Victory Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Victory Park Historic District
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Victory Park
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 405 Pine, 148 Concord, 111 and 129 Amherst Sts., Manchester, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Tilton, Edward L., et al.; Gosselin, Lucien |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000615 |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1996 |
The Victory Park Historic District in Manchester, New Hampshire, is a special area. It includes a cool city park called Victory Park. It also has four important buildings that face the park across nearby streets. This district is like a snapshot of history. It shows how the city grew and changed over many years.
Discover Victory Park!
This historic district is a place where you can learn about the past. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
The Story of Victory Park
Victory Park wasn't always called that! It started as "Concord Square" way back in 1838. The people who founded Manchester, from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, designed this area. At first, it was a common space. Neighbors used it for gardening or letting their animals graze.
In 1848, the company sold the park to the city for just $1! But there was a catch. The city had to turn it into a real park. It took a while, but by the 1870s, it looked much more like a park. It had a fountain and many trees.
The park got its new name, Victory Park, after the First World War. This was to honor the soldiers. The most famous part of the park is the Winged Victory Monument. This monument honors the city's soldiers from that war. It was designed by Lucien Hippolyte Gosselin and put up in 1929. The park was also updated in 1988.
Amazing Buildings Around the Park
Four important buildings are part of this historic district. They all face Victory Park.
- The Manchester City Library is at 405 Pine Street. It's a beautiful building built in 1914. It was a gift from Frank Carpenter to remember his wife. The library was designed in the Beaux Arts style by Edward Tilton.
- At 148 Concord Street, you'll find the Manchester Institute of Arts and Science building. It was built in 1916. William Rantoul, an architect from Boston, designed it. This building was a gift from Emma Blood French. She was Frank Carpenter's sister-in-law.
- To the south of the park, at 129 Amherst Street, is the Manchester Historical Association building. This building has a Classical Revival style. It was also designed by Edward Tilton.
- Finally, at 111 Amherst Street, stands the old post office building. Edward Tilton also designed this one. It was built in 1932.
These buildings and the park together tell a story about Manchester's past.
