Downtown Charles Town Historic District

Downtown Charles Town Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Charles Town City Hall
Location:	Charles Town, West Virginia
Coordinates:	39°17′21″N 77°51′33″W / 39.28917°N 77.85917°W / 39.28917; -77.85917Coordinates: 39°17′21″N 77°51′33″W / 39.28917°N 77.85917°W / 39.28917; -77.85917
Architectural style:	Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival
Governing body:	State
NRHP Reference#:	97000263
Added to NRHP:	March 21, 1997[1]

The Downtown Charles Town Historic District comprises the commercial center of Charles Town, West Virginia. The district centers on Washington Street and includes the Jefferson County Courthouse and the New Opera House, themselves on the National Register of Historic Places. Other structures include the Market House, the Independent Fire Company building and the Post Office. A few very early buildings are included, such as the Sheetz House, dating to 1797.

The town is significant as the scene of the trial of John Brown and as a contested town during the American Civil War. Charles Town is closely associated with the Washington family, as it was laid out by George Washington's brother Charles Washington.

During the Civil War, there was fighting in the town itself on several occasions. In 1864, General Philip Sheridan used the Rutherford House at 417 East Washington Street as a headquarters for the Valley Campaign, meeting General Ulysses S. Grant there. ^[2]

See also

• Charles Washington House (Happy Retreat or Mordington)
• Old Charles Town Historic District

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ Paula S. Reed (November 28, 1996). National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Downtown Charles Town Historic DistrictPDF (5.52 MB). National Park Service