Woodstock Square Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woodstock Square Historic District
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Some of the buildings lining the historic Woodstock Square. Many of the buildings are privately owned and house small businesses.
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Calhoun, Throop, Cass, Main, C and NW RR Tracks, and Jefferson Sts., Woodstock, Illinois |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Built | Various, see article |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000399 |
| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1982 |
The Woodstock Square Historic District is a special part of downtown Woodstock, Illinois. It's like a time capsule, filled with old buildings and history! This area has been recognized as a historic place since 1982. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's important to protect for future generations. Inside this district, you'll find two other famous spots: the Woodstock Opera House and the Old McHenry County Courthouse.
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Exploring Woodstock Square
The Woodstock Square is a beautiful area with many historic buildings. It's centered around a large public park. Two main buildings stand out here: the Old McHenry County Courthouse and the Woodstock Opera House. Most other buildings around the square are privately owned. They are home to many small businesses, like restaurants and shops.
What You'll See
The streets around the square are one-way and paved with bricks. The park in the middle has two pretty gazeebos. You can also see war memorials there. During the winter, the square lights up with many colorful lights. It looks magical!
Fun Events!
The Woodstock Square is a busy place. It hosts many festivals and events all year long. Some popular events include Harvestdays and the Old Time Fiddlers Competition. There's also Groundhog Days, which celebrates Woodstock's role in the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day. The movie was filmed right here in Woodstock, Illinois. The town pretended to be Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for the film!
Historic Buildings
Two very important buildings are part of the Woodstock Square Historic District. They are both separately listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Old McHenry County Courthouse
The Old McHenry County Courthouse was built in 1857. For a long time, it was where the local government offices were. Today, it's no longer a courthouse. Instead, it holds several businesses. This building is a key part of the historic district. It's designed in a simple Italianate style. The building has a unique white dome on top. This dome even has a lightning rod!
Woodstock Opera House
The Woodstock Opera House has been open since 1889. It's one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the United States! Like the Old Courthouse, it's a very important building in the district. When it was first built, it had many uses. It was a library, a council room, a court, and even a fire department. It also had an auditorium on the second floor.
Soon, the Opera House became the main place for entertainment in McHenry County, Illinois. Today, it still hosts many different events. You can see concerts, theatre shows, dance performances, and visual art exhibits. They also have educational programs, lectures, and meetings. It's a busy and exciting place!
