National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Welcome to Somerset County, Pennsylvania! This area is full of amazing places that are super important to American history. Many of these spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This special list helps protect buildings, sites, and districts that tell us about the past.
In Somerset County, there are 32 different places on this list. One of them is even a National Historic Site, which means it's extra important to the whole country. Let's explore some of these cool historic spots!
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Historic Bridges of Somerset County
Somerset County is home to several old and beautiful bridges. Many of these are covered bridges, which are wooden bridges with roofs and sides. They were built a long time ago to protect the wooden structure from the weather.
Barronvale Bridge
The Barronvale Bridge was added to the National Register in 1980. It's located west of Somerset. This bridge is a great example of the engineering used in the past.
Beechdale Bridge
Another historic covered bridge is the Beechdale Bridge. It's found southwest of Berlin. This bridge, like many others, helps us imagine what travel was like centuries ago.
Wells Creek Bollman Bridge
This bridge is unique because it's a W. Bollman and Company Bridge. It's located north of Meyersdale. Bollman bridges were known for their strong iron designs, which were quite advanced for their time.
Glessner Bridge
The Glessner Bridge is another covered bridge in Stonycreek Township. It was listed in 1980. These bridges are like time capsules, showing us how people built things before modern materials.
King's Bridge
You can find King's Bridge west of Somerset. It's also a covered bridge, added to the list in 1980. Imagine horse-drawn carriages crossing this bridge long ago!
Lower Humbert Bridge
The Lower Humbert Bridge is north of Ursina. This covered bridge was built to last. It's a reminder of the craftsmanship of early American builders.
New Baltimore Bridge
This bridge crosses the Raystown Branch Juniata River. It connects Allegheny Township and New Baltimore. It's a key part of the local history and transportation.
Packsaddle Bridge
Southwest of Glen Savage, you'll find the Packsaddle Bridge. This covered bridge is a scenic spot. It shows how important bridges were for connecting communities.
Shaffer's Bridge
Shaffer's Bridge is located west of Tire Hill. It's another example of the historic bridges in the county. These structures are important parts of our heritage.
Trostletown Bridge
Southeast of Stoystown, the Trostletown Bridge stands. It's a covered bridge that has seen many years pass by. It's a great place to visit and learn about old building styles.
Walter's Mill Bridge
North of Somerset, the Walter's Mill Bridge is another beautiful covered bridge. It was listed in 1980. These bridges are often popular spots for photographers and history lovers.
Important Historic Districts
Historic districts are areas with many buildings that share a common history or architectural style. They help preserve the look and feel of a town from a specific time period.
Boswell Historic District
The Boswell Historic District includes several streets and areas in Boswell. It gives us a peek into what the town looked like in the past. It's a great place to walk around and see old buildings.
Cairnbrook Historic District
In Shade Township, the Cairnbrook Historic District tells the story of a coal mining community. It includes areas around the old railroad tracks. This district shows how towns grew around industries.
Stoystown Historic District
The Stoystown Historic District covers a large part of Stoystown. It includes many historic homes and businesses. Walking through this district is like stepping back in time.
Uptown Somerset Historic District
The Uptown Somerset Historic District is the heart of Somerset. It includes important streets like Main Street. This area shows the growth and development of the county seat.
Windber Historic District
The Windber Historic District spans parts of Paint and Windber. It extends into Cambria County. This district highlights the history of coal mining towns in the region.
Significant Buildings and Sites
Beyond bridges and districts, Somerset County has many individual buildings and sites that are historically important.
Flight 93 National Memorial
This is a very special place. The Flight 93 National Memorial honors the brave passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93. They fought back against terrorists on September 11, 2001. The memorial is a place for quiet reflection and remembrance. It's located near Shanksville.
Matthew Hair Farm
The Matthew Hair Farm is a historic farm located north of Boswell. It was listed in 1996. Farms like this show us how people lived and worked in rural Pennsylvania many years ago.
Hite House
The Hite House is an important historic home in Stoystown. It was added to the National Register in 1998. Old houses like this often have unique architectural details and stories.
Miller's Store
Miller's Store is located at a junction of two Pennsylvania Routes. It's an example of an old general store. These stores were once vital centers for communities, selling everything people needed.
New Colonial Hotel
The New Colonial Hotel in Meyersdale is a historic building. It was listed in 2005. Hotels like this were important gathering places and stops for travelers in the past.
Petersburg Tollhouse
The Petersburg Tollhouse is off U.S. Route 40 in Addison. Tollhouses were where travelers paid money to use certain roads. This one tells us about early transportation and road systems.
Second National Bank of Meyersdale
This historic bank building is in Meyersdale. It was listed in 2002. Banks are important because they show the economic history and growth of a town.
Shade Furnace Archaeological District
North of Rockingham, this archaeological district contains the remains of Shade Furnace. Iron furnaces were very important industries in Pennsylvania's early history. This site helps us learn about how iron was made long ago.
Somerset County Courthouse
The Somerset County Courthouse is a grand building in Somerset. It's where important legal and government activities happen. Courthouses are often central to a county's history and civic life.
Wable-Augustine Tavern
This historic tavern is located east of Addison on U.S. Route 40. Taverns were places where travelers could rest, eat, and socialize. They were like hotels and restaurants combined in the past.
Penrose Wolf Building
The Penrose Wolf Building is in Rockwood. It was listed in 2002. This building is an example of historic commercial architecture.
Daniel B. Zimmerman Mansion
The Daniel B. Zimmerman Mansion is a beautiful historic home in Somerset Township. It was listed in 1995. Mansions like this often show the wealth and style of important families from the past.
Historic Parks and Recreation Areas
Some historic places are not just buildings, but entire parks or recreation areas that show how people used to enjoy nature and leisure.
Kooser State Park Family Cabin District
Kooser State Park, north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, has a historic family cabin district. These cabins were built a long time ago for people to enjoy nature. They show early efforts to create public parks.
Laurel Hill State Park RDA
Laurel Hill State Park, west of New Centerville, also has a historic district. These parks were often developed during the Great Depression by groups like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), providing jobs and creating beautiful public spaces.
Images for kids
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Barronvale Covered Bridge
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Beechdale Covered Bridge
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Wells Creek Bollman Bridge
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Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in Boswell, part of the Boswell Historic District
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Bridge in Jenner Township
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Loyalhanna Coal and Coke Company Office, Cairnbrook
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Flight 93 National Memorial
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Glessner Bridge
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Barn at Matthew Hair Farm
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Hite House
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King's Bridge
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Cabins at Kooser State Park
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CCC Cabin at Laurel Hill State Park
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Lower Humbert Covered Bridge
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Miller's Store
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New Baltimore Covered Bridge
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New Colonial Hotel in Meyersdale
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Packsaddle Covered Bridge
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Petersburg Tollhouse
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Second National Bank of Meyersdale
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Shade Furnace
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Shaffer's Bridge
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Somerset County Courthouse
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A street in the Stoystown Historic District
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Trostletown Bridge
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Main Street in the Uptown Somerset Historic District
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Wable-Augustine Tavern
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Walter's Mill Covered Bridge
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A street in the Windber Historic District
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Penrose Wolf Building
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Daniel B. Zimmerman Mansion
