October 9, 1839 – Asaph Allen and George T. Andrews pay a $30 licensing fee, the newly-appointed city commissioners issue a certificate, and Iowa City has its first “official” hotel/tavern!
Asaph Allen and George T. Andrews‘ Double Log Cabin. In February 1839, two pioneers built a claim cabin on Johnson County land near, what is today, the Iowa City intersection of Brown Street and Gilbert Street. By June 1839, they had built a second cabin about 20 feet away from the original one, placed a roof over the space in-between, and before long, they had opened up a tavern. City records indicate that all this became “official” when Allen & Andrews paid a $30 licensing fee, a certificate was issued, and Iowa City had its first “official” hotel/tavern!
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