The Downtown Manhattan Historic District in Manhattan, Kansas is a historic district which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The district generally includes the blocks between Humboldt and Pierre Sts. from 3rd to 5th Sts.
The district includes 48 contributing buildings and 15 non-contributing buildings. Selected buildings are: Manhattan State Bank Building (1906), 400 Poyntz Wareham Hall (Formerly the Wareham Theater) (1910), 408-412 Poyntz With .
Local designation and naming The Downtown Manhattan Historic District was first designated as a Certified Local Historic District in 1982, nearly 25 years before its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. It encompasses just over six blocks of downtown Manhattan, Kansas, preserving a rich concentration of historic commercial and civic architecture.
In July 1855, the townsite of Manhattan was platted. The east–west street later developed as the district’s commercial core was named Poyntz Avenue, after Colonel Poyntz, an investor in the steamboat Hartford. The adjacent street to the south was named for Sam Houston, recognized as one of the area’s first white settlers.
Contemporary use The Downtown Manhattan Historic District remains a vibrant cultural and entertainment hub. Centered along Poyntz Avenue, the district features a variety of restaurants, breweries, cafés, and venues, anchoring downtown as a gathering place for both locals and visitors.
Cultural events Downtown regularly hosts community-oriented arts and cultural events—such as Third Thursdays and the Plein Air on Poyntz Art Walk—which bring together residents, artists, and businesses through public exhibitions and performances.
Wareham Hall and community revitalization The historic Wareham Theatre is undergoing redevelopment into Wareham Hall, a non-profit, multi‐purpose mid‐sized venue that will enable performances including concerts, theater, and comedy shows. The city supports this roughly $40 million project through philanthropy, tax incentives and historic tax credits, signaling a strategic investment in enhancing downtown’s cultural infrastructure.
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