National Register of Historic Places listings in Syracuse, New York facts for kids

The National Register of Historic Places listings in Syracuse, New York are special places that have been recognized for their important history or amazing design. There are 110 of these listed spots in Syracuse! They include 19 business or public buildings, 13 historic districts (which are areas with many old buildings), 6 churches, four school or university buildings, three parks, six apartment buildings, and 43 houses.

Did you know that 29 of these houses were designed by a famous architect named Ward Wellington Ward? Twenty-five of them were even listed together as a group in 1996!

Other important places in Onondaga County outside of Syracuse are listed separately. One very long and important spot, the New York State Barge Canal, actually stretches through both the city and the county. You can even see where these places are on a map if their coordinates are known!

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Historic Places in Syracuse

Many buildings and areas in Syracuse have been recognized for their historical importance or unique architecture. Here are some of them:

Downtown Syracuse Landmarks

• Amos Block (1978): This building, designed in the Romanesque Revival style, used to be right on the Erie Canal. Goods were loaded and unloaded from boats here, showing how important the canal was for business.
• Armory Square Historic District (1984): This is a cool historic area in downtown Syracuse, centered around the old Syracuse Armory. It was brought back to life in the 1990s and even includes the famous Loew's State Theater.
• Central New York Telephone and Telegraph Building (1973): Built in 1899, this building was specially designed to be the home of the telephone company. It served that purpose until 1905.
• Central Technical High School (1981): This school building is a great example of how educational buildings were designed in the early 1900s.
• The Courier Building (2014): This building is famous because of a speech given here in 1851 by Daniel Webster. He talked about the Fugitive Slave Law, which led to people in Syracuse helping an escaped enslaved person gain freedom. This event really pushed forward the fight against slavery in Central New York.
• Gere Bank Building (1972): Built in 1894, this bank building has a very unique look with different materials used on its front. It even had fireproof vaults under the sidewalk! It's part of the Hanover Square Historic District.
• Hanover Square Historic District (1976): This district includes seventeen historic buildings and was Syracuse's very first commercial area. It features important buildings like the Onondaga County Savings Bank Building and the Gere Bank Building.
• Hotel Syracuse (2008): Opened in 1924, this hotel is a great example of a modern hotel from that time.
• Montgomery Street-Columbus Circle Historic District (1980): This historic area is around the statue of Columbus in Syracuse. It includes St. Paul's Cathedral and Parish House, which is also listed separately.
• New York Central Railroad Passenger and Freight Station (2009): This old train station, built in the Art Deco style, is a few blocks east of Clinton Square.
• Niagara Hudson Building (2010): Also known as the Niagara Mohawk Building, this is an Art Deco masterpiece located west of Clinton Square.
• Onondaga County Savings Bank Building (1971): Designed by Horatio Nelson White, this building is now known as the Gridley Building.
• Onondaga County War Memorial (1988): This arena was built in 1949 in the Moderne style. It's important because it honors those who served in World War I and World War II. Fun fact: scenes from the movie Slap Shot were filmed here!
• People's African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (2012): This church has a long history in the community.
• Plymouth Congregational Church (1997): This church, built in 1858 in the Romanesque Revival style, was designed by Horatio Nelson White. It's known for its connection to the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery.
• C.W. Snow and Company Warehouse (2007): Built in 1913, this warehouse was designed by Archimedes Russell in the Modern Movement style.
• South Salina Street Downtown Historic District (2009): This district covers several blocks of South Salina Street and nearby areas, showing the historic downtown.
• Syracuse City Hall (1976): This grand building was constructed between 1889 and 1893 in the Romanesque Revival style. It was designed by Charles Erastus Colton.
• Syracuse Lighting Company (2017): Built in different stages from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, this was the city's very first electric power plant. It played a huge role in Syracuse's growth after the Erie Canal became less important.
• Syracuse Savings Bank (1971): Designed by Joseph Lyman Silsbee and built in 1875, this bank was right next to the Erie Canal. It was famous for having the first passenger elevator in Syracuse!
• Third National Bank (1972): Also called the Community Chest Building, this bank was designed by architect Archimedes Russell in 1885.
• Weighlock Building (1971): Built in 1850, this building was where canal boats were weighed as they traveled through Syracuse on the Erie Canal.
• White Memorial Building (1973): This impressive Gothic building from 1876 is known for its unique and pleasant design.
• Hamilton White House (1973): Built around 1840 for Hamilton White, this house is important for its architecture and its connection to Syracuse's business and political history.

