National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock County, Minnesota facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the oldest and most special buildings in your town? The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list of important places in the United States. These places could be buildings, bridges, or even parks. They are chosen because they have a lot of history or are great examples of how things were built long ago.
This page is a list of all the amazing historic places in Rock County, Minnesota. There are 19 places on this list, and each one tells a unique story about the past!
Contents
Rock County's History and Buildings
Rock County became a settled area later than many other parts of Minnesota. The first big town, Luverne, started in 1867. Railroads arrived in the 1870s and 1880s. These train lines helped new towns grow and connect to bigger cities.
The buildings in Rock County show how building styles and materials changed over time.
Early Buildings: Wood and Brick
The very first buildings were often made of wood. As the area grew, people started using stronger materials. You can see this in buildings like the Pierce J. Kniss House (built in 1879) and the farmhouse at the Jacob Nuffer Farmstead (built in 1880), which are made of brick. Brick showed that people were investing more in their homes and businesses.
The Rise and Fall of Sioux Quartzite
From the 1890s to about 1905, a special local stone called Sioux Quartzite became popular. This stone was dug right out of the ground nearby. It's very strong and beautiful! However, it was also extremely hard to work with. Because of this, builders soon stopped using it as much. You can still see this unique stone in some of Rock County's historic buildings.
Historic Places to Explore
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Location | City or town | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Mounds State Park WPA/Rustic Style Historic Resources |
 |
(#89001657) |
Off U.S. Route 75 north of Luverne 43°43′02″N 96°11′21″W / 43.717316°N 96.189205°W |
Luverne vicinity | This park has five historic buildings and structures built between 1937 and 1942. They were part of a government program called the New Deal. These buildings show a special "rustic" design, often using local Sioux Quartzite stone. |
| 2 | Bridge No. 1482 |
 |
(#92000775) |
Off U.S. Route 75 south of Luverne, Schoneman Park 43°37′30″N 96°12′42″W / 43.624873°N 96.211731°W |
Luverne vicinity | This bridge was built in 1908. It's a rare example in Minnesota of an early steel truss bridge called a "king post" style. It was moved in 1990 from its original spot on the Rock River. |
| 3 | Bridge No. L-2162 |
 |
(#89001839) |
County Road 51 over Split Rock Creek 43°46′46″N 96°25′56″W / 43.779495°N 96.432114°W |
Jasper vicinity | This bridge was built around 1907. It's an early example of a concrete arch bridge in the countryside. A local builder named Perley N. Gillham designed it. It's also Minnesota's longest concrete bridge from that time. |
| 4 | Bridge No. L-2315 |
(#89001841) |
Township Road 89 over the Rock River 43°33′21″N 96°09′11″W / 43.555924°N 96.152927°W |
Luverne vicinity | This concrete arch bridge was built around 1901. It was also designed by Perley N. Gillham. This bridge has likely been taken down. | |
| 5 | Bridge No. L-2316 |
(#89001843) |
Township Road 89 over the Rock River 43°33′31″N 96°09′11″W / 43.558632°N 96.152927°W |
Luverne vicinity | Another concrete arch bridge by Perley N. Gillham, built around 1906. This bridge has also likely been taken down. | |
| 6 | Bridge No. L-4646 |
 |
(#89001844) |
6th St. over Spring Brook 43°36′55″N 96°21′35″W / 43.615232°N 96.359818°W |
Beaver Creek | This concrete arch bridge was built in 1911. It's another example of the unique designs by local builder Perley N. Gillham. |
| 7 | First National Bank of Beaver Creek |
 |
(#80002148) |
1st Ave. 43°36′50″N 96°21′50″W / 43.613957°N 96.363844°W |
