The Centerville Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, stands as a premier testament to Indiana's early transportation and civic history. Founded in 1814, Centerville served as the county seat of Wayne County from 1818 until 1873, a period during which it grew into a bustling political, commercial, and cultural hub. Its location directly along the National Road (now U.S. Route 40) fueled rapid development as thousands of pioneers migrated westward. This dual identity as a governmental center and a vital transportation thoroughfare attracted prominent residents, including Oliver P. Morton, Indiana's Civil War governor, and George Washington Julian, a leading abolitionist and congressman, leaving a rich historical legacy deeply intertwined with the nation's westward expansion.

Architecturally, the district is celebrated for possessing one of the finest and most intact collections of early-to-mid 19th-century Federal and Greek Revival style buildings in the Midwest. The streetscape is famously defined by its unique brick row houses, many of which feature distinctive narrow arched passageways-often referred to locally as "archways"-designed to allow horse-drawn wagons and pedestrians access to the rear of the properties from the busy main road. These remarkably preserved structures, ranging from modest pioneer residences to grand commercial blocks and civic buildings, offer an extraordinary visual record of a pre-Civil War National Road community, capturing the distinct craftsmanship and urban planning of America's early frontier era.