Marietta Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Marietta's historic core lies where the Muskingum River meets the Ohio River, at the site of the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. This 480-acre district expands the earlier historic district to the north and east and includes most of the original 1788 grid plat laid out by Rufus Putnam, with wide numbered streets crossed by named streets and alleys through each block. Of 2,399 resources, 2,025 contribute to its character, including commercial blocks along Front Street, churches, a post office, an armory, museums and many houses ranging from Federal and Greek Revival to Queen Anne, Foursquare and Bungalow types. Many residential streets are still brick paved and tree lined. The district was listed for its role in the city's settlement and economic growth, including the effects of major floods in 1913 and 1937, the movement of industry to the city's edges and the growth of tourism, and for its architecture. Its period of significance was extended to 1950.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district reflects Marietta's broad settlement and economic development under Criterion A, including floods in 1913 and 1937, industry moving to the city's edges, and the rise of tourism. Under Criterion C it contains a wide range of commercial, public and residential building styles and types. The boundary expansion and the extension of the period of significance to 1950 correct limits of the 1974 nomination.
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 01000903, 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 Marion, Montgomery, Ohio, Greene, Butler, 2nd through 9th Sts., and Ohio and Muskingum Rs., Marietta |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | August 21, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000903 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1788 - 1950 |
| Architect / builder | Hovey, George W. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian (Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne), Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Federal, Colonial Revival, Neo-Classical Revival, Art Deco, Bungalow and other styles |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Economics, Industry, Architecture, Other |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mixed continuing use: commercial blocks, residences, museums and churches, with some houses converted to businesses. Some earlier industrial buildings have been replaced. |
| Acreage | 480 |
| Within district | Marietta Historic District (Boundary Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 39.41590, -81.45347 (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 01000903.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6763234
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.