National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Wisconsin facts for kids

Location of Douglas County in Wisconsin

Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and special places around you? Some places are so important that they are added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is an official list in the United States that helps protect and celebrate buildings, sites, and objects that have a lot of history.

Douglas County, Wisconsin, has many amazing places on this list! These places tell stories about the past, from old businesses and homes to important natural trails and even a unique ship. There are 19 places and areas in Douglas County that are currently on the National Register. One place was on the list but has since been removed.

Cool Historic Places in Douglas County

Here are some of the interesting historic places you can find in Douglas County:

Berkshire Block

The Berkshire Block in Superior

This old business building was built in 1892. It has a special look called Romanesque Revival style, which means it looks a bit like old Roman buildings with strong, rounded arches. It's made of a type of stone called Kasota limestone. Over the years, it has been a bank, department stores, and other businesses.

Brule-St. Croix Portage

The Brule-St. Croix Portage trail

This is a very old, two-mile trail that connects two different river systems: the St. Croix River and the Bois Brule River. Imagine carrying your canoe and supplies across land to get from one river to another! Native Americans used this trail for thousands of years. Later, early European explorers like Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, also used it to travel through the area. It's a key part of history for travel and trade.

Davidson Windmill

The Davidson Windmill

Built in 1900, this windmill was made by a Finnish immigrant named Jacob Davidson. He used it to grind food for his animals. It's a great example of how people used to live and work on farms long ago.

Douglas County Courthouse

The Douglas County Courthouse

This big, impressive building was constructed between 1918 and 1919. It's made of limestone and marble and has a grand Classical Revival style, which looks like ancient Greek or Roman temples. This is where many important county decisions and legal matters happen.

Empire Block

The Empire Block

Another historic business building in Superior, the Empire Block was designed by Carl Wirth and built in 1892. It has a Victorian Romanesque look. For a long time, from 1937 to 2012, a furniture store called Lurye's was located here.

Lake Nebagamon Auditorium

This community center was built in 1936. It has a unique Rustic-style design, with a chimney made of cobblestones. It was a place for people in the community to gather and hold events.

Maryland Block

The Maryland Block, also known as the Badger Building

This commercial building was built in 1892 by a company called the Land and River Improvement Company. It features a Neoclassical design, which is a style that brings back ideas from classical Greek and Roman art and architecture. It was also known as the Badger Building.

SS Meteor (1896)

The SS Meteor, a whaleback freighter

The SS Meteor is a very special ship! It's a 380-foot long whaleback freighter, and it's the last one of its kind left in the entire world. Built in Superior in 1896, this ship carried things like iron ore, grain, and liquids across the Great Lakes until 1969. Today, you can visit it as a museum!

Minnesota Block-Board of Trade Bldg.

The Minnesota Block-Board of Trade Building

This four-story building was designed to be fireproof and was built in 1892. It has a Neoclassical style. The lower floors were home to a dry goods store, and the upper floors housed the Board of Trade, which was a place where people traded goods and services.

New Jersey Building

The New Jersey Building

Built in 1889, this business block has a Romanesque Revival style. It was built by the Land and River Improvement Co. and got its name because the people who invested in it were from New Jersey. It originally had five shops on the ground floor and six fancy apartments above.

New York Block

The New York Block

Another Romanesque Revival business building, the New York Block was built in 1890 by the same Land and River Improvement Co. It was named after its investors from New York. This building originally had ten stores on the street level.

Northern Block

The Northern Block

This business building was built in 1892 by people who lived in the local area. It's another example of the growth and development happening in Superior during that time.

Martin Pattison House

The Martin Pattison House, also known as Fairlawn Museum

This beautiful home was built around 1890 in the Queen Anne style, which is known for its fancy details and often a tall, round tower called a turret. It belonged to Martin Pattison, who was a very successful person in the lumber and mining businesses and also served as the mayor of Superior. From 1920 to 1962, it was a children's home or orphanage. Today, it's the Fairlawn Museum.

Roosevelt Terrace

Roosevelt Terrace

This apartment building was owned by James Roosevelt, Sr., who was the father of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). It was designed in 1890 by Carl Wirth in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which is a strong and sturdy architectural style.

Superior Entry South Breakwater Light

The Superior Entry South Breakwater Light

This lighthouse was built in 1913. Its job was to help guide ships safely into the Duluth-Superior harbor. This harbor is protected by a long, ten-mile sandbar, so the lighthouse was very important for ships finding their way.

Trade and Commerce Building

The Trade and Commerce Building, which later became Superior's city hall

This five-story office building was designed around 1890 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It was built by Henry Minot's Superior Improvement Company. Later on, this building became Superior's city hall, where the city's government worked.

Washington Block

The Washington Block

Built in 1890 by the Land and River Improvement Company, this office building also had W. H. Folsom of New York as an investor. It housed various offices, including those of the Northwest Hanna Coal Company.

Wemyss Building

Site where the Wemyss Building once stood

This commercial building was built in 1892 by the Land and River Improvement Company and was named after its manager, Rowland J. Wemyss. It combined elements of Romanesque and Classical Revival styles. Sadly, this building has since been torn down.

Former Listing

One property was once on the National Register but has since been removed:

Massachusetts Block

This office building was designed in the Romanesque Revival style and built in 1889. It was part of a group of important commercial buildings from Superior's fast-growing period between 1888 and 1892. This building was also demolished in 1990.