Union Block (Mount Pleasant, Iowa)

The Union Block, built in 1861 by William McCandless, is a historic site in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, notable for being the first location where a woman, Arabella A. Mansfield, was licensed to practice law in the United States. The building served as a hub for community gatherings, including speeches by prominent figures in the women's rights and civil rights movements. After suffering significant damage from a fire in 2011, a community-led revitalization effort successfully restored the Union Block, which reopened in 2014, now hosting various businesses and events, making it a vibrant part of the local culture.