Lee's Summit Downtown Historic District - Lee's Summit, Missouri - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Forming the spine of the District, the railroad alignment includes three structures and one site. Each contributes to an understanding of the impact of the railroad on commerce in Lee's Summit during the period of significance. As would be expected in a commercial downtown retail district during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, there are two government buildings, one healthcare building, and one social building. The remaining buildings and structures had commercial and industrial functions. Many of the retail sales and service buildings had mixed uses and included second-story meeting halls, professional space, and residential apartments. The contributing resources date from 1865 and 1955. All of the non- contributing resources also date from this period, but suffer from a loss of historic architectural integrity. Several of these resources may retain their historic fabric beneath non-historic wall claddings. If the non-historic materials are removed, these properties should be re-evaluated to determine if they would be contributing elements to the District. In addition, in several areas adjacent to the District there are buildings with non-historic siding that may cover original elements. In the nature, if the non-historic covering is removed and these buildings retain their historical integrity, the boundaries of the District should be amended to include these properties. This can only add to the understanding of the historic commercial evolution and diversity of downtown-Lee's Summit.