Piqua-Caldwell Historic District

This 23-block district northeast of Piqua's public square preserves the city's historic center. Bounded by the Great Miami River on the north and the Miami-Erie Canal on the east, it includes four blocks of commercial buildings along North Main Street, nine churches, one industrial complex and a large enclave of residences on Wayne, Downing and Caldwell Streets. Housing ranges from the 1822 Henry Kitchen house, the oldest building in the district, to the 1921 Spiker mansion. Wayne Street holds some of the city's purest Greek Revival and Federal examples, while Downing and Caldwell Streets display more elaborate Victorian and later designs built as industry brought wealth between 1870 and 1910. Main Street shops once backed onto the canal and many still have entrances on both sides. The district takes its name from early landowner Matthew Caldwell. Its importance rests on Piqua's role as a river port, quarrying center, land office town, canal city and later industrial community.