There are 15 individual listings on the National Register in the county: nine properties, five historic districts, and one bridge. These listings include a lighthouse, statue, four houses, trading post, former factory, battlefield (Battle of Frenchtown), and five historic districts — one of which is an undeveloped archeological district. Although attempts have been made to include other properties, only the following 15 are officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2] Nine of the listings are located within the county's largest city, Monroe. The first listed property was the Governor Robert McClelland House, which was added in 1971, and the most recent was the George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument, which was added in 1994. The oldest of all properties listed is the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post, which was first built in 1789. Settled in as early as 1780 and formally organized in 1817 as the second county in the Michigan Territory, Monroe County has a strong sense of historical preservationism.
[4] |
Landmark name [2] |
Image |
Date listed |
Location |
City or town |
Summary |
1 |
George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument |
|
01994-12-09December 9, 1994 |
Junction of Elm Avenue and N. Monroe Street
|
Monroe |
A statue of George Armstrong Custer, who spent a portion of his childhood in Monroe, was unveiled by President Taft and Elizabeth Bacon Custer in 1910. Originally located near the courthouse and then later in a nearby park, the statue was moved to its current, prominent location in 1955. |
2 |
Detroit River Light Station |
|
01983-08-04August 4, 1983 |
Lake Erie
|
Berlin Charter Township[5] |
Built in 1885, this lighthouse is situated near the mouth of the Detroit River about three miles (4.8 km) off the coast of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Lake Erie in the northern portion of the county. The lighthouse is still in operation today, albeit completely automated, and public access is prohibited. It is owned and operated by the United States Coast Guard. |
3 |
Dundee Historic District |
|
01990-08-20August 20, 1990 |
Roughly bounded by Main, Monroe, and Toledo Streets; the River Raisin, and Riley, Tecumseh, and Ypsilanti Streets
|
Dundee |
Also known as the "Triangle District" for the unique shape of the area's grid plan, surviving buildings in this area date back to 1866, with the area being settled in as early as 1825. The area, which is located about one mile (0.6 km) east of US-23 along the River Raisin, features prominent Italianate and Greek Revival architecture. The buildings today are occupied by various retail businesses and government offices. |
4 |
East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District |
|
01982-05-06May 6, 1982 |
Roughly bounded by the River Raisin and Lorain, Monroe, and Macomb Streets
|
Monroe |
Consisting of large houses dating back to the 1820s, the area is well known for its wide mixture of Greek Revival, Federal, Second Empire, and Victorian architecture. Some of Monroe's most significant residents, such as Robert McClelland, have resided in this area. Today, these grandiose dwellings are privately owned and are among the largest in Monroe. |
5 |
Edward Loranger House |
|
01984-05-31May 31, 1984 |
7211 S. Stoney Creek Road
|
Frenchtown Charter Township |
Built in 1825 by famed local bricklayer, landowner, and architect Edward Loranger, it is one of the oldest intact structures in the county. Other buildings on the property, such as Loranger's sawmill, have been moved to The Henry Ford, while his house remains in its original location and has since been restored by its current owner. |
6 |
Gov. Robert McClelland House |
|
01971-09-03September 3, 1971 |
47 E. Elm Avenue
|
Monroe |
Robert McClelland lived for a brief period of time in this house, which was built in 1841. He was a very well known politician on the local, state, and national levels. His house is a prime example of Greek Revival architecture. Today, the house is privately owned and is also part of the East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District |
7 |
Jefferson Avenue-Huron River and Harbin Drive-Silver Creek Canal Bridges |
|
02000-02-10February 10, 2000 |
W. Jefferson Avenue over Huron River and Harbin Drive over Silver Creek Canal
|
Berlin Charter Township |
