Monticello Commercial Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Monticello Commercial Historic District
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| Location | Bounded roughly by Trotter Ave., Edwards St., Railroad Ave. & Chester St. , Monticello, Arkansas |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000688 |
| Added to NRHP | September 23, 2011 |
The Monticello Commercial Historic District is a special part of downtown Monticello, Arkansas. This area shows off the old business heart of the city. Monticello is the main city in Drew County, Arkansas. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. This means it's an important place to protect because of its history.
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Exploring Monticello's Historic Buildings
Monticello was first planned out in the 1850s. However, none of the very first business buildings from that time are still standing today. The oldest buildings you can see now were built later, mostly between the 1890s and around 1912.
Where the Old Buildings Are
These older buildings were built around the city square. This square used to have the county courthouse. Now, it's a nice open grassy park. Some parts of the city blocks near the park have been rebuilt with new buildings. These newer areas are not part of the historic district.
The buildings that are part of the district are mostly found along the south and east sides of the park. This includes streets like North Main Street and West Gaines Street. The district also stretches east along East Gaines Street and East McCloy Street. Most of these buildings were built between 1921 and 1961.
What the Buildings Look Like
Many of the buildings in this district are connected to each other. They share walls, which are called party walls. Most of them are made of brick and have a simple, local style.
However, some buildings stand out! For example, the Monticello Post Office has an Art Deco style. This building is so special it's listed separately on the National Register. There's also a building on North Main Street that has a Moderne style.
The tallest building in the district is the five-story Ridgeway Hotel. It's built in a Mediterranean Revival style and is also listed separately. The most fancy buildings, with lots of architectural details, are at 202 and 204 North Main Street. These are Italianate style buildings built around 1900.
Changes Over Time
Like many old places, the Monticello Commercial Historic District has changed a bit over the years. Some of the older buildings have been updated. These changes sometimes make them look different from their original style.
For example, a brick building at 103–107 North Bailey was built in the early 1900s. But its front has been changed in ways that don't match its old character. Another building at 120 North Main, from a similar time, has been covered with metal. These changes mean these specific buildings don't contribute to the historic feel as much anymore.
