National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Louisville, Kentucky facts for kids
The Portland neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky is a special place with a rich history! Many of its old buildings and areas are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are officially recognized by the United States government as places worth preserving because of their history, architecture, or what they tell us about the past.
The Portland neighborhood is located near the Ohio River to the north, N. 10th Street to the east, W. Market Street to the south, and I-264 and the Shawnee Golf Course to the west. This list will tell you about some of these amazing historic spots in Portland.
Contents
- What is the National Register of Historic Places?
- Historic Places in Portland
- Old Firehouses and Schools
- Important Homes and Buildings
- Industrial and Commercial Buildings
- C.A. Bridges Tobacco Warehouse
- Brown Tobacco Warehouse
- Givens Headley and Co. Tobacco Warehouse
- Greve, Burlage, and Company (15th Street)
- Greve, Buhrlage, and Company (Lytle Street)
- Ideal Theatre
- Monon Freight Depot
- National Foundry and Machine Company
- National Tobacco Work Branch Stemmery
- National Tobacco Works
- National Tobacco Works Branch Drying House
- Peaslee-Gaulbert Warehouse
- Planter's Tobacco Warehouse
- J.V. Reed and Company
- Steam Engine Company No. 4
- Tobacco Realty Company
- Wrampelmeier Furniture Company
- Historic Districts and Other Sites
- Former Listings
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list of buildings, sites, districts, and objects that are important in American history. When a place is added to this list, it means it has been carefully studied and found to have special historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural importance. It helps protect these places and makes people more aware of their value.
Historic Places in Portland
The Portland neighborhood has many buildings and areas that tell stories of the past. Here are some of the cool places listed on the National Register:
Old Firehouses and Schools
Many community buildings like fire stations and schools have played a big role in Portland's history.
Firehouse No. 13
- Address: 100 N. 34th St.
- Listed: March 10, 1981
- This old firehouse reminds us of the brave firefighters who protected the community long ago.
Montgomery Street School
- Address: 2500-2506 Montgomery St.
- Listed: May 6, 1982
- Schools are important parts of any neighborhood, and this one has seen many students come and go over the years.
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School
- Address: 222 N. 17th St.
- Listed: March 22, 1982
- Named after a famous president, this school also has a long history of educating children in Portland.
St. Cecilia School Building
- Address: 2530 Slevin St.
- Listed: November 26, 2004
- This building served as a school for many years, helping to shape the lives of young people in the area.
Western Junior High School
- Address: 22nd and Main Sts.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This school building has been a landmark for junior high students in Portland for decades.
Important Homes and Buildings
Many houses and other buildings show us what life was like in Portland in the past.
Baker-Hawkins House
- Address: 3603 W. Market St.
- Listed: August 21, 1980
- This house is a great example of the architecture from its time.
Benjamin Grove House
- Address: 518 N. 26th St.
- Listed: November 15, 1984
- This historic home gives us a peek into the lives of early residents of Portland.
James F. Irvin House
- Address: 2910 Northwestern Parkway
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This beautiful mansion, built in 1863, is a grand example of historic homes in the area.
Meek-Miller House
- Address: 3123 Northwestern Parkway
- Listed: September 10, 1979
- Another significant house that adds to the historical character of the neighborhood.
Thornburgh House
- Address: 376 N. 26th St.
- Listed: December 8, 1983
- This house is also recognized for its historical importance in Portland.
Industrial and Commercial Buildings
Portland was once a busy center for trade and industry, especially with tobacco. Many old warehouses and factories are still standing.
C.A. Bridges Tobacco Warehouse
- Address: 1719-1723 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This warehouse was part of Louisville's big tobacco industry.
Brown Tobacco Warehouse
- Address: 1019-1025 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- Another important building from the tobacco trade.
Givens Headley and Co. Tobacco Warehouse
- Address: 1119-1121 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This warehouse also played a role in the tobacco business.
Greve, Burlage, and Company (15th Street)
- Address: 312-316 N. 15th St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This building was part of a company that contributed to the local economy.
Greve, Buhrlage, and Company (Lytle Street)
- Address: 1501 Lytle St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- Another location for the same company, showing its presence in the area.
Ideal Theatre
- Address: 2315-2319 W. Market St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This old theater was once a place where people gathered for entertainment.
Monon Freight Depot
- Address: 1400 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- Train depots were vital for moving goods and people, and this one served the Monon Railroad.
National Foundry and Machine Company
- Address: 1402 W. Main St.
- Listed: May 1, 1980
- This company was important for making metal products.
National Tobacco Work Branch Stemmery
- Address: 2410-2418 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- A "stemmery" was where tobacco leaves were processed.
National Tobacco Works
- Address: 1800-1810 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- A major site for tobacco processing.
National Tobacco Works Branch Drying House
- Address: 2400 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- Where tobacco was dried before being used.
Peaslee-Gaulbert Warehouse
- Address: 1427 Lytle St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- Another warehouse important for storage and trade.
Planter's Tobacco Warehouse
- Address: 1027-1031 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This warehouse was also part of the tobacco industry.
J.V. Reed and Company
- Address: 1100 W. Main St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This company's building is recognized for its historical value.
Steam Engine Company No. 4
- Address: 1617 W. Main St.
- Listed: November 7, 1980
- This building housed a steam engine company, important for early industrial work.
Tobacco Realty Company
- Address: 118-126 N. 10th St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This company dealt with properties related to the tobacco industry.
Wrampelmeier Furniture Company
- Address: 226-228 N. 15th St.
- Listed: September 8, 1983
- This building was home to a furniture company, showing the diverse businesses in Portland.
Historic Districts and Other Sites
Sometimes, a whole area or district is historic, not just one building.
Lower West Market Street District
- Address: 1500-2200 W. Market St.
- Listed: November 4, 1982
- This district includes many buildings along Market Street that together tell a story of the area's development.
Portland Historic District
- Address: Roughly bounded by Missouri Ave., Pflanz Ave., Bank, N. 33rd, and N. 37th Sts.
- Listed: February 21, 1980
- This large area shows the historic layout and buildings of the Portland neighborhood.
Portland Proper
- Address: 31st St. and Northwestern Parkway
- Listed: September 13, 2006
- This area is recognized for its historical significance within Portland.
U.S. Marine Hospital
- Address: 2215 Portland Ave.
- Listed: January 9, 1978
- This hospital was built to care for sailors and river workers. It's a very important building for medical history.
Former Listings
Some properties were once on the National Register but have since been removed, often because they were demolished or changed too much.
- William G. Meier Warehouse (2100 Rowan St.) - Listed in 1983, delisted in 2009.
- National Tobacco Works Warehouse (101-113 S. 24th St.) - Listed in 1983, delisted in 2009.
These historic places help us remember and learn about the past of the Portland neighborhood and Louisville!
