,000 being raised to date.
Phases Four through Six turn attention to the interior, adding accessible stairs and an elevator to the theater level, updating restrooms and community spaces, renovating the theater, and enhancing backstage and balcony areas. These improvements will ensure the Opera House remains inviting, functional and historically authentic.
The entire project is budgeted at $1,536,500.
A Century of Storytelling
Built in 1905, the Akron Opera House opened in early 1906. For years it brought chautauquas, theater productions, lyceum speakers, medicine shows, opera and touring performers to rural Iowa.
Iowa once boasted more than 1,200 rural opera houses. Now, fewer than 300 remain. Akron’s is one of the rare few preserved. Even during the Depression when performances ceased, community members refused to let the building fall into disrepair. Local businesses continued to rent the space, ensuring it remained part of community life.
A revival effort in 1970, led by high school drama teacher Richard Jacobs and a team of 60 students, reignited the Opera House’s legacy. Volunteers rebuilt the stage with salvaged lumber, restored seating, donated materials and even cleared the building of 400 bats. Their efforts brought theater back to Akron and laid the groundwork for more than 50 years of community productions.
In 1974 the Akron Community Theater purchased the building and has since continued the tradition of preservation and performance.
The Gilchrist Foundation’s Commitment
The Gilchrist Foundation was established by Jocelyn Gilchrist to honor her family’s long tradition of philanthropy and to strengthen organizations that enrich Iowa’s cultural and natural landscape. Throughout her life, Jocelyn supported the arts, wildlife and conservation, public broadcasting, and disaster relief, both personally and through the Foundation.
Since her passing in 2008, the Foundation has continued this legacy by investing in projects that build lasting impact. Its mission is to strengthen charitable organizations and enable transformative projects that enrich communities, rather than simply funding short-term needs.
The Akron Opera House renovation embodies that mission. By supporting this work, the Foundation is helping preserve a rare piece of Iowa history while ensuring the performing arts continue to thrive in Akron for generations.
To learn more about the Gilchrist Foundation, visit thegilchristfoundation.org.