Here are some photos that I took during a walk around a few blocks of Washington's downtown, just before sunset.
The spire of Saint Francis Borgia Church is prominent. The church dates from 1869, and the parish was founded by twelve families from Hanover, Lower Saxony, who settled here in 1833. Early European presence here included the Spanish Fort San Juan del Misori, as well as frontiersmen who followed Daniel Boone here from Kentucky.
Washington Farmers' Market hosts trendy parties on its patio and is in a building that dates from 1856.
The city is named after first U.S. President George Washington, and was originally called St. John's Settlement. When a ferry boat across the Missouri River was licensed here in 1814, the area became known as Washington Landing. The region of the present downtown was platted and subdivided in 1839, the year of the founding of the present City.
Washington has the largest number of nationally registered historic buildings in the state. The balcony on this building, I think, is a nice touch, and has a great unobstructed view of the Missouri River.
Lewis and Clark slept here. At the time of their expedition, this area had the westernmost permanent European settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.
The newest building downtown, the Bank of Washington, is nearly complete, and incorporates some Victorian features.
The oldest surviving wood frame building, dating from 1846. This is across the street from the old Washington waterworks, a delightful example of Victorian engineering design, which I completely neglected to photograph.
Old bank building, 1880.
Fine ornament on this home, built in 1888.
Old Dutch Hotel. This is my favorite photo of the set.
The Calvin Opera House, from 1909.
These photos are only a small sample of the charm of this area.
I simply note that the two temples of God are neatly balanced by the two temples of Mammon.
ReplyDeleteLove all the photos from Washington Missouri! It is a wonderfully preserved town that proudly proclaims its German heritage. My great-grandfather, A.A. Fischer, who built the Calvin Theatre, and his, wife, Frances Petersen, were both born in Washington Missouri.
ReplyDelete