{"nrhp_refnum":"82001473","name":"Meigs County Fairgrounds, Grandstand and Racetrack","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"OH 124","address_restricted":false,"city":"Rock Springs","county":"Meigs County","state":"OH","lat":39.06073918300004,"lon":-82.01528103689098,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1982-11-29","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Agriculture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A county fairgrounds grandstand and half-mile clay racetrack near Rock Springs, off Rt. 124 in Meigs County, Ohio. The curved grandstand was built in 1890, and the track was in place by 1889.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the site represents the County Fair, especially harness racing, as a long-running social event in Meigs County. The grandstand is the only county fairground grandstand known in Ohio with a curved plan following the curve of the track. Both the track and grandstand are well preserved.","narrative":"This fairgrounds property near Rock Springs, Ohio, includes a half-mile oval clay racetrack and a curved wooden grandstand set in a valley between a hill to the west and a rock cliff to the east. The grandstand, built in 1890 with funds from private citizens, follows the bend of the track at its northeast corner. It uses mortise and tenon construction, has a metal-covered gable roof, eight tiers of seats, and star cutouts in the gable ends. It is the only curved county fairground grandstand known in Ohio. The Meigs County Agricultural Society held its first fair in 1861 and had the present site by 1870. Harness racing was the fair's main attraction, even though farming was limited by hilly, clay terrain and the county's economy rested more on coal, manufacturing and river trade. The site shows how the annual fair served as a rural social tradition. The cliff, used historically to watch races, is included in the boundary.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899 (specific dates 1889-1890)","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":null,"criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Described as in good condition, unaltered and on its original site; a modern metal pole barn is noted as an intrusion.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:14.121771-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/82001473.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82001473/04e003d382-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82001473/04e003d382-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meigs_County_Fairgrounds_buildings.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meigs_County_Fairgrounds_buildings.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71990245","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meigs_County_Fairgrounds","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6810016"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/meigs-county/meigs-county-fairgrounds-grandstand-and-racetrack-82001473/"}