National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Arkansas facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about old buildings and places that are really important to history? In the United States, there's a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. It helps protect buildings, sites, and objects that tell us about the past. When a place is on this list, it means it's considered very important for its history, architecture, or what happened there.
Union County, Arkansas, is full of interesting history! It has many places that are so special they've been added to this National Register. There are 36 different buildings and areas in Union County that are officially recognized as historic. These places help us remember and learn about the people and events that shaped this part of Arkansas.
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Exploring Union County's Historic Treasures
Many of Union County's historic places are in the city of El Dorado. This city has a rich past, especially from the time when oil was discovered there.
Historic Buildings in El Dorado
- Bank of Commerce: This old bank building at 200 N. Washington Street was added to the list in 1982. It shows us what banks looked like a long time ago.
- El Dorado Apartments: Located at 420 Wilson Place, these apartments became historic in 1983. They represent how people lived in the past.
- El Dorado Junior College Building: Found at 300 S. West Avenue, this building was once a college. It joined the list in 1978, reminding us of early education in the area.
- Exchange Bank: This bank building at Washington and Oak Streets is another important financial building from the past, listed in 1986.
- First Presbyterian Church: This beautiful church at 300 E. Main Street has been a landmark since 1991. Churches often have amazing architecture and stories.
- Griffin Auto Company Building: At 117 E. Locust Street, this building was once an auto company. It was listed in 2001 and shows us early businesses.
- Masonic Temple: Located at 106-108 N. Washington, this building has been important to the community since 2001.
- Henry Crawford McKinney House: This house at 510 E. Faulkner was listed in 1983. Old homes often have unique designs and tell us about families who lived there.
- J.H. McWilliams House: Another historic home at 323 W. Oak Street, added in 2002.
- W. F. & Estelle McWilliams House: This house at 314 Summit Avenue was listed in 2013, showing different styles of homes over time.
- Municipal Building: The city's municipal building at 204 N. West Avenue became historic in 1983. This is where city government happens.
- Charles H. Murphy Sr. House: This grand house at 900 N. Madison Avenue was listed in 1983. It belonged to an important person in the community.
- Matthew Rainey House: At 510 N. Jackson Street, this house is now the Newton House Museum. It was listed in 1974 and is a great place to learn about local history.
- Randolph James House: This home at 1212 N. Madison Avenue was added in 2012.
- Rialto Theatre: The Rialto Theatre at 117 E. Cedar Street was listed in 1986. Imagine watching movies there many years ago!
- Joel Smith House: This house is at the junction of U.S. Route 167 and County Road 5, listed in 1990.
- Smith-McCurry House: Located on the northern side of Highway 15, east of El Dorado, this house was listed in 1992.
- Union County Courthouse: The courthouse in Union Square is a very important building, listed in 1983. Courthouses are central to a county's history and law.
Historic Districts in El Dorado
- El Dorado Commercial Historic District: This whole area includes Courthouse Square and parts of several streets. It was listed in 2003 because it shows what the main business area looked like in the past.
- Mahony Historic District: This district, roughly bounded by Champagnolle Road, Madison and Euclid Avenues, and Lee Avenue, was listed in 2011. It's a neighborhood with many historic homes.
- Murphy-Hill Historic District: This area, roughly bounded by E. 5th, N. Jefferson, E. Peach, N. Madison, and E. Faulkner Streets, was listed in 2007. It's another neighborhood with historic homes and buildings.
Historic Places Outside El Dorado
- Dual State Monument: This monument is on County Road 86 near Aurelle. It's special because it's on the border and extends into Louisiana! It was listed in 2000.
- D. McDonald House: This house in Smackover at 800 S. Broadway was listed in 1990. Smackover is known for its oil history.
- Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge No. 18: This lodge is off Highway 172 near Lisbon. It was listed in 1987 and is an important community building.
- J.T. Murphy No 1 Crater: This unique site is on Firetower Road near Norphlet. It was listed in 2008 and is a reminder of the oil industry's impact.
- Scotland Cemetery: This cemetery is on U.S. Route 167 west of Junction City. It was listed in 2005 and tells us about the people who lived in the area long ago.
- Smackover Historic Commercial District: This district at 601-628 Broadway in Smackover was listed in 1990. It shows the historic downtown area of Smackover.
- Willett House: This house at 6563 Mount Holly Road near Lisbon was listed in 1995.
Former Historic Listings
Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if a building is changed too much, or if it's no longer there. Here are a few places in Union County that were once on the list:
- Garrett House: This house at 210 Peach Street in El Dorado was listed in 1974 but removed in 1986.
- Ouachita River Bridge: This bridge on US 167 over the Ouachita River near Calion was listed in 1990 but removed in 1999 because it was replaced.
- SAU at El Dorado: This site at Summit and Block Streets in El Dorado was listed in 1982 but removed in 2004.
Images for kids
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Bank of Commerce
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Dual State Monument
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El Dorado Apartments
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El Dorado Commercial Historic District
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El Dorado Confederate Monument
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El Dorado Junior College Building
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Exchange Bank
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First Presbyterian Church
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Griffin Auto Company Building
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Mahony Historic District
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Masonic Temple
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D. McDonald House
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Henry Crawford McKinney House
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J.H. McWilliams House
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W. F. & Estelle McWilliams House
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Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge No. 18
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Municipal Building
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Charles H. Murphy Sr. House
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J.T. Murphy No 1 Crater
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Murphy-Hill Historic District
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Matthew Rainey House (Newton House Museum)
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Randolph James House
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Rialto Theatre
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Scotland Cemetery
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Smackover Historic Commercial District
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Joel Smith House
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Smith-McCurry House
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Union County Courthouse
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Willett House
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Ouachita River Bridge (former listing)
