Watson Street Historic District

Taking a walk through the downtown Watson Street Commercial Historic District is like turning back the hands of time. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ripon's "main street" has been brought back to life with facade restorations, the installation of ornamental street lights, banners, and trees. The construction dates of the buildings reflect the significant amount of reconstruction that took place after disastrous fires wiped out almost two whole blocks of frame constructed commercial buildings in 1868 and 1869 and other fires during the 1870's and 1880's. Little construction took place in the district after 1890, except in the 300 block of Watson Street, where the commercial business district was stretching to its limits.