used until the 1920s, was built sometime later. By the turn of the 20th century the area had become seriously degraded, and its popularity declined. The first park land was purchased in 1921 by the Maquoketa Women's Club for the purposes of establishing a state park. Originally called Morehead Caves State Park, its name was changed to Maquoketa Caves in 1928. Additional land was acquired in 1931. The majority of the park facilities were constructed from 1932 to 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Both programs resulted from the federal government effort to make work for Americans during the Great Depression. Their work makes up the contributing properties of the historic district. They include three CCC overlook shelters, the entrance portals, the custodian's residence, the shelterhouse/concession building, the stone picnic circle, and two stone latrines. The noncontributing structures in the park include the CCC/WPA cave improvements, the CCC/WPA trail system, the park ranger's residence, a picnic shelter, and two wood-frame latrines. State Landscape Architect John Fitzsimmons designed the custodian's residence. It and the other historic structures designed by the Central Design Office in Ames, Iowa were built in the Rustic style, which was promulgated by the National Park Service in the 1930s as being appropriate for parks. The State of Iowa purchased an additional on the west side of the park between 1961 and 1981. This section was dedicated as a nature preserve. In popular culture The park was once featured on an episode of Rescue 911 when a story was done on a hiker who had fallen and was seriously injured while at the park. The hiker was saved by paramedics and the Maquoketa volunteer fire department. Familicide In the early morning of July 22, 2022, an assailant killed three members of a family at the campground. The assailant, identified as 23-year-old Anthony Sherwin of Nebraska, later committed suicide. See also List of Iowa state parks References External links Maquoketa Caves State Park Caves of Iowa Civilian Conservation Corps in Iowa Driftless Area State parks of Iowa Maquoketa, Iowa Protected areas established in 1921 Protected areas of Jackson County, Iowa Show caves in the United States Works Progress Administration in Iowa Landforms of Jackson County, Iowa National Register of Historic Places in Jackson County, Iowa Park buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa Historic districts on the