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Ritzville Historic District
Ritzville Historic District, Ritzville, WN.png
Location Roughly bounded by Broadway Avenue, North Division Street, West Railroad Avenue, and North Adams Street, Ritzville, Washington
Area 8 acres (3.2 ha)
Architect Tinnel Brothers; Et al.
Architectural style Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Vernacular commercial
NRHP reference No. 90000676
Added to NRHP May 2, 1990

The Ritzville Historic District is a special area in Ritzville, Washington. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important place with a lot of history. This district covers three city blocks in Ritzville's main business area. It includes 27 buildings that help tell the story of the past, and 11 other buildings that are also part of the district.

What is a Historic District?

A historic district is like a special neighborhood or part of a town that has many old buildings. These buildings are important because they show how people lived, worked, and built things a long time ago. The government lists these places on the National Register of Historic Places to help protect them. This way, future generations can learn from and enjoy these historical sites.

Why is Ritzville's District Special?

The Ritzville Historic District is special because its buildings show how the town grew. They represent different styles of architecture from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Walking through this district is like taking a trip back in time! It helps us understand the history of Ritzville and the people who lived there.

Buildings with History

The Ritzville Historic District has 27 buildings that are called "contributing properties." This means they are old enough and important enough to add to the district's historical value. These buildings were built between 1889 and 1935. They include old banks, stores, a library, and even a theater.

Famous Buildings in the District

Here are some of the cool old buildings you can find in the Ritzville Historic District:

  • The Ritzville Carnegie Library, built in 1907, is now known as the Ritzville Public Library. It's at 302 West Main Avenue.
  • The Ritzville Hotel, built in 1910, is located at 220 West Main Avenue.
  • The George H. Lemman Building, also called the B&J Restaurant, was built around 1905 at 214 West Main Avenue.
  • The F.G. Spanjer Building, from 1898, is at 208 West Main Avenue.
  • The Ritzville Trading Company Buildings block, built in 1898, can be found at 202 West Main Avenue, and 201 and 203 West Broadway Avenue.
  • The H.E. Gritman Building, built in 1902, is at the corner of West Main Avenue and North Washington Street.
  • The William Snyder Building, from 1899, is at 116 West Main Avenue.
  • The O.R. Haight Building, built in 1901, is at 114 West Main Avenue.
  • The A&C Bakery building, built in 1910, is at 102 and 104 West Main Avenue.
  • The Pioneer State Bank, now U.S. Bank, was built in 1901 at 101 East Main Avenue.
  • The Ritz Theater, built around 1935, is at 107 East Main Avenue.
  • The Hanson Flower's building, built around 1905, is at 105 West Main Avenue.
  • The Burt's Hardware building, also from around 1905, is at 107 West Main Avenue.
  • The Sears building, built between 1910 and 1920, is at 109 and 111 West Main Avenue.
  • The N.H. Greene Building, the oldest on this list from 1889, is at 119 West Main Avenue.
  • The German American Bank, now Columbia Bank, was built in 1904 at 201 West Main Avenue.
  • The Orris Dorman Building, built in 1904, is at 203 and 205 West Main Avenue.
  • The A.F. Rosenoff Building, from 1901, is at 207 West Main Avenue.
  • The Myers Dry Goods Store Building, built between 1901 and 1904, is at 209 and 211 West Main Avenue.
  • The building at 213 West Main Avenue was also built between 1901 and 1904.
  • The Adams County Bank Building, built in 1892, is at 301 West Main Avenue.
  • The Kalkwarf Motor Company Building, built in 1910, is at 101 to 107 North Adams Street.
  • The E.D. Gilson Building, from 1904, is at 218 West Railroad Avenue.
  • The Journal Building, built between 1910 and 1920, is at 214 and 216 West Railroad Avenue.
  • The Kalkwarf Hardware Store, also from 1910-1920, is at 210 West Railroad Avenue.
  • The Northern Pacific Railway Depot, built between 1909 and 1910, now hosts the Railroad Depot Museum at 201 West Railroad Avenue.
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