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Downtown Baton Rouge Historic District facts for kids

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Downtown Baton Rouge Historic District
Former post office in downtown Baton Rouge.jpg
Old Post Office at 355 North Boulevard
Downtown Baton Rouge Historic District, LA.png
Location 3rd Street between Main Street and North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Architectural style Italianate, Classical Revival, Art Deco, International Style
NRHP reference No. 09000899
Added to NRHP November 10, 2009

The Downtown Baton Rouge Historic District is a special area in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It's like a time capsule along 3rd Street, stretching from Main Street to North Boulevard. This district is important because it helps protect and celebrate old buildings that show us what the city was like a long time ago.

This historic district includes 43 commercial buildings, meaning they were used for businesses. These buildings were built between the 1860s and the mid-1950s. Back then, 3rd Street was the main shopping and business street in downtown Baton Rouge.

Out of these buildings, 32 are called "contributing properties." This means they are original or have kept their historic look and feel. Six of these buildings are so special that they are also listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a national list of important historic places in the United States.

Even though the Belisle Building is in the same area, it's not considered a "contributing property." This is because it has been changed a lot over the years, and its newer parts are more noticeable than its original historic features.

The Downtown Baton Rouge Historic District was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 2009. This helps make sure these important buildings are preserved for the future.

Exploring the Historic Buildings

This historic district is home to 32 buildings that tell stories from the past. These buildings were constructed between the 1860s and 1957. Many of them were once busy shops, offices, or theaters.

Buildings on 3rd Street and Nearby

Let's take a look at some of the interesting buildings you can find here:

  • Reymond Building (built around 1920): You can find this building at 263-265 3rd Street.
  • Triad Building (built 1924): Located at 301-307-311 3rd Street, this building has a classic look.
  • W. T. Grant Building (built around 1925): This building at 313-315-319 3rd Street was once a popular department store.
  • Building at 331-333 3rd Street (built around 1920): Another historic spot on 3rd Street.
  • Building at 335 3rd Street (built in the 1940s): This building shows a slightly newer style from the mid-20th century.
  • Roumain Building (built 1913): Located at 341-343 3rd Street, this building is also individually listed on the National Register.
  • Building at 359 3rd Street (built around 1920): This building now hosts the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
  • Brunswick Building (built around 1905): You can find this building at 240 Laurel Street, just off 3rd Street.
  • Building at 222 Laurel Street (built around 1905): Another historic building on Laurel Street.
  • Building at 210 Laurel Street (built around 1955): This building was unfortunately torn down between 2015 and 2016.
  • Building at 421-423 3rd Street (built around 1915): An older building with a lot of history.
  • Kress Building (built around 1935): Located at 447 3rd Street, this building was once a famous Kress department store and is also individually listed.
  • Knox Building (built 1887): Also at 447 3rd Street, this is one of the older buildings in the district and is individually listed.
  • Welsh-Levy Building (built 1887): Sharing the address 447 3rd Street, this building is another historic gem and is individually listed.
  • Fidelity Bank (built 1957): This building at 440 3rd Street shows a more modern style from the mid-1950s.
  • The Commerce Building (built 1954-55): Located at 400 3rd Street and 333 Laurel Street, this was an important business hub.
  • Fuqua Hardware Store Building (built 1905): You can find this building at 358 3rd Street. It's also individually listed.
  • Louisiana Theater (built 1913): This building at 336 3rd Street was once a popular movie theater.
  • Latil's Stationery (built around 1915): Located at 324-326 3rd Street, this building used to be a stationery shop.
  • Building at 302 3rd Street (built in the 1940s): Another example of mid-20th century architecture.
  • Louisiana National Bank (built between 1908 and 1910): This grand building is at 236 3rd Street.
  • Mayer Hotel (built between 1908 and 1911): Located at 214 3rd Street, this was once a busy hotel.
  • Masonic Lodge (St. James Lodge #47, F&AM) (built around 1925): This lodge is at 200 3rd Street.
  • Louisiana National Bank (built around 1925): Another bank building, located at 150 3rd Street.
  • Building at 136 3rd Street (built around 1920): An older commercial building.
  • Union Bank and Trust Company (built around 1925): This bank building is at 124 3rd Street.

Buildings on North Boulevard

Some historic buildings are also found along North Boulevard:

  • Building at 301-303-307 North Boulevard (built around 1860 to 1870): This is one of the oldest buildings in the district.
  • Building at 311 North Boulevard (built around 1915): An early 20th-century building.
  • Building at 315 North Boulevard (built around 1915): Another historic building on North Boulevard.
  • Building at 321 North Boulevard (built around 1915): Part of the historic streetscape.
  • Fraternal Order of Eagles Building (built around 1925): This building at 327 North Boulevard was home to a fraternal organization.
  • Old Post Office (built 1894): Located at 355 North Boulevard, this beautiful building was once the city's main post office and is now the Baton Rouge City Club. It's also individually listed on the National Register.

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