Walk down the sidewalks of Litchfield’s downtown and the city’s history looms large. Many of the historic buildings that frame the city’s main street were built as early as the 1800s.

More than 100 years later, the city’s downtown was designated a Historic Commercial District by the National Park Service and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Thirty-six buildings in a five-block area of downtown Litchfield contribute to the district.

As a committee explores the possibility of establishing a certified local government to help Litchfield’s downtown attract grants for preservation, the Independent Review takes a look at some of the buildings that contribute to the city’s historic commercial district. See a slideshow below and check out the May 8 Independent Review to read about some of the buildings.