Main Street Historic District
The Main Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Description [1]
The site of virtually all significant construction in the city of Bozeman prior to the arrival of the railroad in 1883, Main Street is still the focal point of the city's commercial activity, and consequently reflects the continuous development of Bozeman, from the erection of the first brick commercial structures in 1872 to the present. Three general periods of historical development characterize the kind and quality of buildings found within the boundaries of this district. The earliest, from the 1870's to the early 1880's, reflect Bozeman's role as a gateway to the mines of the Northwest and as the regional center for trade and supply. The next generation of construction on Main Street, dating from the mid-1880s to about 1910, illustrates Bozeman's tremendous growth and diversification following the long-awaited arrival of the railroad. Growth in the commercial district was matched by corresponding expansion of the city's residential neighborhoods. The last period, from 1910 to 1937, reflects the city's increasingly important role in the economy of the Gallatin Valley and the local manifestations of national trends such as the construction of department stores, theaters, and storefronts remodeled in the Art Deco style. The expanding role of the architect during this period is evident.
- Matthew Cohen, Bozeman City County Planning Office, Bozeman Multiple Resource Area (MRA), nomination document, 1986, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
Main Street East • Main Street West
