Behrens-Rapp Filling Station

The first true auto service station was established in Cedar Falls when the Behrens Brothers, John F. and William C. Behrens, built a “pure oil station” in 1925 on land they had purchased at the intersection of 14th St and Waterloo Rd. The filling station’s hip roof, brick pillars, drive-under canopy, and ring of light bulbs captured the era's architectural style.

The Behrens' operated the station for twenty years before son-in-law Norris Smith took over management and ownership in 1945.

John Rapp began working at the station in 1943, but World War II interrupted his service. After the war, he returned to his work and became the manager in 1950. He purchased the business from Norris Smith in the 1960s and continued operations until May 1990.

When construction plans for the new Highway 58 endangered the building, a group of Cedar Falls citizens worked to preserve it and find it a new home. On July 21, 1993 it settled into its home at First and Clay, where it now serves as a Visitor Information Center and is open from May through October.

To log this cache you must answer the following questions and send the answers to me HERE.

PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS IN YOUR LOG. USE THE LINK ABOVE TO SEND THEM TO ME.

1) The gas pumps were manufactured by who?

2) How many colors make up the front door stain glass window?

3) What could you have bought from the dispenser inside the station?

4) Bonus Question: How am I connected to this station?

5) Optional: If you'd like, post a picture of yourself with the station in the background from the posted coordinates.

Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.