Downtown Bennington Historic District facts for kids
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Downtown Bennington Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | U.S. 7 and VT 9, Bennington, Vermont |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) (original) |
| Built | 1852 |
| Architect | Taylor, James Knox; Hobbs and Sons |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Italianate, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000327 (original) 08000454 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1980 |
| Boundary increase | May 21, 2008 |
The Downtown Bennington Historic District is a special area in Bennington, Vermont. It's like the historic heart of the town where many important buildings are located. This district is centered around where Main, South, and North Streets meet. You can see many different building styles here, from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, which means it's recognized as important to history. It was made even bigger in 2008 to include more historic spots.
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What Makes Downtown Bennington Special?
The historic downtown area of Bennington stretches along United States Route 7 (North and South Streets). It goes from Elm Street in the south up to the Walloomsac River in the north. It also follows Vermont Route 9 for a short distance. This district is full of different kinds of buildings. You'll find shops, government buildings, and cultural places. Most of these buildings were built between the mid-1800s and the early 1900s.
Important Buildings You Can See
Some of the most important buildings in the district include:
- The town hall: This building was constructed in 1846. It's built in the Greek Revival style, which looks a bit like ancient Greek temples.
- The county courthouse: Built in 1936, this building uses the Colonial Revival style. It looks like older American colonial homes.
- The Old Bennington Post Office: This building was finished in 1914. It's in the Classical Revival style, which is grand and formal. Today, it's used as the police station.
Why is Bennington an Important Town?
Bennington is the biggest town in southwestern Vermont. It's also one of the two "shire towns" for Bennington County. A shire town is like a county seat, where the main government offices are located. Bennington has always been a key place for business and government in its region.
How Bennington Got Started
Bennington was the very first town in what is now Vermont to get an official charter. This charter was like a special permission document. It was given in 1749 by Benning Wentworth. He was the colonial governor of New Hampshire. He wanted to make sure his province claimed this land.
Growth and Success of the Town
The town's first center was actually on a nearby hill, which is now called Old Bennington. But the downtown area we see today grew around a busy crossroads. This is where US 7 and VT 9 meet. In the 1800s, this area became very successful. The Walloomsac River provided power for factories and businesses. Bennington's importance in government grew too. A new courthouse was built in the 1870s, making it even more central. Bennington continued to be successful in business and industry through the 1900s. Even today, the town has many different types of businesses.
