Marietta Historic District (Boundary Decrease)
Why it's listed
Marietta's historic district was trimmed in 2001 to remove three areas that no longer retained their historic character, while extra documentation was added to support the remainder. The removed parts include Block 68 along the Ohio River, portions of Blocks 58 and 51 near Third Street, and a tract by the Muskingum River. They now hold condominiums, a bank completed in 1999, an auto parts store, a state employment office, altered houses and trailers. The district itself follows the Original Plat surveyed by Rufus Putnam in 1788 and records the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory, founded April 7, 1788. Its significance covers the planned town, early courts, churches and schools, commerce, German immigration, river and rail transportation, and industries such as boatbuilding and oil. Rufus Putnam is credited with founding and sustaining the settlement. The buildings, dating from 1788 to 1910, include Federal houses, Renaissance Revival commercial blocks and many Queen Anne residences.
Significance in brief: The amended district is significant locally under Criteria A, B and C. It covers the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory, founded April 7, 1788, with its planned plat, early government, religion, education, commerce, ethnic heritage, transportation and oil industry. It also honors General Rufus Putnam and a wide range of architectural styles from 1788 to 1910.
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 01001040, listed August 21, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, and Warren, 3rd, 5th, and 6th Sts., Marietta |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | August 21, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001040 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1788-1910 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Renaissance Revival commercial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Prehistoric, Exploration/Settlement, Commerce, Politics/Government, Community Planning and Development, Religion, Education, Industry, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The removed areas contain mostly modern commercial buildings, condominiums, trailers and altered residences that have lost historic integrity. |
| Acreage | 249 |
| Within district | Marietta Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 39.41848, -81.45589 (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 01001040.
- 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.