A move is afoot in Webb City, Missouri, to add its entire downtown district to the National Register of Historic Places, reported KOAM-TV in nearby Pittsburg, Kansas.
Webb City is looking at the move not just to add a publicity hook, but to help owners renovate historic buildings with tax credits.
Here’s the report:
Having been to Webb City’s downtown many times, its historical significance seems obvious to the eye. But in case you need more convincing:
43 of the 50 properties in the district were built between 1883 and 1965 […]
I was surprised to find Webb City’s downtown wasn’t already on the National Register, and its inclusion seems far overdue. Route 66 goes right through Webb City’s downtown.
Folks in other Route 66 towns need to consider what Webb City is trying to do. Thanks to many state and federal officials who can help with the paperwork, the National Register nomination process usually isn’t as onerous as many people anticipate. And people within such historic districts usually find out the benefits far exceed the potential red tape.
(Image of the Route 66 Movie Theater in downtown Webb City, Missouri, by Bill Eichelberger via Flickr)