National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Texas facts for kids
Welcome to Marion County, Texas! This area is full of amazing old buildings and places that tell stories about the past. Many of these special spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a special club for important historical sites across the United States.
When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its history, architecture, or what happened there. It helps protect these places so future generations can learn from them. In Marion County, most of these historic treasures are found in the charming city of Jefferson.
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What Makes a Place Historic?
Imagine a building that has stood for over a hundred years. Maybe a famous person lived there, or an important event took place. Perhaps it's a beautiful example of old-time architecture. These are the kinds of things that make a building or an area "historic."
The National Register of Historic Places is managed by the United States government. They decide which places are important enough to be on the list. Being listed helps people appreciate these sites and sometimes even helps get money to keep them in good shape.
Historic Gems in Jefferson, Texas
Many of Marion County's historic places are in Jefferson. This city is like a living museum, with many old homes, hotels, and public buildings. Let's look at some examples:
Historic Homes
Jefferson has many beautiful old houses that are on the National Register. These homes often show us how people lived long ago and what kind of styles were popular.
- The Alley-Carlson House at 501 Walker Street was added to the list in 1969.
- The Birge-Beard House on North Vale Street joined the list in 1970.
- The Epperson-McNutt House on South Alley Street is another historic home, listed in 1969.
- The Magnolias is a grand house on East Broadway, recognized in 1971.
- The Capt. William Perry House and the Capt. William E. Singleton House are also important homes from the past, both listed in 1970.
- The Sedberry House on North Market Street was added in 1970.
- The Stilley-Young House, also known as The Grove, on Moseley Street, was listed more recently in 2005.
- The Perry M. Woods House on Walker Street was recognized in 1971.
Important Buildings and Districts
It's not just houses that are historic! Other buildings and even whole areas can be recognized.
- The Excelsior Hotel is a very famous old hotel in Jefferson. It was listed in 1969 and is still a popular place today.
- The Jefferson Historic District is a large area of the city. It includes many streets and buildings that together create a historic feel. This district was added to the list in 1971.
- The Jefferson Playhouse on Market and Henderson Streets is a historic theater, listed in 1969.
- The Old U.S. Post Office and Courts Building on West Austin Street served as an important government building and was listed in 1969.
- The Planters Bank Building on East Austin Street, listed in 1971, shows us what old banks looked like.
- The Presbyterian Manse on Alley and Delta Streets is a historic religious building, listed in 1969.
Other Unique Historic Sites
Some historic places are not homes or typical buildings.
- The Freeman Plantation House is located just west of Jefferson. It was listed in 1969.
- The Hodge-Taylor House is another historic plantation house southwest of Jefferson, added to the list in 1997.
- The Jefferson Ordnance Magazine is a unique site northeast of Jefferson, listed in 1995. It was likely used to store military supplies.
These places help us remember the past and understand how Marion County and Jefferson grew over time. They are important parts of Texas history!