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National Register of Historic Places listings in Sebastian County, Arkansas facts for kids

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Map of Arkansas highlighting Sebastian County
Location of Sebastian County in Arkansas

Sebastian County in Arkansas is home to many special places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect buildings, sites, and objects that are important to history. It's like a special club for old and significant places!

There are 60 places in Sebastian County that are currently on this list. One of them, the Fort Smith National Historic Site, is even more special because it's also a National Historic Landmark. This means it's super important to the history of the whole United States! Seven other places were once on the list but have since been removed, usually because they were changed or no longer exist.

Cool Historic Places in Sebastian County

Sebastian County has a rich history, and many of its old buildings and sites are recognized for their importance. Let's explore some of these cool places!

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places that are worth saving. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it has a special story to tell about American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. It helps people understand and appreciate the past.

Fort Smith's Special Spots

Fort Smith is one of the biggest cities in Sebastian County, and it has many historic places.

Fort Smith National Historic Site

The Fort Smith National Historic Site is a very important place. It's located on the southern side of Garland Avenue. This site tells the story of the old frontier, law and order, and the lives of Native Americans. It was first listed in 1966.

Old Buildings and Homes

Many old buildings and homes in Fort Smith are on the list. For example, the Bonneville House at 318 N. 7th St. was listed way back in 1971. The W.H.H. Clayton House at 514 N. 6th St. is another old home that was listed in 1970. It belonged to a famous judge.

The Commercial Hotel at 123 N. 1st St. is an interesting old building that was added in 1973. Imagine all the travelers who stayed there long ago! The Fort Smith Masonic Temple at 200 N. 11th St. is also on the list, recognized in 1992. It's a grand building where the Masons, a fraternal organization, met.

The Sebastian County Courthouse-Ft. Smith City Hall at 100 S. 6th St. is a key building for the city and county government. It was listed in 1993.

Cool Transportation History

Fort Smith also has historic items related to transportation. The Birney Safety Streetcar No. 224 is a cool old streetcar located at 100 S. 4th St. It was listed in 1994 and reminds us of how people used to get around town.

Another interesting piece of transportation history is the St. Louis San Francisco (Frisco) Railway Steam Locomotive #4003. This big train engine is also at 100 S. 4th St. and was listed in 2004. It's a reminder of the age of steam trains! The United States Air Force Locomotive #1246 is another historic locomotive at the same address, listed in 2006.

Historic Districts

Some areas are so full of historic buildings that they are listed as "historic districts."

  • The Fort Smith's Belle Grove Historic District is a large area bounded by N. 4th, N. 9th, N. B, and N. H Streets. It was listed in 1973 and has many beautiful old homes.
  • The West Garrison Avenue Historic District includes buildings along Garrison Avenue, from 100-525. It was listed in 1979 and shows what a busy street looked like long ago.
  • The Fishback Neighborhood Historic District is another area with many historic homes, roughly bounded by Rogers, Greenwood, and Dodson Avenues. It was added in 2010.

Historic Places in Other Towns

Sebastian County has other towns with important historic sites too!

Greenwood's Gems

In Greenwood, the Greenwood Gymnasium at 300 E. Gary St. was listed in 2011. It's an example of buildings built during the "New Deal" era to help the country recover from hard times. The Greenwood Presbyterian Church at 103 W. Denver St. was listed in 2008.

The Old Sebastian County Jail in Greenwood, located on Highway 10, was listed in 1994. It's a fascinating look into the past of law enforcement in the county.

Hartford's History

Hartford has its own historic spots. The Hartford Commercial Historic District includes buildings on Broadway St. It was listed in 2009 and shows what the town's main business street looked like. The Hartford Water Tower at Pine and 1st Streets is also on the list, recognized in 2008. Water towers are important parts of a town's history and infrastructure.

Places That Are No Longer Listed

Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if the building is torn down, badly damaged, or changed so much that it loses its historic importance. For example, the Karl Edward Bracht House in Fort Smith was removed in 2002 because it was demolished. The Josiah Foster Building was also removed after being demolished by a tornado.

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