List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Washtenaw County facts for kids

Washtenaw County is located in southeastern Michigan.

Washtenaw County, Michigan, is home to many amazing places that tell stories about the past! These special spots are called Michigan State Historic Sites. They are buildings, landmarks, or areas that have been officially recognized as important parts of Michigan's history. Think of them as real-life history books you can visit!

Some of these sites are so important that they are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as significant across the entire country. Let's explore some of these cool places and learn about the history they hold.

Exploring Historic Places in Washtenaw County
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Exploring Historic Places in Washtenaw County

Washtenaw County has a rich history, from early settlements to important moments in industry and education. Many buildings and locations here have played a big role in shaping the area. Visiting these sites helps us understand how people lived, worked, and built communities long ago.

Ann Arbor's Historic Gems

Ann Arbor is a vibrant city with many historic sites. It's home to the famous University of Michigan, which has several historic buildings.

University of Michigan's Past

The Detroit Observatory is a very old building from 1858. It was used to study stars and space! Imagine scientists looking through telescopes here over a hundred years ago. The President's House is where the university's leader lives, and it's also a historic spot. The Martha Cook Building is a beautiful dormitory for women students, built with a unique design. Another interesting place is Newberry Hall, which was once a student meeting place and now holds a museum.

Ann Arbor's City Landmarks

The Ann Arbor Central Fire Station is an old firehouse that protected the city for many years. It reminds us of the brave firefighters from the past. The Michigan Theater Building is a grand old movie palace where people used to watch films and enjoy live shows. It's still a popular place for entertainment today.

You can also find the Michigan Central Railroad Depot, which was a busy train station. Trains were super important for travel and trade back then. The Northern Brewery is another historic building, showing us where beer was made a long time ago.

Ypsilanti's Rich History

Ypsilanti is another city in Washtenaw County with a fascinating past, especially linked to education and transportation.

Ypsilanti's Educational Roots

Eastern Michigan College (now Eastern Michigan University) has a long history of teaching. Starkweather Hall is one of its oldest buildings, used for many different purposes over the years. The Science and Manual Training Building-Eastern Michigan University was important for teaching students practical skills and scientific knowledge.

Ypsilanti's Unique Structures

The Ypsilanti Water Tower is a very famous landmark. It looks like a giant mushroom and is known for its unique shape. It helped provide water to the city for many years. The Michigan Central Freighthouse was a place where goods were loaded and unloaded from trains, showing how important railroads were for business.

The Ypsilanti Historic District is a whole area with many old buildings that keep the city's history alive. It's like stepping back in time when you walk through it.

Historic Sites in Other Towns

Washtenaw County has many smaller towns and rural areas with their own special historic sites.

Chelsea's Community Hubs

In Chelsea, the Chelsea Depot was another important train station. The Glazier Stove Company Warehouse and Clocktower Building shows the town's industrial past, where stoves were once made. The George P. Glazier Memorial Building is a beautiful building that served the community.

Dexter's Early Days

Dexter has the Judge Samuel W. Dexter House, a grand home built by one of the area's first important settlers. The Dexter Depot was its train station, and the Bell Road Bridge is a historic bridge over the Huron River.

Manchester's Heritage

Manchester has the Blacksmith Shop, where a blacksmith would make and repair metal tools. The Manchester Grist Mill was a mill where grain was ground into flour, a vital process for early communities.

Saline's Salt Springs

The town of Saline gets its name from natural salt springs found there. These springs were important for early settlers. The Davenport House and the Saline Presbyterian Church are also historic buildings in Saline.

Important Moments and People

Some historic sites mark important events or honor special people.

Michigan Becomes a State

The Michigan Becomes a State informational site in Ann Arbor tells the story of how Michigan officially became a state. It was a big moment in history!

Pioneers and Leaders

The Governor Alpheus Felch informational site in Ann Arbor remembers a former governor of Michigan. The Elijah McCoy Commemorative Designation in Ypsilanti honors a famous African-American inventor who created important lubrication devices for machines.

Community Gathering Places

Many churches are also historic sites, like the Dixboro United Methodist Church in Dixboro and the First Baptist Church in Ypsilanti. These churches were often central to community life. The Bridgewater Town Hall and Webster Township Hall are examples of places where local government and community meetings happened.

These historic sites help us connect with the past and understand the amazing journey of Washtenaw County. Each one has a story to tell!

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William Anderson House
Antislavery Society Informational Site
Ballard House
Bell Road Bridge
Bell-Spalding House
Bethel Church
Bethlehem United Church of Christ
Blacksmith Shop
Bridgewater Town Hall
Brinkerhoff-Becker House
Edward DeMille Campbell House
John Cassidy House
Central Title Service Building Informational Site
Cleary College Informational Designation
John Wesley Conant House
Corey House
Davenport House
Delta Upsilon Fraternity House
Dexter Depot
Dixboro General Store
Earhart Manor
Governor Alpheus Felch Informational Designation
David M. Finley House
First Baptist Church
First Congregational Church
First Methodist Episcopal Church
First Presbyterian Church
Fleming Creek Mill
Fountain-Bessac House
Henry S. Frieze House
Glazier Stove Company Warehouse and Clocktower Building
George P. Glazier Memorial Building
The German Church
Henry C. Gregory House
Hudson Mills Informational Designation
Hutchinson House
Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity House
Kellogg-Warden House
Kempf House
Ladies' Literary Club
James A. Lynch House
Manchester Grist Mill
Elijah McCoy Commemorative Designation
Michigan Central Freighthouse
Michigan Interurbans Informational Designation
Michigan Municipal League Informational Designation
Michigan's First Jewish Cemetery Site
Milan Old Village Hall and Fire Station
North Lake Methodist Church
Northern Brewery
Albert H. Pattengill House
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity House
Esek Pray House
Prospect Park
John and Mary Raywalt House
Saint Andrew's Church
Saint Andrews Lutheran Church
Saint Joseph's Church
Saint Mary Church
St. Patrick's Church
Thomas Church
St. Thomas the Apostle Church
Salem Church
Salem Methodist Episcopal Church and Salem Walker Cemetery
Saline Presbyterian Church
Science and Manual Training Building-Eastern Michigan University
Sharon Mills
Superior and Ann Arbor Fractional District No. 2 Schoolhouse
Ticknor-Campbell House
Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Michigan Railroad Ann Arbor Depot
University of Michigan Informational Designation
Webster Township Hall
Webster United Church of Christ
Welfare Building
Orrin White House
John Williams House
Willow Run Bomber Plant
Judge Robert S. Wilson House
Ypsilanti Historical Museum, 220 N Huron, between Michigan Avenue and Cross Street.JPG

Ypsilanti Area Informational Designation
Ypsilanti Historic District
Ypsilanti Water Tower
Zion Lutheran Church