Downtown Washington Historic District

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

From the record

“Downtown Washington Historic District is a national historic district located at Washington, Franklin County, Missouri. The district encompasses 83 contributing buildings and 9 contributing structures in the central business district of Washington.”
Wikipedia article Downtown Washington Historic District, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 61 National Register listings published here for Franklin County · listed in 1989 · category: District.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

Address. Roughly W. Front St. from Stafford St. to Market St. and Elm St. from W. Front St. to Fourth St., Washington, 63090
When was it listed? October 1989
Category. district
Township. Washington township
National Register reference number. 89001465 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

9 since 1997

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 9 fires within 5 miles of Downtown Washington Historic District between 1997 and 2020, burning about 6 acres in total. 2 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	4
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	3
Natural	2

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
3 July 2019	Natural	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	178980-10928-07032019-1632
3 July 2019	Natural	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	178978-10928-07032019-1647
16 May 1997	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
25 April 2018	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	176981-10928-04252018-2253
12 April 2018	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	176986-10928-04122018-2021
20 March 2014	Debris and open burning	3.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
19 December 2018	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	178059-10928-12192018-1643
13 December 2018	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	178051-10928-12132018-1530

Every fire recorded in Franklin County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 21 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 21 workings within 5 miles of Downtown Washington Historic District: 19 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Fire Clay (Refractory), Sand and Gravel, Construction, Lead. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Unknown - Clay	Fire Clay (Refractory)	Past Producer
Unknown - Pb	Lead	Past Producer
Washington Sand Co Dredge	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Dawson Quarry and Mill	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Eichmeyer Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Shuttqy Mine	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unk	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown - Clay	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown - Ls	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown - Ls	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Franklin County

Storms near this property

60 of 74 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Washington, the town this property stands in, in 74 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 39 thunderstorm wind, 31 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 tornado. The reports record 3 deaths and 10 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
August 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	3 killed, 6 hurt	no account filed
August 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	2 hurt	Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree and power line damage across Washington. Two people sustained minor injuries from flying debris in the parking lot of the Washington Town and Country Fair. Also, several tents were blown down. Fortunately, the fair grounds had been evacuated.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	2 hurt	no account filed
April 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	$50,000	County officials reported roof damage to various homes in Washington. Several sheds and part of the fire department roof was damaged in Union. A radio station also sustained tower damage and was off the air for a period of time.
September 1993	Tornado (F0)	Washington	$50,000	A tornado produced a 2-mile-track of minor damage to a few homes and trees southwest of Washington along County Road A. Damage was mainly to roofs and was not continuous.
April 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	$30,000	There were reports of multiple downed trees and large branches in Washington impacting homes and power lines. AWOS at Washington Regional Airport reported a 72 mph gust at the time.
July 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds caused scattered tree damage in Washington. A large tree limb fell on a house on West Fourth Street causing some roof damage. Several trees and large limbs were downed along the Rotary Riverfront Trail.
October 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	$10,000	no account filed
August 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	$3,000	Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees and tree limbs.
June 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds damaged a small shed.
May 2025	Hail	Washington	-	A Washington School District official submitted a photo of half dollar size hail.
April 2025	Flash Flood	Washington	-	The Department of Highways and the public reported multiple inaccessible roads in Franklin County due to flooding. These include parts of Highway A and Highway YY due to side ditches overflowing and Highway CC due to Big Creek flooding over the road and onto the other side. Notably, this is a low point on the highway. On April 5th, the Missouri Department of Transportation reported that Route W just past Sand Ford Road at the entrance to Meramec Caverns was closing due to flooding of the Meramec River. Franklin County received up to 6.2 inches of rain during this event.
August 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds downed numerous tree limbs 12 to 18 inches in diameter. A few trees were downed in an area from Grand Ave to Jefferson Ave north of 5th Street.
April 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds snapped off a large tree limb. The tree limb landed on power lines, knocking out the power to a large portion of town.
September 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large tree limbs.
October 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down two large trees in town.
April 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	A couple of large tree limbs were blown down.
February 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large trees, tree limbs and power lines throughout town. A couple of businesses sustained minor to moderate roof damage when sections of their roofs were blown off. Some of the fallen trees landed on homes and vehicles causing minor to moderate damage. A section of bleachers at the Washington Fairgrounds were folded over.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree in Washington. It caused minor roof damage to a nearby house.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large tree limbs around town. One large tree limb fell onto power lines and knocking them down.
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Several large tree limbs and a power line were blown down in town.
September 2009	Flash Flood	Washington	-	Between 3 and 5 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time over Franklin county causing flash flooding. Several roads were flooded including roads near the city park in Union and roads in the Washington area.
March 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree onto a house in town causing minor damage. Also, a couple of large trees and several large tree limbs were blown down. Two billboards and a couple of power lines were blown down and part of the roof of a business was blown off. The roof of a church sustained minor damage due to the thunderstorm winds.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs in Washington. One large tree limb damaged three fences as it fell to the ground.
July 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Local law enforcement reported several large tree limbs down on the south side of town.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Numerous tree limbs were blown down. Also, several trees and power lines were blown down on Highway V near Highway 100.
January 2006	Hail	Washington	-	A storm spotter reported 1 inch hail southwest of Washington.
April 2006	Hail	Washington	-	Local law enforcement reported 3/4 inch hail.
June 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Several large tree limbs were blown down onto Highway 100.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	A sudden severe thunderstorm took down trees, large tree limbs, and power lines in Washington. At least two homes had large tree limbs fall on them causing minor damage. Several power lines were downed by trees causing at least 3000 people to lose power. A lightning strike knocked down a 34,000 volt electric line causing rain water to boil in the street.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Amateur radio spotters reported trees down in a city park.
May 2004	Hail	Washington	-	Storm spotters reported 1 inch hail.
May 2004	Hail	Washington	-	Storm spotters reported 3/4 inch hail.
July 2004	Hail	Washington	-	Amateur radio spotters reported 3/4 inch hail.
May 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	Thunderstorm wind gusts blew over a large tree damaging a home in Washington. The roof and side of the home was damaged, as was a fence and a parked camper.
August 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	The Washington Police reported trees and power lines down just west of town.
April 1993	Hail	Washington	-	Ham radio operators reported 0.75-inch-diameter hail.
May 2025	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
May 2025	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
May 2025	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
May 2024	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
April 2018	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
June 2013	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
May 2013	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
April 2011	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
April 2011	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
April 2011	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
March 2009	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
February 2008	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
January 2008	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
March 2008	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
March 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	no account filed
March 2006	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
April 2006	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
September 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	no account filed
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Washington	-	no account filed
May 2004	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
May 2004	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed
May 2004	Hail	Washington	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Franklin County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
John F. Schwegmann House	0.2 miles	1984
Henry C. Thias House	0.2 miles	1984
Fred Schnier Building	0.2 miles	2000
George Tamm Building	0.2 miles	2000
Spaunhorst and Mayn Building	0.2 miles	2007
Henry J. Buhr House	0.2 miles	2000

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 89001465 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Franklin County	All 61 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.