National Register of Historic Places listings in Wisconsin facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about old buildings or special places in your town? In Wisconsin, there's a super important list called the National Register of Historic Places. It helps protect buildings, sites, and areas that are really important to history. Think of it like a special hall of fame for historic spots!
Wisconsin has over 2,500 places on this list. That's a lot of history! Every single one of Wisconsin's 72 counties has at least one place on the National Register. This means no matter where you live in Wisconsin, there's history nearby.
Contents
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worth saving. It's managed by the National Park Service, which is part of the United States government. When a place is added to this list, it means it's special because of its history, architecture, or what happened there.
Why are places listed?
Places get listed for many reasons. Maybe a famous person lived there, or an important event happened. Sometimes, a building is a great example of a certain style of architecture. Listing a place helps people understand its value and encourages them to protect it for the future.
What kinds of places are listed?
It's not just old houses! The National Register includes all sorts of places:
- Buildings: Like old schools, churches, or homes.
- Sites: Such as battlefields, ancient Native American villages, or even archaeological digs.
- Structures: Bridges, lighthouses, or monuments.
- Objects: Things like sculptures or even old ships.
- Historic Districts: These are areas with many historic buildings that together tell a story about a neighborhood or town.
Protecting Wisconsin's History
When a place in Wisconsin is added to the National Register, it gets special recognition. This doesn't mean the government owns it, but it does offer some benefits. For example, owners might get help or grants to fix up and preserve these historic spots. It also helps make sure that big projects, like building new roads, consider how they might affect these important places.
How many historic places are there?
Wisconsin has many historic places. There are about 2,300 properties and districts listed across the state. While the exact numbers change as new places are added, it's clear that Wisconsin has a rich history worth exploring.
Examples of Wisconsin's historic places
Some counties have many more listed places than others. For example, Milwaukee County and Dane County (where the capital city Madison is) have the most. This is often because they are older or larger areas with more history.
- In Dodge County, you can find the Wisconsin State Prison Historic District in Waupun. It's an important part of the state's past.
- Calumet County has its historic Calumet County Courthouse.
- In Crawford County, the famous Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien is a beautiful example of a historic home.
These are just a few examples of the many amazing places on the National Register that help us remember and learn about Wisconsin's past.
Images for kids
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A map showing the number of historic places in each Wisconsin county.
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The Wisconsin State Prison Historic District in Waupun, Dodge County.
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The historic Calumet County Courthouse.
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Villa Louis, a historic home in Prairie du Chien, Crawford County.
