Broad Avenue Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Broad Avenue Historic District
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Broad Avenue Historic District, April 2012
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly along Broad Ave., from 23rd to 31st Sts., Altoona, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 30 acres (12 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000806 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 2002 |
The Broad Avenue Historic District is a special neighborhood in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It's like a time capsule showing how people lived and built homes long ago. This area is important because its buildings tell a story about the past. It was officially recognized as a national historic district in 2002.
Contents
What is a Historic District?
A historic district is a group of buildings, structures, or objects that are important because of their history or architecture. These areas are protected to help keep their unique character. The Broad Avenue Historic District has 140 buildings that help tell its story. These are called "contributing buildings."
A Look at the Buildings
Most of the buildings in this district were built between 1880 and 1927. They show off popular building styles from that time. Two main styles you'll see are:
- Colonial Revival: This style looks back to the simple, classic designs of early American homes. Think of symmetrical fronts, tall windows, and often a grand entrance.
- Italianate: This style was inspired by Italian Renaissance villas. Buildings often have low-pitched roofs, wide overhanging eaves, and decorative brackets.
Besides homes, the district also includes two important churches. The Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church was built around 1895. The Broad Avenue United Methodist Church was built in 1927. These churches are also part of the district's history.
How the Area Grew
The Broad Avenue area was one of the first "streetcar suburbs" in Altoona. A streetcar suburb is a neighborhood that grew up along a streetcar line. People could live a bit further from the city center and still get to work or shops easily by riding the streetcar. This made it a popular place for families to settle down.
Becoming a Historic Place
In 2002, the Broad Avenue Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the United States that are important to our country's history. Being on this list helps protect the district and makes people more aware of its value. It means the neighborhood's unique look and history will be preserved for future generations.
