National Register of Historic Places listings in Tom Green County, Texas facts for kids
Welcome to Tom Green County, Texas! This area is home to many special buildings and places. These spots are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect old buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history.
When a place is on this list, it means it has a unique story to tell. It could be an old house, a church, a school, or even a bridge. These places help us learn about how people lived long ago. They show us what buildings looked like and how communities grew.
Contents
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is like a special club for historic 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 considered important to the history of a state or the whole country.
Being on the list helps save these places. It can also help owners get grants or tax breaks to fix them up. This way, future generations can also enjoy and learn from these historic treasures.
Historic Gems in San Angelo
Most of Tom Green County's historic places are found in the city of San Angelo. This city has a rich past, from its early days as a frontier fort to becoming a busy town. Let's explore some of these cool historic spots!
Fort Concho Historic District
One of the most famous historic places in San Angelo is Fort Concho. This old army fort was built in 1867. Soldiers lived and worked here to protect settlers and control the frontier. It was a very important place for the U.S. Army.
Today, Fort Concho is a National Historic Landmark. This means it's one of the most important historic sites in the entire country! You can visit the fort and see many of its original buildings. It's like stepping back in time to the Old West.
Old Homes and Neighborhoods
Many beautiful old houses in San Angelo are on the historic list. These homes show us different styles of architecture from the past.
- The Angelo Heights Historic District is a whole neighborhood with many historic homes. It's a great place to see how people lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- The Frederick Beck Farm at 1231 Culberson is an example of an old farm. It reminds us of San Angelo's farming roots.
- The C. A. Broome House at 123 S. David and the R. Wilbur Brown House at 1004 Pecos are also historic homes. They show the different designs popular in their time.
- Other interesting houses include the Clayton House, Develin House, and several "House at" listings like House at 1017 South David and House at 1325 South David. Each house has its own unique history.
Downtown Buildings and Businesses
San Angelo's downtown area also has many historic buildings. These were once busy shops, offices, and hotels.
- The Aztec Cleaners and Laundry Building at 119 S. Irving was an important business. It shows how people used to get their clothes cleaned.
- The Freeze Building at 18 W. Concho Ave. and the Hagelstein Commercial Building at 616-620 S. Chadbourne were places where people shopped or worked.
- The Harris Drug Store at 114 S. Chadbourne St. reminds us of old pharmacies.
- The Hilton Hotel at 36 E. Twohig St. was once a grand place for travelers to stay.
- The Montgomery Ward Building at 10 W. Beauregard was a large department store. It was a popular place to buy almost anything!
- The J. J. Rackley Building and the San Angelo National Bank Building are also important downtown structures. They show the city's growth and business history.
Public and Community Buildings
Some historic places are buildings that served the whole community.
- The Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 3 S. Randolph and the First Presbyterian Church at 32 N. Irving are beautiful old churches. They show the importance of faith in the community.
- The O. C. Fisher Federal Building at 33 E. Twohig is a government building. It shows where important decisions were made.
- The Municipal Swimming Pool at 18 East Ave. A was a place for fun and relaxation. It's cool to see how public pools looked in the past.
- The San Angelo City Hall at City Hall Plaza is where the city's government operates.
- The Tom Green County Courthouse at 100 W. Beauregard and the Tom Green County Jail on US 67 are also historic. They show the history of law and order in the county.
Transportation and Industry
Some historic sites are related to how people traveled or worked.
- The Lone Wolf Crossing Bridge on Ave. K extension is an old bridge. Bridges are important for connecting communities.
- The Santa Fe Passenger Depot and the Santa Fe Railway Freight Depot at 700 S. Chadbourne were train stations. Trains were a huge part of travel and trade in the past.
- The Texas Highway Department Building, Warehouse and Motor Vehicle Division at 100 Paint Rock Rd. shows the history of road building and transportation.
Why are these places important to us?
These historic places are like giant storybooks. They help us understand what life was like for people who lived before us. By preserving them, we keep their stories alive. They teach us about our past, which helps us understand our present and plan for our future.
So, next time you're in Tom Green County, keep an eye out for these special historic places! Each one has a unique tale to tell.
Images for kids
-
The Aztec Cleaners and Laundry Building.
-
The historic Frederick Beck Farmhouse.
-
The C. A. Broome House.
-
The R. Wilbur Brown House.
-
The Clayton House.
-
The Develin House.
-
Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
-
Fort Concho Historic District.
-
House at 1017 South David.
-
House at 1325 South David.
-
The Municipal Swimming Pool building.
-
San Angelo City Hall.
-
The Schwartz and Raas Building, part of a historic group.
-
The Santa Fe Passenger Depot.
-
The Tom Green County Courthouse.
Former listings
Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the list. This can happen if the building is changed too much or if it is torn down. One example in Tom Green County is the House at 410 Summit St., which was removed from the list in 1999.
