InterLinc: Planning : Mount Emerald & Related Districts

City of Lincoln
Planning

Mount Emerald & Related Districts

Mount Emerald & Capitol Additions Historic Residential District

Boundary/Address:
Vicinity of S 17th to S 22nd St, A to F St

Designation:
National Register
Local Landmark

The first National Register district listed in Lincoln in 1980 embraced the fine residences and churches southeast of the State Capitol within the Near South neighborhood. Lincoln's new Historic Preservation Commission considered designating the same area as the first Lincoln Landmark District in 1981, but instead identified a smaller core district generally bounded by A and D Streets between 19th and 20th Streets, centered on the Mount Emerald Addition, platted in 1905 from John Fitzgerald's 10-acre "Mt. Emerald" estate. In 1983 the Commission recognized three smaller, adjacent landmark districts that together with Mt. Emerald encompass most of the National Register district.
The districts include some of Lincoln's finest historic residences built between the late 1880s and about 1920s, along with fine religious buildings such as First Presbyterian Church (17th & F Streets, 1926-7, Cram & Ferguson with Davis & Wilson, architects) and First Plymouth Congregational Church (20th & D Streets, 1929-31, Magonigle & McLaughlin, architects). But it is the sum of the many fine parts that make this area an urban treasure at the heart of the city.

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Mount Emerald & Capitol Additions Historic Residential District
Boundary/Address: Vicinity of S 17th to S 22nd St, A to F St Designation: National Register Local Landmark

The first National Register district listed in Lincoln in 1980 embraced the fine residences and churches southeast of the State Capitol within the Near South neighborhood. Lincoln's new Historic Preservation Commission considered designating the same area as the first Lincoln Landmark District in 1981, but instead identified a smaller core district generally bounded by A and D Streets between 19th and 20th Streets, centered on the Mount Emerald Addition, platted in 1905 from John Fitzgerald's 10-acre "Mt. Emerald" estate. In 1983 the Commission recognized three smaller, adjacent landmark districts that together with Mt. Emerald encompass most of the National Register district. The districts include some of Lincoln's finest historic residences built between the late 1880s and about 1920s, along with fine religious buildings such as First Presbyterian Church (17th & F Streets, 1926-7, Cram & Ferguson with Davis & Wilson, architects) and First Plymouth Congregational Church (20th & D Streets, 1929-31, Magonigle & McLaughlin, architects). But it is the sum of the many fine parts that make this area an urban treasure at the heart of the city.
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Capitol Addition Landmark District

Boundary/Address:
B and C Streets, 1600s-1800s

Designation:
Local Landmark

Designated as a Lincoln Landmark District in 1983, this area is part of the larger Mount Emerald and Capitol Addition Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1980. Although the area draws its name from a subdivision of 1870, most of the homes in the district date from the first two decades of the 20th century. Among the focal points of the district are the Neo-classic Revival mansion of Morris Weil (1902) at 1149 South 17th Street (17th & C) and the unique urban townhouse of James and Gertrude McAfee at 1801 C Street, designed by Chicago architect Paul V. Hyland.

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Capitol Addition Landmark District
Boundary/Address: B and C Streets, 1600s-1800s Designation: Local Landmark

Designated as a Lincoln Landmark District in 1983, this area is part of the larger Mount Emerald and Capitol Addition Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1980. Although the area draws its name from a subdivision of 1870, most of the homes in the district date from the first two decades of the 20th century. Among the focal points of the district are the Neo-classic Revival mansion of Morris Weil (1902) at 1149 South 17th Street (17th & C) and the unique urban townhouse of James and Gertrude McAfee at 1801 C Street, designed by Chicago architect Paul V. Hyland.
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Clark-Leonard District

Boundary/Address:
E and F Streets between 19th and 20th Streets

Designation:
Local Landmark

Another landmark district created in 1983 within the larger Mt. Emerald National Register District, Clark-Leonard District protects the Clark-Leonard House of 1887 and its environs. That grand Queen Anne style house at 905 South 20th Street (20th & F Streets) was built in 1887 by banker James R. Clark from designs by Lincoln architect James Tyler. The brick and stone house has a bold, polygonal tower on the north front that rises to a circular room on the third story, beneath a tall, conical roof. Financier William M. Leonard expanded the large house in 1913, but retained the original character.

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Clark-Leonard District
Boundary/Address: E and F Streets between 19th and 20th Streets Designation: Local Landmark

Another landmark district created in 1983 within the larger Mt. Emerald National Register District, Clark-Leonard District protects the Clark-Leonard House of 1887 and its environs. That grand Queen Anne style house at 905 South 20th Street (20th & F Streets) was built in 1887 by banker James R. Clark from designs by Lincoln architect James Tyler. The brick and stone house has a bold, polygonal tower on the north front that rises to a circular room on the third story, beneath a tall, conical roof. Financier William M. Leonard expanded the large house in 1913, but retained the original character.
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Sidles-Rogers-Grainger-Walts

Boundary/Address:
17th to 21st Streets, A to G Streets

Designation:
Local Landmark

This residential district is named for four of the principal families who resided in this area (and nicknamed "Hillsdale District" for the subdivision that underlays it). The district is an integral part of the Near South districts near First-Plymouth Church.

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Sidles-Rogers-Grainger-Walts
Boundary/Address: 17th to 21st Streets, A to G Streets Designation: Local Landmark

This residential district is named for four of the principal families who resided in this area (and nicknamed "Hillsdale District" for the subdivision that underlays it). The district is an integral part of the Near South districts near First-Plymouth Church.
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