National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Welcome to Washington County, Pennsylvania! This area is home to many special places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of this register as a national "hall of fame" for buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.
In Washington County, there are 99 different properties and areas that have earned a spot on this important list. Four of these are even more special, called National Historic Landmarks, which means they are considered truly outstanding and nationally significant. You can even see where many of these places are on a map if their exact location coordinates are shared!
Contents
What are Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of places in the United States that are worth saving. These places could be buildings, neighborhoods, archaeological sites, or even bridges! They are chosen because they tell an important story about our past. When a place is listed, it helps protect it and makes people more aware of its history.
Super Important Places: National Historic Landmarks
Some historic places are so important that they get an even higher honor: they are named a National Historic Landmark (NHL). This means they are considered to be of national importance, not just local or state importance. Washington County is proud to have four of these amazing landmarks!
Edward G. Acheson House
Located in Monongahela, this house belonged to Edward G. Acheson. He was a famous inventor who created important materials like carborundum, which is used for grinding and polishing, and artificial graphite. His work changed how many things were made!
David Bradford House
You can find the David Bradford House in Washington. David Bradford was a lawyer and a leader during the Whiskey Rebellion in the 1790s. This was a time when farmers in western Pennsylvania protested a tax on whiskey. His house is a key reminder of this important event in early American history.
F. Julius LeMoyne House
Also in Washington, the F. Julius LeMoyne House was home to Dr. F. Julius LeMoyne. He was a doctor and a strong supporter of the abolitionist movement, working to end slavery. He also built one of the first crematories in the United States. His house tells a story of social change and new ideas.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter
West of Avella, you'll find the incredible Meadowcroft Rockshelter. This isn't a building, but a natural rock overhang that was used by humans for thousands of years! Archaeologists have found tools and other items here that show people lived in this area as far back as 16,000 years ago. It's one of the oldest known sites of human habitation in North America!
Other Cool Historic Places
Besides the National Historic Landmarks, many other places in Washington County are listed on the National Register. They include old houses, bridges, schools, and even entire neighborhoods!
Historic Districts
A "historic district" is a whole area or neighborhood that has many historic buildings. These districts are special because they show how a town or community looked and developed over time.
- Beallsville Historic District: This district in Beallsville includes Main Street and nearby alleys, showing the historic layout of the town.
- Cement City Historic District: In Donora, this unique district features homes built with concrete, a special type of construction for its time.
- Centerville Historic District: Located in Centerville, this area follows the old National Pike, a historic road.
- Charleroi Historic District: This district in Charleroi covers many streets and shows the town's history.
- East Washington Historic District: In East Washington, this area includes many historic homes and buildings.
- Marianna Historic District: Found in Marianna, this district is bounded by Ten Mile Creek and historic streets.
- Scenery Hill Historic District: This district in Scenery Hill is along U.S. Route 40, a very old road.
- Taylorstown Historic District: In Taylorstown, Main Street is the heart of this historic area.
- West Alexander Historic District: This district in West Alexander includes Main, North Liberty, and Mechanic Streets.
- West Middletown Historic District: The Main Street of West Middletown is part of this historic district.
Historic Houses and Buildings
Many individual houses and buildings are listed because of their unique architecture or the important people who lived in them.
- McMillan Hall: This is the Administration Building at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington. It's a key part of the college's history.
- Bethel African American Episcopal Church of Monongahela City: This church in Monongahela is an important landmark for the African American community.
- Samuel Brownlee House: Located north of Eighty-Four, this house is a historic example of local architecture.
- Caldwell Tavern: This old tavern, northeast of Claysville, was a stop along a historic route.
- Canonsburg Armory: In Canonsburg, this armory is a historic building used for military training.
- Dager-Wonsettler Farmstead: This farmstead in Amwell Township shows what old farms in the area were like.
- Margaret Derrow House: West of Claysville, this house is a historic residence.
- Doak-Little House: This house is west of South Strabane along U.S. Route 40.
- Joseph Dorsey House: In Centerville, this house is west of West Brownsville.
- Dusmal House: East of Gastonville, this house is another example of historic homes.
- First National Bank of Charleroi: This bank building in Charleroi is a notable piece of architecture.
- Molly Fleming House: In California, this house has historical significance.
- Philip Friend House: This house in North Bethlehem Township is a historic farm building.
- Harrison House: Also in Centerville, this house was once a historic landmark, though it no longer exists.
- Hawthorne School: This former school in Canonsburg was an important part of the community's education history.
- Hill's Tavern: Located in Scenery Hill, this old tavern was unfortunately damaged by fire but remains a historic site.
- Huffman Distillery and Chopping Mill: North of Cokeburg, this site shows how goods were produced in the past.
- Jennings-Gallagher House: In California, this house is another historic home.
- Kinder's Mill: Found in Deemston, this mill is a reminder of early industry.
- LeMoyne Crematory: Southeast of Washington, this crematory was one of the first of its kind in the U.S., built by Dr. F. Julius LeMoyne.
- Moses Little Tavern: Southeast of Laboratory, this tavern was an important stop for travelers.
- David Longwell House: In Monongahela, this house is a historic residence.
- Malden Inn: West of Blainsburg, this inn was a historic stopping point along U.S. Route 40.
- Martin Farmstead: West of Eighty-Four, this farm shows traditional farming life.
- Dr. Joseph Maurer House: In Washington, this house belonged to a notable doctor.
- Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church and Churchyard: Northwest of Courtney, this church is a historic religious site.
