National Register of Historic Places listings in Washita County, Oklahoma facts for kids
Have you ever wondered what makes a place special enough to be protected for future generations? In Washita County, Oklahoma, there's a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps identify and protect important buildings, sites, and areas that have a significant story to tell about American history. It's like a hall of fame for historic places!
Washita County is home to six amazing places on this list. One of them is even a National Historic Landmark, which means it's super important to the history of the entire country. These places help us learn about the past and understand how people lived long ago.
Exploring Washita County's Historic Places
Let's take a closer look at the cool historic spots you can find in Washita County. Each one has its own unique story!
Canute Service Station
The Canute Service Station is a historic building located in the town of Canute. It sits at the corner of Main Street and what used to be the famous U.S. Route 66. This service station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It's a great example of the kind of places travelers would have stopped at when driving along Route 66, a very important road in American history.
Cedar Creek District
The Cedar Creek District is a special historic area near Carnegie. Because of its sensitive nature, the exact location of this district is kept private. It was listed on the National Register in 1975. Historic districts often include several buildings or an area that shows how a community developed over time.
Cordell Carnegie Public Library
The Cordell Carnegie Public Library is located at 105 East 1st Street in New Cordell. This beautiful building became a historic place in 1989. Many towns across the United States have "Carnegie" libraries. These libraries were built with money donated by Andrew Carnegie, a very wealthy businessman who believed in the power of public libraries for education.
McLemore Site
The McLemore Site is a very important archaeological site near Colony. Its exact location is also kept private to protect it. This site is so significant that it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. National Historic Landmarks are places that have played a major role in the history of the United States. Archaeological sites like McLemore can teach us a lot about ancient cultures and how people lived thousands of years ago.
New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District
The New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District is a large area in New Cordell. It includes the area around the courthouse, roughly bounded by Temple, East 2nd, Glenn English, and East Clay Streets. This district was added to the National Register in 1999. Historic districts like this show how a town's center developed, often with important government buildings and businesses around a central square.
Washita County Courthouse
Right in the middle of the New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District is the Washita County Courthouse. It's located on Courthouse Square in New Cordell. This impressive building was listed on the National Register in 1984. Courthouses are often important historical buildings because they are where local government decisions are made and where many community records are kept.
Images for kids
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The historic Canute Service Station
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The Cordell Carnegie Public Library
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A view of the New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District
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The Washita County Courthouse
