Petoskey Downtown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Petoskey Downtown Historic District
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East Mitchell Street.
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Rose, Division, Michigan, and Petoskey, Petoskey, Michigan |
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| Area | 27.3 acres (11.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne |
| MPS | Petoskey MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002048 |
| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1986 |
The Petoskey Downtown Historic District is a special area in Petoskey, Michigan. It's a historic business district with many old buildings. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It covers streets like Rose, Division, Michigan, and Petoskey.
Contents
Discovering Petoskey's Past
In the 1850s, the Petoskey area was home to the Odawa people. Christian missions were set up nearby. By the 1860s, more European settlers arrived. A pioneer named Hazen Ingalls built a dock for ships. He also opened the very first store in what is now downtown Petoskey.
How Petoskey Grew
A big change happened in 1874. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad started train service to Petoskey. This made the area grow super fast! By 1875, Petoskey already had three hotels. The village of Petoskey officially became a town in 1879. Around this time, many brick buildings started to appear downtown. Building new stores and businesses continued into the 1940s.
Exploring the Historic District
The Petoskey Downtown Historic District has 102 business buildings. It also has two other important structures. These buildings are spread across 10 blocks. You'll find them mostly along East Mitchell and Howard streets. The oldest buildings here were built in 1879. The newest ones date from the 1920s.
Train Tracks and Parks
Old train tracks from the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad cut through the district. The open land next to these tracks is now a beautiful park. At the north end of the district, you can see the old Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Depot. The famous Perry Hotel is also there. Both remind us of Petoskey's early days as a tourist spot.
Different Building Styles
Most buildings in the district are shops and businesses. They show off different architectural styles:
- Homes turned into shops: Some buildings on Bay and Howard streets used to be houses. They were later changed into shops or boarding houses.
- Classical Revival style: Many buildings have a "Classical Revival" look. This style often uses columns and grand entrances, like old Greek or Roman buildings. A great example is the First State Bank building from around 1890. It has a big entrance with columns. Other buildings like the G&A building (1907) also show this style.
- Italianate "Commercial Palaces": These buildings have an "Italianate" style. They often feature decorative ironwork around windows and roofs. The Central Drug Store from 1879 was the first brick building in the district and shows this style.
- Queen Anne style: You can spot "Queen Anne" style buildings with their fancy brickwork and unique window shapes. One building on Howard Street has cool second-story windows that stick out.
- Spanish Mission style: The old train depot (built in 1899) and a building on Howard Street have a "Spanish Mission" style. This style often has stepped roofs and decorative walls called parapets.
Gallery
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Petoskey, Lake St. looking west toward Howard, 2008
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Lake and Howard
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Perry's Hotel