- Monongahela Cemetery: This cemetery in Monongahela is a historic burial ground with an old chapel.
- Montgomery House: In Claysville, this house is a historic landmark.
- Thomas Munce House: East of Washington, this house is a historic residence.
- John H. Nelson House: In Fallowfield Township, this house is a historic home.
- Nesbit-Walker Farm: In Canton Township, this farm is a historic agricultural site.
- Old Main, California State College: This building is on the California University of Pennsylvania campus in California.
- Robert Parkinson Farm: North of Old Concord, this farm is a historic agricultural property.
- Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Station: In Washington, this old freight station was important for transporting goods.
- Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Station: In California, this old passenger station is now the California Area Public Library.
- Regester Log House: North of Fredericktown, this log house is a very old type of building.
- Ringland Tavern: Also in Scenery Hill, this tavern was another important stop along the old roads.
- Roberts House: In Canonsburg, this house is a historic residence.
- Frank L. Ross Farm: This farm is located near U.S. Route 40.
- Stephenson-Campbell House: In Cecil Township, this log house is a historic building.
- James Thome Farm: Northwest of Eighty Four, this farm is a historic agricultural site.
- Trinity Hall: South of Washington, this building was once a school and is now part of Trinity High School.
- U.S. Post Office-Charleroi: This old post office building in Charleroi is a historic government building.
- Washington Armory: In Washington, this armory is a historic military building.
- Washington County Courthouse: This courthouse in Washington is a very important building for the county's government and history.
- Washington County Jail: Also in Washington, this old jail is a historic building.
- Washington Trust Company Building: In Washington, this building was once a trust company.
- Welsh-Emery House: In Centerville, this house is a historic residence.
- John White House: In Chartiers Township, this house is a historic home.
- Levi Wilson Tavern: East of the S Bridge, this tavern was another historic stop along U.S. Route 40.
- Enoch Wright House: In Peters Township, this house is a historic residence.
Historic Bridges
Washington County has many historic bridges, especially "covered bridges" which are wooden bridges with roofs and sides. These were built to protect the wooden structure from weather.
- Bailey Covered Bridge: Southeast of Prosperity, this bridge spans Ten Mile Creek.
- Scott Brownlee Covered Bridge: This bridge is off Pennsylvania Route 231.
- Brownsville Bridge: This bridge crosses the Monongahela River and connects Washington County to Fayette County.
- Charleroi-Monessen Bridge: This bridge also crosses the Monongahela River and connects to Westmoreland County.
- Crawford Covered Bridge: This bridge spans Robinson Fork Wheeling Creek.
- Danley Covered Bridge: This bridge also spans Robinson Fork Wheeling Creek.
- Horn Davis Overholtzer Bridge: This bridge, which sadly collapsed in 1994, used to span Ten Mile Creek.
- Day Covered Bridge: South of Prosperity, this bridge spans Short Creek.
- Devil's Den, McClurg Covered Bridge: This bridge was moved to Hanover Township park in 1987.
- Ebenezer Covered Bridge: This bridge was moved to Mingo Creek County Park in 1977.
- Erskine Covered Bridge: South of West Alexander, this bridge spans Middle Wheeling Creek.
- Henry Covered Bridge: West of Monongahela, this bridge spans Mingo Creek.
- Hughes Covered Bridge: Southeast of Prosperity, this bridge spans Ten Mile Creek.
- Jackson's Mill Covered Bridge: Northwest of Burgettstown, this bridge spans Kings Creek.
- Krepps Covered Bridge: Southeast of Cherry Valley, this bridge is in Mount Pleasant Township.
- Leatherman Covered Bridge: North of Cokeburg, this bridge is in North Bethlehem Township.
- Lyle Covered Bridge: North of Raccoon, this bridge spans Brush Run.
- Martin's Mill Covered Bridge: West of Marianna, this bridge used to cross Ten Mile Creek but no longer exists.
- Blaney Mays Covered Bridge: Southwest of Claysville, this bridge spans Middle Wheeling Creek.
- Longdon L. Miller Covered Bridge: West of Enon, this bridge spans Templeton Fork Wheeling Creek.
- Pine Bank Covered Bridge: This bridge is located at the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life.
- Plant's Covered Bridge: This bridge spans Templeton Fork Wheeling Creek.
- Ralston Freeman Covered Bridge: North of Paris, this bridge crosses Aunt Clara's Fork of King's Creek.
- "S" Bridge: West of Washington, this unique "S"-shaped bridge is on U.S. Route 40.
- Sawhill Covered Bridge: Northwest of Taylorstown, this bridge is off Pennsylvania Route 221.
- Sprowl's Covered Bridge: This bridge is off Pennsylvania Route 231.
- Webster Donora Bridge: This bridge crosses the Monongahela River and connects to Westmoreland County.
- Wilson's Mill Covered Bridge: This bridge was moved to its current location northeast of McDonald.
- Cerl Wright Covered Bridge: Northwest of Bentleyville, this bridge crosses North Fork of Pigeon Creek.
- Wyit Sprowls Covered Bridge: This bridge was relocated to East Finley Township park around 1996.
Other Notable Sites
- Plantation Plenty: South of Avella, this historic site was once known as Isaac Manchester House.
Former Listing
Sometimes, a place that was once on the National Register of Historic Places is removed. This usually happens if the building is destroyed or changed so much that it no longer has its historic value.
- Sackville House: This house in East Washington was once on the list but was removed in 2010 because it was demolished around 1980.
Images for kids
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The Sackville House, which was once listed but has since been demolished.
