River Street Historic District, National Historic District in downtown Wilkes-Barre, United States.
River Street Historic District is a downtown area of Wilkes-Barre covering 191 acres with 215 buildings built between 1860 and 1930 along the Susquehanna River. The structures show different architectural styles from that era and form a connected neighborhood rather than scattered individual sites.
The district formed during Wilkes-Barre's industrial growth period and received official recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This designation honored the area's role in the city's economic expansion during the manufacturing era.
Franklin Street holds four churches built during the 1800s that show architectural styles influenced by major cities to the south. These buildings shaped how the neighborhood looked and reflected the community's connection to larger urban centers.
West Market Street serves as the main pathway through the district connecting significant buildings like the Osterhout Free Library and Wyoming Historical Museum. Walking this central route allows you to see most of the key structures and get a sense of how the neighborhood is organized.
Many buildings throughout the district feature local Wyoming Bluestone in their foundations, giving the area a distinctive reddish appearance. This regional material creates visual consistency across decades of construction by different builders.
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