National Register of Historic Places listings in Burke County, North Carolina facts for kids

A map showing Burke County in North Carolina.

Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and places in your town? Some places are so special because of their history that they get listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a special list kept by the United States government to help protect important buildings, sites, and objects. When a place is on this list, it means it has a unique story to tell about our past.

Burke County, North Carolina is full of these amazing historic spots! From old schools and hospitals to beautiful homes and churches, these places help us learn about how people lived long ago. They show us what life was like in Burke County and how it has changed over time.

What is a Historic Place?

A historic place can be many things! It might be a single building, like an old house or a school. It could also be a historic district, which is a whole area with many buildings that share a common history or architectural style. For a place to be listed, it needs to be important in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

Why are these places important?

These historic places are like giant storybooks. They help us understand our local and national history. By protecting them, we make sure that future generations can also learn from them. It's like preserving a piece of time so we can always look back and see where we came from.

Historic Spots in Burke County

Burke County has many different types of places on the National Register. Let's explore some of them!

Schools and Learning Places

Schools are often very important to a community's history. They are where many people learned and grew up.

• Avery Avenue School in Morganton, North Carolina was listed in 1987. Imagine all the students who walked through its doors over the years!
• The North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton is another significant place. This school has been helping deaf students for a very long time. It even has a main building that was listed separately in 1976, and the whole campus became a historic district in 1989.
• Valdese Elementary School in Valdese, North Carolina was listed in 1984. It's cool to think about how many kids learned their ABCs and math in that very building!

Important Buildings and Districts

Many other buildings and areas in Burke County tell important stories.

• The Burke County Courthouse in Morganton, listed in 1970, is a very important building. Courthouses are where laws are made and justice is served. This building has seen many important decisions over the years.
• Broughton Hospital Historic District in Morganton, listed in 1987, includes the grounds and buildings of a large hospital that has cared for people for a long time. An older part of the hospital, known as the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum, was listed in 1977.
• The Morganton Downtown Historic District is a whole area in the center of Morganton that was listed in 1987. It includes many old buildings that make up the heart of the town.
• The Hunting Creek Railroad Bridge, listed in 1987, is an example of an important engineering structure. Bridges like this helped people and goods travel across the county.

Historic Homes and Churches

Many old homes and churches are also recognized for their historical value.

• The Alphonse Calhoun Avery House in Morganton, listed in 1984, is an example of a beautiful old home.
• Bellevue, a historic home north of Morganton, was listed in 1973.
• Creekside, west of Morganton, was listed in 1972.
• The Jacob Forney Jr. House and Franklin-Penland House are other historic homes.
• Gaston Chapel and Gilboa Methodist Church are two churches that were listed in 1984. Churches often play a big role in the community's history and social life.
• The Waldensian Presbyterian Church in Valdese, listed in 1984, is special because it relates to the unique history of the Waldensian people who settled in Valdese.

Other Interesting Places

• Quaker Meadows and Quaker Meadows Cemetery are two related sites near Morganton, listed in 1973 and 1987 respectively. These places likely tell stories about early settlers and their lives.
• The Dunavant Cotton Manufacturing Company in Morganton, listed in 2013, shows the history of industry in the area.
• Sloan-Throneburg Farm near Chesterfield, listed in 2002, is an example of a historic farm, showing us how people used to live and work the land.

Former Listings

Sometimes, a property might be removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This can happen if a building is changed too much or is no longer there. For example, Pleasant Valley near Morganton was listed in 1972 but was later removed in 1977.

Images for kids

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  Avery Avenue School

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  Bellevue

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  Broughton Hospital

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  Burke County Courthouse

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  Dale's USB Market

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  Gilboa Methodist Church

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  Hunting Creek Railroad Bridge

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  Morganton Downtown Historic District

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  North Carolina School for the Deaf

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  North Carolina School for the Deaf: Main Building

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  Quaker Meadows

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  Tate House

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  Valdese Elementary School

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  Waldensian Presbyterian Church

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  Western North Carolina Insane Asylum