This listing covers two separate bridges: the Jefferson Avenue Bridge, which carries W. Jefferson Avenue over the Huron River and the smaller Harbin Drive Bridge spanning the Silver Creek Canal. Only the Jefferson Avenue Bridge is in Monroe County, as it connects Monroe County to Brownstown Charter Township in Wayne County. For that reason, it is also listed on the NRHP listings in Wayne County article. |
8 |
Navarre-Anderson Trading Post |
|
01972-07-31July 31, 1972 |
West of Monroe at N. Custer (M-130) and Raisinville Roads
|
Frenchtown Charter Township |
The main building of this small complex was built in 1789 and is the oldest wooden residential building in the state. The cookhouse dates to 1810, while other buildings, such as the barn, are replicas. The buildings were moved from their original location in 1894, and the complex has been restored and sits near the corner of North Custer Road (formerly M-130) and Raisinville Road in the outskirts of Frenchtown Township along the River Raisin. |
9 |
Rudolph Nims House |
|
01972-10-18October 18, 1972 |
206 W. Noble Street
|
Monroe |
Located two blocks west of M-125 in Monroe, this house was built between 1836–1846 in the style of Greek Revival architecture. Built by Jacques Godfroy, Rudolph Nims purchased the house in 1848, and the house remained in his family for over a century. The house has undergone extensive additions and remodeling, but the front facade remains original. Today, the house is privately owned. |
10 |
North Maumee Bay Archeological District |
|
01980-12-05December 5, 1980 |
Address Restricted[6]
|
Erie Township |
While the official address of the archeological site is restricted, the district incorporates the area of the North Maumee Bay at the mouth of the Ottawa River and Maumee River in Lake Erie. The sparsely populated area includes the Woodtick Peninsula, Garb Island, Indian Island, the Erie Fish and Hunt Club, and much of the grassy shoreline and interior wetlands. |
11 |
Old Village Historic District |
|
01982-05-06May 6, 1982 |
M-50 and M-125
|
Monroe |
This district centers around Front Street[7] and Monroe Street (M-125) and extends several blocks in the downtown area. Some of the buildings date back as early as 1830, and these buildings are now owned by various retail businesses and apartments. The outer areas of this district include the courthouse (1880) and the city's first post office (1913), which is now a museum. |
12 |
River Raisin Battlefield Site (20MR227) |
|
01982-12-10December 10, 1982 |
Address Restricted[6]
|
Monroe |
The River Raisin National Battlefield Park is an authorized addition to the United States National Park System under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Located along the River Raisin, the park, which is still under construction, will commemorate the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812. Though authorized, it is not yet included in the list of National Battlefield Parks. |
13 |
Sawyer House |
|
01977-11-23November 23, 1977 |
320 E. Front Street
|
Monroe |
This Italianate house is on the oldest piece of European settled land in Monroe. The property was settled in as early as 1785 and had several incarnations and owners before the current house was built in 1873. The most famous resident of the property was Dr. Alfred Sawyer, who lived there from 1859–1870. In 1938, the house was given to the city. The house is currently open to the public for a wide variety of functions. |
14 |
St. Mary's Church Complex Historic District |
|
01982-05-06May 6, 1982 |
Elm Avenue and Monroe Street (M-125)
|
Monroe |
This complex comprises four main buildings: St. Mary Church, the rectory, St. Mary Catholic Central High School, and the Brothers of Holy Cross Hall. The church itself dates back to 1788 and is one of the oldest Catholic parishes still in operation, while the current church building dates back to 1835 and is renowned for its Gothic Revival architecture. The church continues to be one of the most important religious institutions in Monroe. |
15 |
Weis Manufacturing Company |
|
01981-10-26October 26, 1981 |
Union and West 7th Streets
|
Monroe |
This complex was constructed between 1905–1912 and was a major employer in Monroe for many decades. The company produced office equipment until it was converted into a manufacturing facility for La-Z-Boy in 1964. The facility was shut down in 1978. The city of Monroe purchased the abandoned facility in 1980 and has since remodeled it as a residential hall for senior citizens. |