National Register of Historic Places

New Kensington Downtown Historic District

New Kensington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Listed
July 22, 1998
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
98000904

About this property

The New Kensington Downtown Historic District, also known as the New Kensington Commercial and Residential Historic District, is a national historic district that is located in New Kensington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. This district encompasses 143 contributing buildings that are located in the central business district and surrounding residential areas of New Kensington. Built roughly between 1891 and 1947, they are a mix of residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial properties that were designed in a variety of popular architectural styles, including Art Deco, Beaux-Arts, and Colonial Revival. Notable buildings include the Mellon Bank Building (1900), the PNC Bank (1914), the Wear Ever Building (1914–1915), the U.S. Post Office (1933), the Ritz Theater (1921–1922), the Datola Theater (1942), the Columbus Theater (1927), and the White Castle Restaurant (c. 1921–1928). Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-6180, "Parnassus School, 300 Main Street, New Kensington, Westmoreland County, PA", 4 photos, 13 data pages, 1 photo caption page HABS No. PA-6181, "Liberty Theater, 801 Fifth Avenue, New Kensington, Westmoreland County, PA", 7 photos, 11 data pages, 1 photo caption page

Location

New Kensington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
40.56665, -79.76587

Categories

COMMERCEINDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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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
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

New Kensington Production Works Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Mount St. Peter Roman Catholic Church
Civil War
0.3 mi
Aluminum Research Laboratories
Industrial
0.7 mi
Carson, Rachel, House
Industrial
1.7 mi
Logans Ferry Powder Works Historic District
Listed
1.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Braddock's Defeat Monongahela
1755Colonial
6.3 mi
Braddock's Defeat (Battle of Monongahela) 1755
1755Colonial
12.9 mi
Battle of Bushy Run (Pontiac's War)
1763Colonial
12.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was New Kensington Downtown Historic District listed on the National Register?

New Kensington Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 22, 1998.

What type of historic resource is New Kensington Downtown Historic District?

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

What is the period of significance for New Kensington Downtown Historic District?

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

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