National Register of Historic Places listings in Lenawee County, Michigan facts for kids

A map showing where Lenawee County is located in Michigan.

Welcome to Lenawee County, Michigan! This area is home to many amazing old buildings and places that are super important to history. These special spots are listed on something called the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a Hall of Fame for historic buildings and sites across the United States. Lenawee County has 43 of these cool places!

Lenawee County was officially created in 1826, making it one of the older counties in Michigan. Today, about 100,800 people live here. The very first place from Lenawee County to be added to the National Register was the Walker Tavern in 1971. The newest addition was the Blissfield Downtown Historic District in 2015. These 43 listings include nine historic areas (like a whole street of old shops!), five churches, 17 houses, one cemetery, and even a bridge! Sadly, one house, the Dr. Leonard Hall House in Hudson, was torn down, but it's still remembered on the list.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places that are worth saving. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a building or area is added to this list, it means it's recognized for its history, architecture, or importance to American culture. Being on the list can help protect these places and sometimes even provide money for their care.

Amazing Historic Sites in Lenawee County

Let's explore some of the fascinating places in Lenawee County that have made it onto this special list!

Adrian's Historic Gems

The city of Adrian has many historic buildings.

Adrian Engine House No. 1

The Adrian Engine House No. 1 was built way back in 1855. This old fire station has a tall tower that stands out in the city. It was the oldest fire station in Michigan that was always in use until it closed in 1987.

Adrian Public Library

The Adrian Public Library building was finished in 1909. It was built with money from the famous Andrew Carnegie Library Fund. While it's not a library anymore, this beautiful building now holds the Lenawee County Historical Museum. It's a great place to learn about the area's past!

Croswell Opera House

The Croswell Opera House was built in 1866. It's known as the oldest theater in Michigan that has been running continuously! This means people have been watching shows here for over 150 years. It's located right in downtown Adrian.

Civil War Memorial

In Monument Park in Adrian, you'll find the Civil War Memorial. It was put up in 1870. This stone monument was once part of a bank building in Philadelphia. It honors the soldiers from Adrian who died fighting in the American Civil War.

Clark Memorial Hall

The Clark Memorial Hall was built in 1888 in downtown Adrian. It used to be the main office for a group called the Odd Fellows. Today, it houses different businesses.

Governor Charles Croswell House

The Governor Charles Croswell House is near downtown Adrian. It was built in the 1840s. Charles Croswell bought it in the 1850s and later became the governor of Michigan from 1877 to 1881. Now, this house is a museum where you can learn about his life and the history of the area.

Dennis-State Streets Historic District

This historic area in Adrian has 80 homes. They show off many different building styles. The oldest houses here were built in the 1860s.

Downtown Adrian Commercial Historic District

This district covers most of Adrian's downtown area. Many of the buildings are two or three stories tall and were built for businesses. The oldest ones date back to 1865. You can see many different building styles here.

Lenawee County Courthouse

The Lenawee County Courthouse is a grand building. The first courthouse burned down in 1852. The current one, built in a Romanesque style, was finished in 1885. It stands proudly near downtown Adrian.

St. John's Lutheran Church

St. John's Lutheran Church was built in 1861. It's special because it's the oldest Greek Revival Lutheran church building in Michigan. It still serves the Lutheran community in Adrian today.

St. Mary of Good Counsel Catholic Church

St. Mary of Good Counsel Catholic Church is home to Adrian's oldest Catholic group, which started in 1852. The church building you see today was finished in 1871 and is still an active church.

Blissfield's Historic Places

Blissfield Downtown Historic District

The Blissfield Downtown Historic District was added to the Register in 2015. This area includes many important buildings in the heart of Blissfield.

David Carpenter House

The David Carpenter House was built around 1851 for David Carpenter, a local businessman. This large house has been changed a bit over the years. Today, it's a restaurant called the Hathaway House.

First Presbyterian Church of Blissfield

The First Presbyterian Church of Blissfield was built in 1849. It's one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in Michigan and the oldest church in Blissfield.

Tecumseh's Timeless Treasures

Brookside Cemetery

Brookside Cemetery dates back to 1853. A memorial for the Civil War was put up here in 1882. Many of the county's first settlers are buried in this cemetery.

Dr. Samuel Catlin House

The Dr. Samuel Catlin House was built in 1866 by a famous local architect named Salmon Crane. It was built for Dr. Catlin. This house has had different owners and is now an insurance office.

Musgrove Evans House

The Musgrove Evans House was built in 1826. It's the oldest house in Lenawee County and one of the oldest in the entire state of Michigan! It's been moved from its first spot but still looks like it did when it was first built.

Joseph E. Hall House

The Joseph E. Hall House was built around 1870. It was first owned by Joseph Hall, a local jeweler. This house was also designed by the architect Salmon Crane and is still a private home.

