National Register of Historic Places listings in Le Sueur County, Minnesota facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the oldest and most special buildings or places in your community? In Le Sueur County, Minnesota, there's a list of these amazing spots! This list is part of something called the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a special club for buildings, bridges, and other places that are important to American history.
When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its unique history, architecture, or what it tells us about the past. Le Sueur County has 27 places on this list, and a couple more that used to be there. Let's explore some of these cool historic sites!
Contents
Historic Buildings and Homes
Many of the places on the National Register are old houses and buildings that tell us about how people lived and worked long ago.
Homes of Important People
Some houses are special because of the people who lived in them.
Dr. William W. Mayo House
This house, built in 1859 in Le Sueur, belonged to Dr. William Worrall Mayo. He was the father of the doctors who started the famous Mayo Clinic! Later, the house was owned by Carson Nesbit Cosgrove, who was in charge of the well-known Green Giant company. Today, you can visit it as a museum run by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Carson H. Cosgrove House
Also in Le Sueur, this Victorian style house from around 1895 was the home of Carson Nesbit Cosgrove, the head of Green Giant. Victorian houses often have lots of fancy details and different shapes.
George W. Taylor House
In Le Sueur, you'll find the George W. Taylor House, built in 1890. It's an example of the Eastlake Movement style, which means it has decorative wooden details. George Taylor was a merchant, and his wife was important in a national organization called the Women's Relief Corps.
Smith-Cosgrove House
This brick house from around 1878 in Le Sueur is built in the Second Empire style. This style often features a special kind of roof called a mansard roof.
Needham-Hayes House
Near Le Sueur, this brick house from about 1870 has special limestone (a type of rock) trim. It belonged to an important early settler in the area.
John Rinshed House
In Ottawa, this house from 1870 is made of limestone. It's a great example of how homes were built in that time.
Charles Schwartz House and Barn
Also in Ottawa, this property includes both a house and a barn, both built in 1870 and made of limestone. It shows what a typical farm looked like back then.
Cool Old Commercial Buildings
Towns need places for businesses and gatherings, and some of these old buildings are still standing!
First National Bank (New Prague, Minnesota)
In New Prague, the First National Bank building was built in 1922. It's designed in the Renaissance Revival style, which means it looks like buildings from the European Renaissance period. It has a beautiful front made of terracotta, a type of baked clay.
Hotel Broz
Also in New Prague, the Hotel Broz is a brick hotel built in 1898. It's an example of Georgian Revival architecture, a style that looks back to classic designs.
Hilltop Hall
In Montgomery, Hilltop Hall is a brick building from around 1892. It was used for businesses and also had a dance hall, where people would gather for fun!
Union Hotel (Waterville, Minnesota)
The Union Hotel in Waterville is a brick hotel built in 1888. It's in the Italianate style, which often includes tall windows and decorative cornices (the top edge of a building).
Westerman Lumber Office and House
In Montgomery, this property includes a house and office built in 1895 for Henry E. Westerman, who worked with lumber. Today, it's a restaurant and a fun stop for travelers.
Old Schools and Government Buildings
These buildings show how communities organized themselves and educated their children.
Elysian Public School
The Elysian Public School in Elysian is a brick school building from 1895. It's a reminder of how education looked over a century ago.
Kasota Township Hall
In Kasota, this brick building from 1889 served as the town hall. It has special trim made of Kasota limestone, a type of stone found in the area.
Kasota Village Hall
Also in Kasota, this brick building from 1898 was the village hall and fire station. It's built in the Queen Anne style, known for its decorative details and often a tower or turret. It also features Kasota limestone trim.
Le Sueur County Courthouse and Jail
In Le Center, the county courthouse was built in 1896. It's a grand brick building in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which uses heavy stone and rounded arches. It also has Kasota limestone trim. The jail, built in 1914, was designed by a famous architect named Albert Schippel.
Ottawa Township Hall
In Ottawa, this limestone building from 1860 was the town hall. It's built in the Greek Revival style, which looks like ancient Greek temples with columns and simple, strong shapes.
Churches and Places of Worship
These historic churches show the faith and community spirit of early settlers.
German Evangelical Salem Church
Near Le Sueur, this church from 1870 is a frame building in the Greek Revival style. It was built by a group of German immigrants.
Methodist Episcopal Church (Ottawa, Minnesota)
This limestone church in Ottawa was built in 1859. It's another example of the Greek Revival style and is also known as the Little Stone Church.
Trinity Chapel-Episcopal
In Ottawa, this limestone chapel from 1861 is built in the Gothic Revival style. This style often features pointed arches and stained glass, like medieval cathedrals.
Bridges and Roads
Not just buildings, but also important transportation routes can be historic!
Shanaska Creek Bridge
This bridge, built in 1875, is a metal Pratt through truss bridge. A truss bridge uses a framework of triangles to support the weight. This one is the oldest of its kind on a Minnesota highway! It was moved in 1984 to Lake Washington County Park to be a pedestrian bridge.
Broadway Bridge (St. Peter, Minnesota)
This bridge, built in 1931, crosses the Minnesota River. It's another type of through truss bridge. Part of this bridge also extends into Nicollet County.
Dodd Road Discontiguous District
This isn't just one spot, but two parts of an old road built in 1853! This road was paid for by private citizens and was a very important way to travel in early south-central Minnesota. A third part of this historic road is in Rice County.
Other Historic Sites
Some places are special for other reasons, like how people made a living.
Geldner Sawmill
Near Cleveland, the Geldner Sawmill dates back to around 1860. A sawmill is where logs are cut into lumber. Today, this historic site is part of a county park.
Former Listings
Some places were once on the National Register but have since been removed, often because they were demolished.
Elysian Water Tower
This water tower in Elysian was built in 1895. It was removed from the list because it was torn down in 1989 to make way for a newer tower.
David Patten Farmhouse
This limestone farmhouse in Ottawa was built in 1863. It was removed from the list after it was demolished in 2002.
Images for kids
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The Shanaska Creek Bridge, an old metal truss bridge.
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The Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River.
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The Carson H. Cosgrove House in Le Sueur.
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The Arthur Dehn House in Waterville, home of artist Adolf Dehn.
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A segment of the historic Dodd Road.
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The old Elysian Public School building.
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The First National Bank in New Prague, with its terracotta facade.
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The historic Geldner Sawmill.
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The German Evangelical Salem Church.
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Hilltop Hall in Montgomery, once a commercial building and dance hall.
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The historic Hotel Broz in New Prague.
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The Kasota Township Hall.
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The Kasota Village Hall and fire station.
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The Le Sueur County Courthouse and Jail.
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The Dr. William W. Mayo House.
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The Methodist Episcopal Church in Ottawa, also known as the Little Stone Church.
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The Needham-Hayes House.
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The Ottawa Township Hall.
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The John Rinshed House in Ottawa.
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The Charles Schwartz House and Barn.
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The Smith-Cosgrove House in Le Sueur.
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The George W. Taylor House.
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Trinity Chapel-Episcopal in Ottawa.
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The Union Hotel in Waterville.
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The Westerman Lumber Office and House.
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The former Elysian Water Tower.
 | Mary Eliza Mahoney |
 | Susie King Taylor |
 | Ida Gray |
 | Eliza Ann Grier |
