Federal Street District facts for kids
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Federal Street District
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Historic homes in the Federal Street District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Salem, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Early Republic, Late Victorian |
| MPS | Downtown Salem MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000299 (original) 83000576 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 17, 1976 |
| Boundary increase | September 16, 1983 |
The Federal Street District is a special area in Salem, Massachusetts. It's known for its old homes and important government buildings. This district is like a preserved piece of history. It shows how people lived and worked long ago.
This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. That means it's a place worth protecting because of its history. Later, in 1983, the district was made even bigger. It now includes all the buildings on Federal Street between Washington and North Streets. This includes homes from 32 to 65 Federal Street. It also includes the Tabernacle Church at 50 Washington Street.
Contents
Historic Court Buildings
The Federal Street District is home to several important court buildings. These buildings have been used for legal matters for a very long time. They show different styles of architecture through the years.
Early Court Structures
The very first court building in this area was built in 1785. It was used for many years. Later, new buildings were added as the town grew.
Old Granite Courthouse
The Old Granite Courthouse was built in 1841. It is also called the County Commissioner's Building. This building was made in the Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek temples, with strong columns and simple shapes.
Superior Court Building
Right next to the Old Granite Courthouse is the Superior Court. It was first built in 1862. Its original style was Italianate. This style often features low-pitched roofs and tall, narrow windows. Later, it was changed to the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This style uses heavy stone, round arches, and often has towers. Today, a much newer court building has been built nearby.
Historic Homes and Churches
Besides the court buildings, the Federal Street District has many old houses. These homes tell stories of how people lived in Salem centuries ago.
Residential Architecture
Most of the houses on Federal Street were built between 1810 and 1900. They show different popular styles from that time. One special house is #47. It's a Georgian style house with a unique gambrel roof. It was built even earlier, in the late 1700s.
Many of the homes are in the Italianate style, like some of the court buildings. Others are in the Second Empire style. This style often has a special kind of roof called a mansard roof. There is also one Colonial Revival house at #62, built in 1900. This style looks back to earlier American colonial designs.
Tabernacle Church
The Tabernacle Church is also part of this historic district. It is located on Washington Street, but it is very close to Federal Street. This church was built in 1923. It is in the Georgian Revival style. This style brings back the look of buildings from the 1700s, often with classic, balanced designs.
Images for kids
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Old Granite Courthouse (c. 1841)
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Superior Court (1889)
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Registry of Deeds (1909)
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New law library converted from a Baptist church (1806)