Beaver Creek | This bank building was constructed in 1917. It has a fancy Classical Revival style. It's a great example of how important banks were in small towns back then. |
| 8 | J.W. Gerber House |
 |
(#80002151) |
324 W. Main St. 43°39′17″N 96°12′52″W / 43.654642°N 96.214348°W |
Luverne | Built in 1901, this house is a beautiful example of Colonial Revival style. It belonged to J.W. Gerber, a successful local businessman. It's one of the best old homes in Rock County. |
| 9 | R.B. Hinkly House |
 |
(#75001027) |
217 N. Freeman Ave. 43°39′22″N 96°12′36″W / 43.656006°N 96.209984°W |
Luverne | This house was built in 1892 in the Queen Anne style. It's special because it's made of Sioux Quartzite stone. It also had modern features like electricity and telephones very early on. Today, it's a museum you can visit! |
| 10 | Holy Trinity Episcopal Church |
 |
(#80002152) |
N. Cedar and E. Luverne Streets 43°39′22″N 96°12′27″W / 43.656047°N 96.207623°W |
Luverne | This church was built in 1891 in the Gothic Revival style. It was an important place for religious life in early Luverne. It's also known for its beautiful Sioux Quartzite stone construction. |
| 11 | Jasper Stone Company and Quarry |
 |
(#78001562) |
Off Sherman Ave. 43°50′47″N 96°23′33″W / 43.846389°N 96.3925°W |
Jasper | This quarry started around 1890. It was an early place where Sioux Quartzite stone was dug for buildings. After World War I, it became a major producer of a material called silicon dioxide, used for industrial abrasives (like sandpaper). |
| 12 | Kenneth School |
 |
(#80002150) |
230 W. 1st Ave. 43°45′15″N 96°04′28″W / 43.754196°N 96.074557°W |
Kenneth | Built in 1901, this is the only two-story school left in Rock County. It was built very soon after the town of Kenneth was founded. |
| 13 | Pierce J. Kniss House |
 |
(#80002153) |
209 N. Estey St. 43°39′21″N 96°12′43″W / 43.655816°N 96.211889°W |
Luverne | This house was built between 1878 and 1879 in the Italian Villa style. It was designed by a well-known local architect, George Soutar. The house was owned by P.J. Kniss, one of Luverne's founders. |
| 14 | Luverne Carnegie Library |
 |
(#80002154) |
205 N. Freeman Ave. 43°39′20″N 96°12′36″W / 43.655497°N 96.209928°W |
Luverne | This library was built in 1904 with money from Andrew Carnegie. It was very important for education in the area. Today, it's known as the Carnegie Cultural Center. |
| 15 | Maplewood Chapel |
 |
(#80002155) |
W. Warren St. 43°39′15″N 96°13′53″W / 43.654125°N 96.231451°W |
Luverne | Built in 1895, this chapel is a rare sight in southwestern Minnesota. It's located in a cemetery and built in the Gothic Revival style. |
| 16 | Jacob Nuffer Farmstead |
(#80002149) |
County Roads 53 and 57 43°33′33″N 96°18′53″W / 43.559167°N 96.314722°W |
Hills vicinity | This farm has been in the same family for over 100 years, making it a Century Farm. It shows how farming and settlement happened in the area. The farmhouse, built in 1890, is special for its brick construction. | |
| 17 | Omaha Depot |
 |
(#80002156) |
E. Fletcher St. 43°39′06″N 96°12′33″W / 43.651724°N 96.209035°W |
Luverne | This railway station was built in 1913. It reminds us how important railroads were for Rock County's growth and development. |
| 18 | Palace Theater |
 |
(#80002157) |
Main St. and Freeman Ave. 43°39′15″N 96°12′34″W / 43.654029°N 96.209343°W |
Luverne | The Palace Theater was built in 1915. It's famous for its fancy Art Nouveau style inside. Imagine watching a movie here long ago! |
| 19 | Rock County Courthouse and Jail |
 |
(#77000769) |
204 E. Brown 43°39′24″N 96°12′25″W / 43.656777°N 96.207055°W |
Luverne | These government buildings were built between 1887 and 1890. They are in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It's one of the few old courthouse and jail buildings left in Minnesota. |
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National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock County, Minnesota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.