Unusual things in the National Register of Historic Places

[xzmattzx]

There's a lot of places in the National Register of Historic Places, and most are typical, common, and rational things: 18th-century houses, early skyscrapers, old farmhouses, early canals, etc. There's some things in the National Register which are positively unique or are things you wouldn't expect to find in the listings.

Some examples:

~ The cable cars of San Francisco LINK
~ The first ski lift in the world LINK
~ A ranch house in Macon, GA, that personifies suburban development in the 1950s (featured in a Wall Street Journal article) LINK

Any other unique or unusual listing in the National Register of Historic Places?

[eluko]

Riverside Plaza in Minneapolis. Also known as the ghetto in the sky or the crackstacks. Added to the list on December 28, 2010

[mhays]

That National Register has great value...

...but when preservationists try to save shit like that they do the preservation concept great harm.

[Jennifat]

The reason Riverside Plaza was added to the National Register of Historic Places is because it's a classic personification of 70s modernist/brutalist architecture and a well-preserved example of mid-century urban redevelopment.

Sure, today most people find it an offensively ugly and garish structure, but it's still pretty amazing in its absolute hideousness. 50 years ago, cities around the country were tearing down buildings that were then thought to be outdated, in need of maintenance, and ugly, and what do you know? Most of them were beautiful and remarkable structures razed in the name of "progress" that we're still grieving the loss of today.

[mhays]

That's why some architects and architecture fans like it, but I doubt (and it doesn't seem like) any of that means much to the average American.

Even in the 1960s and 70s, there was quite a bit of love for prewar buildings. The groundswells that led to a lot of 1970s preservation were based on an affinity for older architecture that's far deeper than what we see today about midcentury stuff.

[ichabodius]

The Taj Majal at Randolph A.F.B.
Its basically a water tower but its gorgeous:

[Resident]

I love Riverside Plaza, I don't even think it's ugly, just very unique.

[xzmattzx]

Concrete streets aren't anything special, but the first concrete street in the US is still in use and is still the original pavement.

~ Court Avenue concrete street, Bellefontaine, OH LINK

[xzmattzx]

A chicken coop is pretty mundane, but the chicken house at the first broiler farm in the world is preserved.

~ First broiler house in the world, Georgetown, DE LINK

[-Corey-]

What's the point of having a subway station (especially from NYCS) or highways on the NRHP if they're not even state[local] mantained?

[Manila-X]

Originally Posted by Jennifat

The reason Riverside Plaza was added to the National Register of Historic Places is because it's a classic personification of 70s modernist/brutalist architecture and a well-preserved example of mid-century urban redevelopment.

Sure, today most people find it an offensively ugly and garish structure, but it's still pretty amazing in its absolute hideousness. 50 years ago, cities around the country were tearing down buildings that were then thought to be outdated, in need of maintenance, and ugly, and what do you know? Most of them were beautiful and remarkable structures razed in the name of "progress" that we're still grieving the loss of today.

What are the conditions in Riverside Plaza? Is it still public housing?

Anyway, Riverside Plaza is not the only subsidized / public housing to be listed. Raymond Hilliard Homes in Chicago is listed as well.

image hosted on flickr

[Jennifat]

Originally Posted by Manila-X

What are the conditions in Riverside Plaza? Is it still public housing?

Currently it's about half market rate, and half subsidized housing. Most of the residents in the complex are Somali immigrants.

[Jaybird]

Most unusual thing I have seen recently added to the NRH:

The Fiberglas Tower in Toledo, Ohio:




It's on the left in this shot...


Other than the fact it's tall (second tallest building in Toledo, 30 storeys high, 400 ft in height) and was once the world headquarters of Owens-Corning. I don't see any historical significance to this building.

It's also entirely vacant, but is awaiting a potential development plan that could see it turned into a hotel, residential, and mixed use building. Maybe the NRH is a way to entice developers.

[mhays]

That's horrible. Being on the National Register generally hamstrings any adaptive reuse, because it makes visible changes much more difficult. It can help rents, but that effect tends to be marginal, though I don't have evidence on the latter.

In this building's case, from google maps, the base integrates poorly with its surroundings. Hopefully that's not protected, so they can at least fix that aspect. But I'd guess it is protected. And hopefully the ugly garage next door isn't part of it.

Further, why in the hell is an ugly piece of crap like that protected?

Preservation has been popular, but keep this up and they'll lose public backing.

[Cal_Escapee]

Alcatraz:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_Island

The well-known prison

Lotta Crabtree Fountain:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotta%27s_Fountain

Gathering point for survivors of the 1906 earthquake, immediately after the quake and, for those remaining, every year on the quake's anniversary.

Mission San Francisco de Asis:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Dolores

The smaller white building on the left: Founding point of the city, built 1776.

Old US Mint, San Francisco:



Built in 1874 to replace the smaller building where the gold of the California Gold Rush was coined, it continued that process and, at the time of the 1906 quake, held $300 million in bullion which was 1/3 of the US's total gold reserves. It is planned to become the Museum of the City of San Francisco.

[xzmattzx]

I don't know, saying that a California mission or a US Mint is unusual is a big stretch. I would expect things like that to be on a list. Now, if the Sutro Tower was on the list, that would be another story. I can't think of any old TV towers listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[Middle-Island]

Wonder Wheel

Cyclone

Parachute Jump

...all three on the National Register of Historic Places.

[xzmattzx]

Here's a house that was put on the National Register because it's a normal house. Proponents argued that not just the homes of the wealthy or important people should be preserved. The house is listed as "Vernacular House".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_S._Roy_House