Wallace L. Dow, often known as W.L. Dow, was an architect of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
He has been referred to as the "Builder on the Prairie" and was "considered the premier architect of South Dakota in the late 19th century."
Wallace L. Dow was born in Croydon, New Hampshire on September 21, 1844, the son of Hial and Lura Powers Dow. Dow was educated in local schools and at the Powers Institute. He learned the carpentry and building contracting trade from his father, and worked in the plumbing and heating trades in the early 1860s in Massachusetts. He returned to New Hampshire and formed his own contracting and building supply manufacturing company. He then studied architecture under his uncle, Edward Dow, an architect, in Concord, New Hampshire.
Wallace Dow moved to Pierre, South Dakota, in 1880. In February, 1881, Dow was appointed by the governor to the board responsible for building the territorial prison in Sioux Falls. Dow was chairman of the prison construction board for four years. He moved to Sioux Falls in 1882. Following completion of the prison worked as an architect. He designed many public buildings, and played an important role in development of the construction stone industry in the state.
He worked also as Wallace LeRoy Dow and as Wallace Dow and Sons.
Dow married Lois M. Whipple of Croyden, New Hampshire, in 1865. Their three children were Edward W. Dow, Baron C. Dow, and Annie H. Dow. Dow died in Sioux Falls July 6, 1911.
A number of Dow'sworks are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Dakota Wesleyan University, bounded by E. and W. University Aves. and McCabe St., Mitchell, South Dakota (Dow,W.L.), NRHP-listed
Douglas County Clerk of Courts and Auditor's Office building, U.S. 281, Armour, South Dakota (Dow,W.L.), NRHP-listed
First Baptist Church of Vermillion (1889–90), 101 E. Main St., Vermillion, South Dakota (Dow,Wallace Le Roy), NRHP-listed
Main Hall, University of South Dakota campus, Springfield, South Dakota (Dow,W.L.), NRHP-listed
Old Main, Clark St., University of South Dakota campus, Vermillion, South Dakota (Dow,W.L.), NRHP-listed
South Dakota School for the Deaf, 1800 E. 10th St., Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Dow,Wallace L.), NRHP-listed
South Dakota State Penitentiary Historic Buildings, 1600 North Dr., Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Dow,W.L.), NRHP-listed
George D. Dayton House, 1311 4th Ave., Worthington, Minnesota (Dow, Wallace L.), NRHP-listed
One or more works in Downtown Vermillion Historic District, Main St., roughly bounded by Market and Dakota Sts., Vermillion, South Dakota (Dow, Wallace, et al.), NRHP-listed
William G. Milne House, 508 E. 9th St., Dell Rapids, South Dakota (Dow, Wallace, and Sons), NRHP-listed
One or more works in Old Courthouse and Warehouse District (Boundary Increase), roughly bounded by N. Dakota Ave., 4th St., the Big Sioux R., and 7th St., Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Dow, Wallace L.), NRHP-listed
One or more works in Sioux Falls Downtown Historic District, roughly bounded by S. Dakota and S. First Aves., W. Ninth and W. Fourteenth Sts., Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Dow, Wallace L.), NRHP-listedIllinois Central Railroad passenger terminal, 200 N Cherapa Pl, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
Rock Island Railroad passenger terminal, 201 E 10th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Wentworth depot, standard depot plan of the South Dakota Central Railway Company, moved to Prairie Village Museum near Madison
Old Minnehaha County Courthouse, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
All Saints School, Sioux Falls, South Dakota