Nevada City Downtown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nevada City Downtown Historic District
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Spring, Bridge, Commercial, York, Washington, Coyote, and Main Sts., Nevada City, California |
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| Area | 16 acres (6.5 ha) |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Moderne, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002520 |
| Added to NRHP | September 23, 1985 |
The Nevada City Downtown Historic District is a special area in Nevada City, California, covering about 16 acres. It's like a time capsule of old buildings! This historic district is located in Nevada County, California and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Many of its buildings were built between 1856 and 1917. You can see different styles of architecture here, like Moderne and Italianate. The district includes 70 important buildings, including the famous National Hotel. Some buildings are even recognized as California Historical Landmarks, which means they are very important to California's history.
Explore Nevada City's Historic Buildings
Nevada City's downtown is full of amazing old buildings. Each one tells a story about the past. Many of these buildings have been carefully saved so we can still enjoy them today.
Famous Places to Visit
Let's take a closer look at some of the most interesting buildings in the district.
The National Hotel
The National Hotel at 211 Broad Street is super old! It's one of the oldest hotels west of the Rocky Mountains that has been open continuously. Imagine all the people who have stayed there over the years!
Historic Government Buildings
The courthouse in Courthouse Square and the city hall have cool Art deco designs. These designs were added as part of projects by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a program in the 1930s that helped people find jobs during tough times.
St. Canice Catholic Church
You can find St. Canice Catholic Church at 317 Washington Street. It's a beautiful old church that has been part of the community for a long time.
Doris Foley Library for Historical Research
The Doris Foley Library for Historical Research is at 231 North Pine Street. It's a special kind of library called a Carnegie library. These libraries were built with money from Andrew Carnegie, a very rich businessman who believed in the power of books and learning. This library is a great place to learn about history.
Miners Foundry
The Miners Foundry at 325 Spring Street is a really important spot. It was the first place where the Pelton wheel was made. A Pelton wheel is a special type of water wheel that uses the power of water to create energy. It was a big deal for mining and power generation back in the day!
Nevada City Firehouse No. 2
The Nevada City Firehouse No. 2 is a cool building built in 1860. It has a Neoclassical and Greek Revival style, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. This old firehouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Nevada Brewery
The Nevada Brewery at 107 Sacramento Street was once used for making and serving lager beer to the miners. It was an important gathering place for the mining community.
Nevada Theatre
The Nevada Theatre at 401 Broad Street is California's oldest theater that is still used for its original purpose. Imagine all the plays, movies, and performances that have happened there since it opened!
Ott's Assay Office
Ott's Assay Office was a place where miners would bring their gold and other minerals to be tested. An "assay" is a test to find out how pure a metal is. This office was very important for miners to know the value of their discoveries.
South Yuba Canal Office
The South Yuba Canal Office at 134 Main Street was the main office for a huge network of water channels called flumes and ditches. This system was the biggest in California! It brought water to Nevada City and nearby Grass Valley, California for homes and farms. It also helped create electricity for Northern California.
The building itself was built in 1855 and was known as the Potter Building. It's a two-story brick building with strong iron doors and shutters, and a fancy balcony railing. The South Yuba Canal system is still used today and is about 18 miles long. It runs through forests with lots of conifers and hardwoods.
Images for kids
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Corner of Broadway and Pine
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Masonic Building, 108 N Pine Street
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Alpha Building, 210 Broad Street
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Commercial Street
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Left: Ott's Assay Office, 130 Main Street; Right: South Yuba Canal Building
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Historic New York Hotel building, 408 Broad Street
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Left: McGees Annex, 315 Broad St. Right: City Hall, 317 Broad St.
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Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad Street
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Nevada City United Methodist Church
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Nevada City Firehouse No. 2, Main Street
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The Independent building, 310 Broad Street
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I.O.O.F building, 225 Broad Street
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Two Room Inn, 431 Broad Street
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Fire House Museum (on far left), 214 Main Street
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A fifteen-ton Pelton wheel in front of the South Yuba Canal Building on Main Street
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Ott's Assay Office with Pelton Wheel monument to the right.
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St. Canice Catholic Church
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Doris Foley Library
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Charles Marsh house
