Second Street Historic District
Why it's listed
Second Street in Portsmouth, Ohio, runs along a tree-lined bluff above the Ohio River, and seven blocks of it form a residential historic district of 71 contributing structures. Most are frame houses, and Queen Anne examples are the most numerous at twenty-nine. Other styles include Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Italian Villa, an outstanding Georgian Revival house of 1900, and a large American Foursquare of about 1910. The street housed merchants, managers, bankers and industrialists tied to the city's steamboat building, iron works, brick making and shoe manufacturing. It was the city's most important residential area during much of the period from 1850 to the early twentieth century. After the 1913 flood, wealthier residents moved up the hillside. Later decades brought blight and the growth of Shawnee State Community College, which cleared two blocks. Some remaining historic buildings have since been converted to student housing. Newer intrusions exist but do not greatly alter the scale and residential character.
Significance in brief: The district represents Portsmouth's most dynamic growth period, from 1850 to after the turn of the century, when the city's river and industrial economy flourished. Its houses reflect the steamboat, iron, brick-making and shoe-manufacturing industries and range from merchants and managers to bankers and industrialists. It also shows a broad run of architectural styles from Greek Revival to Queen Anne and early twentieth-century types.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83004336, listed November 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2nd St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | November 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004336 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1850-1915 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Victorian Italianate, Italian Villa, Queen Anne, Georgian Revival, American Foursquare |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mostly occupied, mainly as private residences. Some historic buildings have been converted to apartments or student housing, and a few intrusions such as a gas station, apartment complexes, a synagogue and ranch houses are noted. |
| Acreage | 20.8 |
| Coordinates | 38.73104, -82.98791 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83004336.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.