National Register of Historic Places

Salem Downtown Historic District

Salem, Washington County, Indiana
Listed
October 9, 1997
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
97001181

About this property

The Salem Downtown Historic District is a national historic district located at Salem, Indiana. The original plat of the town, founded in 1814, is within the district. It is bounded by Mulberry and Hackberry Street in the north, Hayes Street in the east, the CSX railroad tracks in the south, and Brock Creek to the west. It encompasses 253 contributing buildings, 3 contributing structures, and 5 contributing objects in the central business district of Salem. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Its architectural styles are Italianate, Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, Late Victorian, Early Republic, and Late 19th/20th Century Revivals. Hay-Morrison House, two blocks east of the square, which is part of the John Hay Center Washington County Courthouse was placed on the National Register of in 1980. It was built in Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style by Harry P. McDonald of Louisville and his brother in 1888, the third courthouse at that location. Limestone from the area was used in the construction. Washington County Jail and Sheriff's Residence is a half block south of the courthouse square. It was placed on the National Register in 1984. It was built by Joseph Balsley in a Second Empire architectural style. It is now a women's and Children's shelter. First Baptist Church, two blocks northeast of the square, was placed on the National Register in 1985. It was built by R.C. Stephans in 1921. It is of Romanesque style architecture. Markers on the square note when John Hunt Morgan raided the town, with a cannon pointing as it did on that day when the Raiders arrived in town. The Salem Presbyterian Church, one block east of the square, is on the state register of historic places; all on the National register are automatically on the state register.

Location

Salem, Washington County, Indiana
38.60637, -86.09926

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTCOMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Salem Downtown Historic District

This page lists Salem Downtown Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

First Baptist Church
Industrial
0 mi
Washington County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Washington County Jail and Sheriff's Residence
Civil War
0.1 mi
Hay-Morrison House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Blue River Friends Hicksite Meeting House and Cemetery
Early Republic
1.8 mi

Nearby Battles

Morgan's Raid — Salem Indiana Skirmish
1863Civil War
0.1 mi
Morgan's Raid: Salem Indiana
1863Civil War
0.1 mi
Morgan's Indiana-Ohio Raid – Salem, Indiana
1863Civil War
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Salem Downtown Historic District listed on the National Register?

Salem Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1997.

What type of historic resource is Salem Downtown Historic District?

Salem Downtown Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Salem Downtown Historic District?

The period of significance for Salem Downtown Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Salem Downtown Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Salem Downtown Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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