Houses and Neighborhoods

Many beautiful homes and residential areas in Syracuse are also listed:

• Ashton House (1997): This house was designed by the famous architect Ward Wellington Ward. It's part of a special group of houses designed by him.
• John G. Ayling House (2011): Located in the Sedgwick neighborhood.
• Babcock-Shattuck House (2004): A large house built in the Queen Anne-style. It used to be a post for the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America.
• Barnes-Hiscock House (2010): Located on James Street.
• Berkeley Park Subdivision Historic District (2002): This residential area is a great example of early 20th-century landscape design. It includes several houses designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Blanchard House (1997): This house, along with its arbor and garage, was designed by Ward Wellington Ward and is part of his collection of listed homes.
• Alexander Brown House (1988): This Romanesque Revival home, made of sandstone and tile, belonged to Alexander T. Brown, a successful inventor.
• Harry N. Burhans House (2007): An 1837 Greek Revival house that was updated in 1916 under the guidance of Ward Wellington Ward.
• Chapman House (1997): Built in 1912, this house combines Colonial Revival and Arts and Crafts styles. It's another one of the homes designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Clark House (1997): Located in Strathmore, this house is important for its architecture and is part of the Ward Wellington Ward collection.
• Collins House (1997): Another house designed by Ward Wellington Ward, located in the Near Eastside/Westcott area.
• Dunfee House (1997): Important for its architecture, this house in Strathmore was also designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Estabrook House (1997): This Ward Wellington Ward-designed house features a gambrel roof and a second story that extends out.
• Fairchild House (1997): Located in Strathmore, this house is significant for its architecture and is part of the Ward Wellington Ward collection.
• Fuller House (1997): A Craftsman-style house from 1911, designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Gang House (1997): Built in 1914, this house has a complex design with brick on the first floor and stucco above. It's another Ward Wellington Ward home.
• Garrett House (1997): This Ward Wellington Ward house originally had a roof designed to look like an English Cottage thatched roof. It also has a special Mercer fireplace showing St. George and the Dragon.
• William J. Gillett House (1982): This Second Empire home was designed by William J. Gillett himself.
• John Gridley House (1977): Built around 1812, this two-story limestone house is in the Federal style. It's one of the few remaining homes from the original Onondaga Hollow settlement.
• Hawley-Green Historic District (1979): This neighborhood was first home to artists and musicians, then later to doctors, lawyers, and politicians. It features homes in various styles like Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Stick Style.
• Hoeffer House (1997): Built in 1923, this is another house designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Huntley Apartments (2011): An apartment building in the Strathmore neighborhood.
• Hunziker House (1997): Built in 1926, this house is part of the collection of homes designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Kelly House (1997): Built in 1923, this is another house designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Polaski King House (1979): Built around 1810, this house belonged to Polaski King, an early settler. Sadly, the house is no longer standing.
• Leavenworth Apartments (2011): An apartment building on James Street.
• Harriet May Mills House (2002): This was the home of Harriet May Mills, a leader in women's rights, and her parents, who were abolitionists. She even ran for New York State's Secretary of State in 1920!
• New Kasson Apartments (2011): Another apartment building on James Street.
• North Salina Street Historic District (1985): This area was home to German immigrants in the 1800s and Italian immigrants in the early 1900s.
• Onondaga Highlands-Swaneola Heights Historic District (2010): This neighborhood, designed in the early 20th century, has a very consistent look and feel.
• Porter House (1997): This house is another one of the Ward Wellington Ward-designed homes.
• Wiliam H. Sabine House (2010): This Federal style home belonged to a family who were slave-holders but later became abolitionists. It might have been a site for abolitionist activities.
• Sanderson House at 112 Scottholm Terrace (1997): One of five similar houses designed by Ward Wellington Ward. This was the home of Amon F. Sanderson, who helped develop the Scottholm Tract neighborhood.
• Sanderson House at 301 Scottholm Boulevard (1997): Another Ward Wellington Ward-designed house in the Scottholm Tract area, also owned by Amon F. Sanderson.
• Sanford House (1997): Built in 1913, this is another one of the Ward Wellington Ward-designed houses.
• Scottholm Tract Historic District (2012): This neighborhood is known for its historic homes and planned layout.
• Sherbrook Apartments (1997): Built in 1914, this apartment building is part of the Ward Wellington Ward collection.
• Alton Simmons House (2002): This house has a gambrel roof and a special Mercer fireplace. It's another home designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Louis and Celia Skoler Residence (2010): This was the home of an architect.
• South Salina Street Historic District (1986): This area was the original center of what used to be the village of Danforth.
• Spencer House (1997): Built in 1913, this is another house designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Gustav Stickley House (1984): Built in 1900, this house is considered the very first American Craftsman house. Gustav Stickley himself renovated the inside in 1903.
• Stowell House (1997): A stone house designed by Ward Wellington Ward.
• Strathmore "By the Park" Subdivision (2006): This neighborhood, planned by 1917, was developed with the idea of having "no smoke, no dirt, no fogs, no two-family or apartment houses, no business places of any kind, nothing but homes."
• Walnut Park Historic District (1983): Right next to Syracuse University, this neighborhood was originally for Syracuse's wealthy families. Today, it's known as Fraternity/Sorority Row.
• Ward House (1997): This Arts and Crafts-style home was one of two houses designed and owned by Ward Wellington Ward as an investment.
• Welsh House (1997): A Ward Wellington Ward-designed house from 1912.
• White House (1997): Another house designed by Ward Wellington Ward, built in 1919.
• Louis Will House (2009): This Queen Anne home belonged to Louis Will, who was a mayor of Syracuse from 1914-1916.
• Ziegler House (1997): Built in 1915.

