The Thorpe Opera House, built in 1889 by William B. Thorpe, served as a cultural center and as a hometown stage for Thorpe's daughter, Estelle. The three-story brick building featured a beautifully designed interior with walnut stained chairs, velour-draped boxes, and a pastel blue color scheme. Its seating capacity of 1,000 included a U-shaped balcony that was later removed. The upstairs theater hosted theatrical performances brought to David City by the town's railroads. The building was also used as the State Theater in the 1940s and 1950s, the Astro theater in the 1960s, and the Youth Center in 1978.