Lawrence boasts one of the most beautiful downtowns in all of the U.S. The National Trust for Historic Preservation ranked Lawrence among its “Dozen Most Distinctive Destinations” touting it as one of the best-preserved and unique communities in America. Take a stroll down historic Massachusetts (the locals call it Mass) Street and you will see many buildings of historic importance.

Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts, was rebuilt in 1911 as Bowersock Opera House after fire destroyed the original Liberty Hall. Renovated in the 1980s, it now houses the only independent movie theater in Lawrence.

Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts. The original hotel was built in 1856; the current building is the fourth Eldridge Hotel on this site built from 1925-28.

Miller’s Hall, 723-725 Massachusetts (Goldmakers, BoMo). This building was home to the abolitionist organization, Kansas Free State.

The House Building, 729 Massachusetts (Francis Sporting Goods), is the only structure on Massachusetts Street to survive Quantrill’s Raid.

Round Corner Drugstore, 801 Massachusetts. Site of a drugstore since its 1865 construction, this is the oldest business in Lawrence operating with the original name and location.

Sunflower, 804 Massachusetts. Merchants Ridenour and Baker were the first to rebuild their building in 1863 after Quantrill’s Raid. The current owners courageously rebuilt the interior after a serious fire in 1997.

Ernst Hardware, 826 Massachusetts. Built in 1880, Ernst has been a hardware store since 1905.

Watkins Community Museum, 1045 Massachusetts. This splendid red stone building, originally a bank built by Henry Ives Cobb, is now the home of Douglas County Museum. Adjoining the museum is a Japanese Garden honoring our sister city, Hiratsuka, Japan.

Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts. The native limestone building was saved from demolition in the 1960s and renovated for current use by Douglas County.