National Register of Historic Places listings in Parke County, Indiana facts for kids
This article is a list of amazing places in Parke County, Indiana, that are special enough to be on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a Hall of Fame for buildings, bridges, and areas that have a lot of history!
The National Register of Historic Places is an official list kept by the United States government. It helps protect places that are important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our past.
In Parke County, Indiana, there are 46 places and areas on this list. One of them is even a National Historic Landmark, which is an even higher honor! A few other places were once on the list but have since been removed, usually because they were destroyed or changed too much.
You'll find places from different towns like Marshall and Rockville, or from larger areas called townships. Each place has a unique story!
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What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is like a special club for important historical sites across the United States. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized for its unique history or design. This helps people understand and protect these special spots for future generations.
Why are these places important?
Places on the National Register are important for many reasons. They might be very old, show a special way of building things, or be connected to important events or people. For example, many covered bridges in Parke County are on the list because they are a unique part of the area's history and engineering. Protecting these sites helps us learn about the past and keeps history alive.
Historic Places in Parke County
Parke County is famous for its many covered bridges, and you'll see a lot of them on this list! But there are also historic homes, a school, and even entire historic neighborhoods. Each one tells a part of Parke County's story.
Famous Covered Bridges
Parke County is known as the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World" because it has so many of these beautiful old bridges. Many of them are on the National Register. These bridges were built a long time ago to protect the wooden parts from weather, making them last longer.
- Beeson Bridge: This bridge is east of Rockville at Billie Creek Village. It's a great example of the classic covered bridge design.
- Big Rocky Fork Bridge: Found southeast of Mansfield, this bridge is another beautiful example of early engineering.
- Billie Creek Bridge: Also at Billie Creek Village, this bridge adds to the historic feel of the area.
- Bridgeton Bridge: This bridge is north of Bridgeton. Sadly, it was burned down in 2005 but was rebuilt, showing how much people care about these historic structures.
- Jackson Bridge: Located north of Rockville, this is the longest single-span covered bridge in all of Indiana! That means it crosses a wide gap without any support in the middle.
- Portland Mills Bridge: East of Marshall, this is the oldest covered bridge in Parke County, built a very long time ago!
Other Notable Historic Sites
While covered bridges are a big deal in Parke County, there are other cool places too!
- Arch in the Town of Marshall: This unique arch marks a special spot in the town of Marshall.
- Bridgeton Historic District: This isn't just one building, but a whole area in Bridgeton that has many historic buildings grouped together. It gives you a feel for what the town was like in the past.
- Lancelot C. Ewbank House: This historic house in Sugar Creek Township is recognized for its architectural style and history.
- William Hill Polygonal Barn: In Bloomingdale, this barn is special because it's not a regular rectangle. It has many sides, making it a "polygonal" shape, which was a unique way to build barns.
- Mansfield Roller Mill: At Mansfield, this old mill used to grind grain. It's a reminder of how people used to make flour and other products.
- Rockville Chautauqua Pavilion: In Rockville, this pavilion was a place where people gathered for educational talks, entertainment, and community events a long time ago. It's a piece of social history.
- Rockville Historic District: Like Bridgeton, Rockville has a historic district with many old buildings that show the town's past.
- Turkey Run State Park: This entire state park is considered a historic place! It includes natural features and some historic structures like the Richard Lieber Log Cabin and the Lusk Home and Mill Site. It's recognized for both its natural beauty and its historical importance.
- Wabash Township Graded School: Located in Mecca, this old school building tells the story of education in the area many years ago.
- West Union Covered Bridge: North of Montezuma, this bridge is so important it's a National Historic Landmark, meaning it's one of the most significant historic places in the entire country!
- W.H. York Round Barn: Near Lodi, this is another interesting barn, built in a round shape, which was a unique design for barns.
Former Historic Places
Sometimes, places are removed from the National Register. This usually happens if they are destroyed or changed so much that they no longer look like they did when they were first listed.
- Coal Creek Bridge: East of Cayuga, this bridge was removed from the list in 1992.
- Jessup Bridge: East of Rockville, this bridge was destroyed in 1989 and removed from the list in 1990.
- J.H. Russell Bridge: North of Rockville, this bridge was torn down in 1983 and removed from the list in 1990.
These former listings remind us that historic places need care and protection to stay around for a long time.
Images for kids
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The Arch in the Town of Marshall
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The Beeson Covered Bridge
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The Big Rocky Fork Covered Bridge
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The Billie Creek Covered Bridge
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The Bowsher Ford Covered Bridge
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The rebuilt Bridgeton Covered Bridge
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A historic house in the Bridgeton Historic District
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The Catlin Covered Bridge
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The Conley's Ford Covered Bridge
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The Cox Ford Covered Bridge
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The Crooks Covered Bridge
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The Lancelot C. Ewbank House
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The Joseph Finney House
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The Harry Evans Covered Bridge
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The William Hill Polygonal Barn
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The Jackson Covered Bridge
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The Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge
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The Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge
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The Richard Lieber Log Cabin in Turkey Run State Park
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The Lusk Home and Mill Site
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The Mansfield Covered Bridge
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The Mansfield Roller Mill
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The Marshall Covered Bridge
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The McAllister Covered Bridge
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The Mecca Covered Bridge
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The Melcher Covered Bridge
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The Mill Creek Covered Bridge
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The Narrows Covered Bridge
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The Neet Covered Bridge
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The Nevins Covered Bridge
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The Phillips Covered Bridge
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The Portland Mills Covered Bridge
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The Rockville Chautauqua Pavilion
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A street in the Rockville Historic District
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The Roseville-Coxville Covered Bridge
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The Rush Creek Covered Bridge
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The Sim Smith Covered Bridge
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The State Sanitorium Covered Bridge
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The Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge
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An old log cabin, like those found in Turkey Run State Park
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The Wabash Township Graded School
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The West Union Covered Bridge
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The Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge
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The W.H. York Round Barn
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The Zacke Cox Covered Bridge
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