Liberty Hall
Lawrence, KS (Current Project)
642 Massachusetts St
Liberty Hall occupies the historic Bowersock Opera House. It is a locally owned and operated historic theater in downtown Lawrence. The original Liberty Hall was established in 1856 and transformed to an opera house in 1882. After being destroyed by a fire in 1911, the building was reconstructed in 1912, resulting in the structure that stands today. It is a three-story Beaux Arts building with an adjoining two-story wing, the only building of the Beaux Arts style in the Downtown Historic District.
This ongoing project aims to restore the exterior cornice and other deteriorating elements of Liberty Hall. The restoration involves replacing Liberty Hall’s terracotta cornice, raking cornice and modillions with lighter-weight replications, due to deteriorating conditions of the terracotta and supporting steel of the existing construction. Additional work includes repairing the exterior masonry, restoring interior plaster and paint, and repairing the tile floors and stairs.
Liberty Hall is a key contributing building for Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, comprising the core of the historic central business district of Lawrence, Kansas. Buildings within the district are associated with various periods of Lawrence’s development and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July, 2004. The hall hosts numerous events, including concerts, movies, speakers, fundraising events, weddings, and funerals. It has been voted Lawrence’s Best Music Venue for three consecutive years. In addition to its main stage, the building houses Liberty Hall Cinema, La Prima Tazza, and Squishington’s Candy Shop, all locally owned businesses.
Come back to see when Liberty Hall is fully repaired!
