National Register of Historic Places listings in Martin County, Minnesota facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and special places in your town? Many communities have amazing historic sites that tell us stories about the past. In Martin County, Minnesota, there are nine of these special places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is an official list in the United States that helps protect important buildings, structures, and sites. It's like a hall of fame for places that have a lot of history!
These places are chosen because they are important to the history, architecture, or culture of the area. By listing them, we make sure they are preserved for future generations, like you, to learn from and enjoy. Let's explore some of these cool historic spots in Martin County!
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Historic Places in Martin County
Orville P. and Sarah Chubb House
This beautiful house, built in 1867, belonged to Orville P. Chubb, who was the very first doctor in Fairmont, Minnesota. It's the oldest brick house still standing in the town! The house is built in the Greek Revival style, which was popular a long time ago. It has a classic look that reminds us of ancient Greek temples. Imagine living in a house that's over 150 years old!
Fairmont Opera House
The Fairmont Opera House is a grand building from 1901. It was built in the Classical Revival style, which means it looks like old Roman or Greek buildings with fancy columns and stone details. This building was made for performances, like plays and concerts. It's a place where people gathered to enjoy arts and entertainment over a hundred years ago, and it's still used today!
Red Rock Center for the Arts
Originally known as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, this building was constructed in 1898. It's famous for its unique look, built with a special stone called Sioux Quartzite, which is a reddish color. The church was designed by a famous architect named Harry Wild Jones. Today, this historic building has a new life as the Red Rock Center for the Arts, where people can enjoy different kinds of art.
Fox Lake Site
The Fox Lake Site is not a building, but an ancient place on Weber Island in Fox Lake. This site is incredibly old, dating back from about 500 BCE (that's 500 years Before Common Era) all the way to 1650 CE (Common Era). Archaeologists have found pottery and other artifacts here, showing that people lived and worked on this island for many centuries. It's a very important spot for understanding early human history in Minnesota.
Martin County Courthouse
The Martin County Courthouse, built in 1907, is a very important building in Fairmont, Minnesota. It was designed by Charles E. Bell and features a mix of Renaissance and Baroque Revival styles. You can see its impressive domed tower from a distance. Inside, there are beautiful murals, which are large paintings on the walls. This building is where many important decisions for the county are made.
Sherburn Commercial Historic District
The Sherburn Commercial Historic District includes several old buildings on Main Street in Sherburn, Minnesota. These buildings were constructed between 1898 and 1908 and show off the Victorian style. This district gives us a peek into what a busy town center looked like over a century ago. It's like stepping back in time to see the shops and businesses where people worked and shopped.
United States Post Office (Fairmont, Minnesota)
This post office building in Fairmont, Minnesota, was built in 1926. It's made of brick and designed in the Colonial Revival style, which often features simple, classic shapes and details inspired by early American buildings. It was commissioned by James A. Wetmore, a well-known architect for government buildings at the time. This building served as the main place for people to send and receive mail for many years.
George Wohlheter House
The George Wohlheter House is a large and fancy mansion built in 1899. It combines two popular architectural styles from that time: Queen Anne and Classical Revival. Queen Anne style is known for its towers, turrets, and decorative details, while Classical Revival adds more formal, balanced elements. This house shows the grand homes that important people lived in over a hundred years ago.
