National Register of Historic Places listings in Lamar County, Texas facts for kids

Location of Lamar County in Texas

Lamar County, Texas, is home to many special places that are part of America's history! These places are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a special hall of fame for buildings, homes, and even old land sites that tell us about the past. By being on this list, these spots are recognized for their unique history and are often protected so future generations can enjoy them too.

What are Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of buildings, districts, sites, structures, and objects that are important in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. When a place is added to this list, it means it has a special story to tell about how people lived, worked, or created things in the past. It helps us remember and learn from history. In Lamar County, you can find many different kinds of historic places, from beautiful old houses to important churches and even ancient sites where people lived long, long ago.

Exploring Historic Homes

Many of the historic places in Lamar County are old homes, each with its own unique style and story. These houses often show us how families lived many years ago and the different ways buildings were designed.

• The Atkinson-Morris House at 802 Fitzhugh in Paris is one of these special homes. It was added to the list in 1988.
• Another beautiful house is the Bailey-Ragland House at 433 W. Washington. Imagine the families who lived here and the memories made within its walls!
• The Thomas and Bettie Brazelton House at 801 W. Sherman is also a registered historic place. These homes give us a peek into the past lives of people in Paris.
• The Samuel Bell Maxey House at 812 E. Church St. is a very famous historic home in Paris. It was listed way back in 1971, showing how long it has been recognized as important. This house is a great example of how people lived in the late 1800s.
• The Scott-Roden Mansion at 425 S. Church St. is another grand home that tells a story of the past. It was added to the list in 1983.

Important Churches and Buildings

Beyond homes, Lamar County also has historic churches and other important buildings that played a big role in the community.

• The First Church of Christ, Scientist at 339 W. Kaufman in Paris is a beautiful example of historic architecture. Churches often served as central gathering places for communities.
• The First Presbyterian Church at 410 W. Kaufman and the First United Methodist Church at 322 Lamar St. are also on the list. These buildings have seen many events and changes over the years.
• The Lamar County Hospital at 625 W. Washington is a historic building that once served the health needs of the community.
• The Rodgers-Wade Furniture Company building at 401 3rd Street SW is another interesting historic spot. It shows us what businesses looked like in the past.
• The Santa Fe-Frisco Depot at 1100 W. Kaufman is an old train station. Train depots were once busy hubs where people traveled and goods were shipped, connecting towns and cities.
• The St. Paul's Baptist Church at 454 2nd, NE, is another significant historic church in Paris, reflecting the community's spiritual and social history.

Historic Districts: Whole Neighborhoods!

Sometimes, it's not just one building that's historic, but a whole group of buildings or a neighborhood! These are called historic districts.

• The Church Street Historic District in Paris includes many buildings roughly bounded by E. Austin, 3rd, SE, Washington and 1st, SW Sts.
• The Paris Commercial Historic District covers the main business area, roughly bounded by Price, 3rd, SE, Sherman and 4th, SW. This district shows how the downtown area of Paris looked and functioned in earlier times.
• The Pine Bluff-Fitzhugh Historic District includes homes on the 500-900 blocks of Pine Bluff and 300-600 blocks of Fitzhugh. These districts help preserve the overall look and feel of historic parts of the city.

Old Bridges and Ancient Sites

Lamar County also has historic bridges and even very old archaeological sites that tell us about people who lived here thousands of years ago.

• The State Highway 5 Bridge at High Creek and the State Highway Bridge 5 at Big Pine Creek, both near Brookston, were once important parts of the county's transportation system. They were built in 1920.
• Some historic places are so old that they are archaeological sites, like the Ellis II Site, Emerson Site, Loma Alto Site, and Swindle Site near Pin Hook, and the A. C. Mackin Archeological Site near Faulkner. These sites are often "address restricted" to protect them, as they contain clues about ancient cultures and how early people lived in this area.

These historic places in Lamar County help us understand the rich history of Texas and the people who shaped it. They are like open-air museums, each with a story waiting to be discovered!

Images for kids

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  The historic Bailey-Ragland House in Paris, Texas.

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  The Baty-Plummer House, a historic home in Paris.

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  The Thomas and Bettie Brazelton House, listed on the National Register.

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  The Carlton-Gladden House, another historic residence.

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  The J. M. and Emily Daniel House.

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  The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Paris.

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  The First Presbyterian Church in Paris.

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  The First United Methodist Church in Paris.

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  The John Chisum Gibbons House.

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  The old Lamar County Hospital building.

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  The Samuel Bell Maxey House, a well-known historic home.

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  The Ragland House in Paris.

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  The Rodgers-Wade Furniture Company building.

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  The Santa Fe-Frisco Depot, an old train station.

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  The Scott-Roden Mansion.

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  St. Paul's Baptist Church.

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  The W. S. and Mary Trigg House.

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  The Wise-Fielding House.

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  The Edgar and Annie Wright House.