Third Street Old Zion Church Marker

This large stone historic plaque marks the spot where Old Zion Methodist Episcopal Church once sat on N Third Street. It was the first church built in Burlington, and was completed in 1838. The church rented its facilities to the Supreme Court of Iowa, the District Court of Des Moines County, and other bodies of territory and state legislature. In 1881, the building became too small for the growing congregation, and it was sold and torn down. An opera house was built on this site, and later torn down in The congregation purchased the lot at the corner of Fifth and Washington Street, and was renamed First United Methodist Church.

The marker reads (on the left side): “This tablet marks the site of Old Zion Church ME in which convened the first legislature of the Territory of Iowa November 12, 1838.” the right side of the marker tells of the church's history.

Photo taken with iPhone 6, May 2015.
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