Churches

• First English Lutheran Church (1998): Designed by Archimedes Russell and built in 1911, this church is known for its mission-inspired architecture.
• Grace Episcopal Church (1973): This Gothic Revival church was designed by Horatio Nelson White and built in 1876. The church has a long history of working for social change and is a national shrine for Saint Oakerhater.
• St. Patrick's Church Complex (2012): A church complex in the Far Westside.
• St. Paul's Armenian Apostolic Church (2010): A church on North Geddes Street.
• St. Paul's Cathedral and Parish House (1978): This Gothic cathedral was built in 1884 and designed by Henry Dudley.
• Temple Society of Concord (2009): This Jewish congregation was started in 1839 by German immigrants. The current Temple building was opened in 1911.
• Trinity Episcopal Church (2013): A church on West Onondaga Street.

University Buildings

• Crouse College, Syracuse University (1974): Built in the 1880s, this college building was funded by Syracuse banker John R. Crouse and designed by Archimedes Russell. It's part of the Syracuse University-Comstock Tract Buildings.
• Hall of Languages, Syracuse University (1973): This was the very first building constructed on the Syracuse University campus, built between 1871 and 1873. It was designed by Horatio Nelson White and is also part of the Syracuse University-Comstock Tract Buildings.
• Pi Chapter House of Psi Upsilon Fraternity (1985): This is the oldest fraternity house at Syracuse University and is linked to the rise of fraternal organizations on campus around 1900.
• Syracuse University-Comstock Tract Buildings (1980): This historic district includes 15 buildings located on the original Syracuse University campus. The land for the university was donated by George Comstock.

Parks and Other Sites

• Bellevue Country Club (2014): A country club located on Glenwood Avenue.
• Elmwood Park (2005): This park started as a private park in the 1890s. It's important as an example of parks from the "Pleasure Ground Era." The city bought it in 1927, and new features like bridges and walls were added, making it also represent the "Reform Park Era."
• New York State Barge Canal (2014): This canal system, which runs through the city, was approved in the early 1900s to help New York compete with railroads after the Erie Canal became less busy.
• Oak Knitting Company (2016): This textile mill from 1899 is a good example of architect Archimedes Russell's later work, showing how older mill styles were adapted for new fireproof building methods.
• Odd Fellows Lodge and Temple (2014): A building associated with the Odd Fellows Lodge.
• Onondaga Park (2002): Designed by George Kessler, this park features Hiawatha Lake.
• Thornden Park (1994): This park was bought in 1921 as part of the "City Beautiful" movement, which aimed to make cities more beautiful. It's famous for its beautiful rose garden that was planted in 1924.
• C.G. Meaker Food Company Warehouse (2010): A warehouse on Erie Boulevard West.
• West Brothers Knitting Company (2014): A well-preserved textile mill from 1906.

Former listings

Some places that were once listed on the National Register of Historic Places have since been removed.

• Oliver Teall House (Delisted 1990): This house was listed in 1972 but was later removed from the list.