The Little Falls Commercial Historic District is comprised of 32 contributing buildings that were constructed between 1887 and 1936, a time of tremendous growth for the city. The construction of the Little Falls dam in 1887-1888 spurred this growth by attracting major industries (milling, lumber, and manufacturing) to town to take advantage of the water power it generated.
Prior to dam construction, the 1880 census showed a population of 508 people in Little Falls. By 1890, the population more than quadrupled, reaching 2,354 people. By 1895, it had grown again, more than doubling, to a total of 5,116.
[Aerial photo and key to historic district]
The population boom brought with it a boom in building homes and commercial buildings, including those in the Historic District. The architectural styles of the era - Italianate, Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Tudor Revival, Italian Renaissance, and Moderne - inspired the look of the Historic District. A local flair was added through the use of yellow brick produced in three brickyards that were located on the western edge of the city.
Two post-1920 factors also contributed to the evolution of the community and Historic District: The construction of highways that led to the development of the tourism industry, and the establishment of Camp Ripley, a National Guard training facility about 10 miles north of Little Falls.
National Register of Historic Places
The Little Falls Commercial Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
In addition, the City of Little Falls has 8 other properties on the National Register.
· The Burton-Rosenmeier House (home of the Little Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau)
· Episcopal Church of Our Savior
· Little Falls Carnegie Library
· Morrison County Courthouse
· Northern Pacific Depot (home of the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce)
· Our Lady of Angels Academy
· Pine Tree Lumber Company Office
· Charles A. Weyerhaeuser and Richer Drew Musser Houses (Linden Hill)
Little Falls Dam
The construction of the Little Falls Dam in 1887-1888 brought immediate improvements to the city. In addition to creating jobs, the dam and power plant provided the city's residential and commercial areas with an excellent lighting system and water supply.
City Hall & Courthouse
Little Falls was initially platted in 1855, was organized as a village in 1879, and was incorporated as a city in 1889. Two major public buildings were constructed in 1890-1891, the original Little Falls City Hall and the Historic Morrison County Courthouse.
Bank Square
The intersection of East Broadway and First Street within the Little Falls Commercial Historic District became the city's financial center and was known as "Bank Square." The Morrison County Bank, founded circa 1881, was located in the southwestern corner of the intersection. It eventually became known as the German American National Bank.
The First National Bank was organized in 1888 and in 1891 was housed in the newly-completed Butler Block, located in the northwestern corner of the intersection.
Buckman Hotel
The Historic District served as a social and cultural focal point for the community as buildings such as the Buckman Hotel housed numerous social gatherings.
Historic Downtown Walking and Driving Tour Brochures
[Acrylic box holding brochures]
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