National Register of Historic Places listings in Independence County, Arkansas facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and special places that tell stories about the past? In Independence County, Arkansas, there are many such places! These sites are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list kept by the United States government. It helps protect places that are important to history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.
When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our country's heritage. It also means people will work to preserve it for future generations, like you! Independence County has 43 amazing properties and areas on this list. Let's explore some of them!
Historic Homes and Buildings
Many of the places on the list are old homes and buildings. They show us how people lived and worked long ago.
- Adler House (Batesville): This historic house is located on Boswell Street.
- Bartlett-Kirk House (Batesville): Another beautiful old home on College Street.
- Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Batesville): This church on Oak Street is an important part of the community's history.
- Cook-Morrow House (Batesville): You can find this house on Main Street.
- Dearing House (Newark): This house is on Highway 122 in Newark.
- Edward Dickinson House (Batesville): Located on East Boswell Street, this is another historic home.
- Dondy Building (Batesville): This building on South 3rd Street is a historic commercial spot.
- Garrott House (Batesville): An old house on East Main Street.
- Glenn House (Batesville): This historic home is on Water Street.
- Charles R. Handford House (Batesville): Another historic house on East Boswell Street.
- James S. Handford House (Batesville): Right near the Charles R. Handford House, this is another old home.
- Hankins' Store (Oil Trough): This old store is at the corner of Ferry Road and Main Street. Imagine what people bought here long ago!
- Luster Urban Farmstead (Batesville): This unique farmstead is on North Central Avenue.
- Mitchell House (Batesville): Located on Main Street, this is another historic residence.
- Morrow Hall (Batesville): You can find this building at 7th and Boswell Streets.
- National Guard Armory (Batesville): This building on South 9th Street was once a place for the National Guard.
- Pfeiffer House (Pfeiffer): This historic house is located on U.S. Route 167.
- St. Paul's Parish Church (Batesville): This church is at 5th and Main Streets.
- Captain John T. Warner House (Batesville): An old house on East College Street.
- The Wheel Store (Batesville): This interesting building is at River and Broad Streets.
- Wyatt House (Desha): This house is at the junction of Highway 25 and Gainer Ferry Road.
- Wycough-Jones House (Batesville): Another historic house on Water Street.
Historic Districts: Whole Neighborhoods with History!
Sometimes, it's not just one building that's historic, but a whole area! These are called "historic districts."
- Batesville Commercial Historic District (Batesville): This area includes Main and Central Streets. It's where many old shops and businesses were located.
- Batesville East Main Historic District (Batesville): This district covers Main Street between 7th and 11th Streets, and also parts of College Avenue. It's a neighborhood with many historic homes.
- School Addition Historic District (Batesville): This district includes parts of Water, North 7th, Rock, and North 8th Streets. It's another area with many historic buildings.
Old Schools and Cemeteries
These places tell us about how people learned and remembered their loved ones in the past.
- Akron Cemetery (Newark): This old cemetery is south of Newark on Highway 122. It's a quiet place that holds many stories.
- Hulsey Bend School (Oil Trough): This old school building is on Freeze Bend Road. Imagine kids learning here long ago!
- Jamestown School (Jamestown): Located north of Highway 230, this is another historic school.
- Lee's Chapel Church and Masonic Hall (Cushman): This building, about 8 miles east on Sandtown Road, served as both a church and a meeting hall.
- Moorefield School (Moorefield): This school is on Ham Street.
- Thida Grove School (Thida): You can find this old school on County Road 20.
- Walnut Grove Cemetery (Cord): This cemetery on Walden Road is a historic burial ground.
Bridges and Other Structures
Even bridges can be historic! They show us how people traveled and built things in the past.
- Big Botton Slough Bridge (Magness): This bridge is on County Road 58, south of Highway 69.
- Cedar Creek Bridge (Rosie): This bridge crosses Cedar Creek on County Road 235.
- Central Avenue Bridge (Batesville): This bridge goes over Polk Bayou on Central Avenue.
- Miller Creek Bridge (Batesville): This bridge crosses Miller Creek on County Road 86.
Special Archaeological Sites
Some historic places are not buildings, but sites where ancient people left their marks.
- Goff Petroglyph Site (Salado): This site has petroglyphs, which are ancient drawings carved into rock.
- Ruddell Mill Site (Batesville): This is the site of an old mill.
- Spring Mill (Batesville): This old mill is northwest of Batesville on Highway 69.
- Wyatt Petroglyphs (Desha): Another site with ancient rock carvings.
These historic places in Independence County help us understand the rich history of Arkansas and the people who lived there before us. They are like open-air museums, each with a unique story to tell!