William Hayden House

The William Hayden House was built in 1860. This fancy Italianate house belonged to William Hayden, a local miller. He owned the Globe Flour Mill, which was very important to Tecumseh's economy back then.

George J. Kempf House

The George J. Kempf House was built in 1905 for George Kempf, a local carpenter. This two-story house shows a mix of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. George Kempf and his brother built many houses in Tecumseh.

Saint Elizabeth's Church

Saint Elizabeth's Church was the first Catholic church in Tecumseh, built in 1913. The church moved to a new spot in 1951. Now, the old building is used by the Historical Society of Tecumseh.

G. P. Sparks House

The G. P. Sparks House was built in 1883 for G. P. Sparks, who sold sewing machines. This Victorian house is a great example of an "Upright and Wing" style home in Tecumseh.

Tecumseh Downtown Historic District

This district includes the old business area of Tecumseh. The area grew a lot when railroads came through in the 1830s.

Tecumseh Historic District

This residential area in Tecumseh dates back to 1830. It has many different styles of homes. It's located near downtown Tecumseh.

Samuel W. Temple House

The Samuel W. Temple House was built around 1866. Samuel Temple used the property for his lumber yard. It's a good example of Italianate architecture in Tecumseh.

Historic Spots in Hudson

Heman R. Goodrich House

The Heman R. Goodrich House is a very special building. It's the only octagon house left in Lenawee County! Heman Goodrich, who built it in 1861, was one of the first people to settle in Hudson. Each side of the house is about 15 feet long.

Hudson Downtown Historic District

This commercial center in Hudson started thriving in 1837 when the railways arrived. Hudson was a busy trading hub from 1854 to 1891. Most of the buildings still look like they did back then and are used as shops.

Lorenzo Palmer and Ruth Wells House

The Lorenzo Palmer and Ruth Wells House was built in 1845. This Greek Revival style house was built for Lorenzo Palmer when he moved to Michigan. It still looks much like it did when it was first built.

Gamaliel Thompson House

The Gamaliel Thompson House was built in 1890 for Gamaliel Thompson, a local banker. It's one of the best examples of Queen Anne Style architecture in Michigan. Today, the house is used for special events.

Cambridge Township's Landmarks

Irish Hills Towers

The Irish Hills Towers were built in 1924. These two tall wooden towers were built for tourists to climb and see the views of the Irish Hills region. They have been closed to the public since 2000.

Saint Joseph Church and Shrine

Saint Joseph Church and Shrine is a stone church built in 1854. It's located along U.S. Route 12 in the Irish Hills area. It's one of the oldest churches still in use in the region.

St. Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church and Cambridge Township Cemetery

This historic area includes a church and a cemetery. The church building was built in 1855. The cemetery is right next to the church.

S. Walker's Hotel

S. Walker's Hotel is another historic spot along U.S. Route 12.

Walker Tavern

The Walker Tavern was first built as a farmhouse in 1832. It became an inn and tavern in 1843. In 1921, it was fixed up and turned into a museum. Since 1965, it's been part of the Cambridge Junction Historic State Park.

Nathaniel S. Wheeler House

The Nathaniel S. Wheeler House is a special cobblestone home. It was built in 1845 by Nathaniel Wheeler, one of the first settlers in Cambridge Township. The house has had different owners but still looks much the same.

Other Notable Lenawee County Listings

Davenport House

The Davenport House was built in the 1830s. This building has been many things: a tavern, a general store, a post office, and a stop for stagecoaches. Today, it's an inn called the Bauer Manor.

George B. Horton and Amanda Bradish Farmstead

The George B. Horton and Amanda Bradish Farmstead covers 40 acres in rural Fairfield. It was first settled in 1888. The farmhouse is built in the Queen Anne Style and is still a private home. There are other buildings on the property too.

Jackson Branch Bridge No. 15

The Jackson Branch Bridge No. 15 was built in 1896. This long truss bridge carries a single train track over the River Raisin. It's still an active railroad bridge, and passenger trains cross it. It's the only bridge in Lenawee County on the National Register.

John W. Keeney and Erena Alexander Rogers Farm

The John W. Keeney and Erena Alexander Rogers Farm is a large apple orchard that covers 256 acres. The Keeney family has owned this farm since 1835. The main farmhouse was built between 1865 and 1868.

John Pennington–Henry Ford House

The John Pennington–Henry Ford House was built around 1845 by John and Hannah Pennington. Later, Henry Ford bought and restored the property in the 1930s. It's still a private home today.

Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse

The Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse is now known as the Raisin Valley Friends Church. It was built in 1835 by Quaker settlers. It's recognized as the second oldest church building in Michigan that is still in use!