City Hall, Rochester

Rochester City Hall, also known historically as the Federal Building and Old Post Office, is a striking example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in the heart of Monroe County. Originally constructed between 1885 and 1889 as a federal courthouse and post office, the building was crafted from heavy brown arkosic sandstone, reportedly quarried from the Hartford Basin in Connecticut. Designed under the direction of Mifflin E. Bell from the Office of the Supervising Architect, and shaped in part by architect Harvey Ellis, the structure stands out with its robust masonry, inner court, and distinctive tower.

Over the years, the building was expanded鈥攊n 1893 and again in 1907鈥攜et retained its imposing character, defined by its steel interior framing and elaborately detailed stone fa莽ade. Its architectural value and historic significance were formally recognized in 1972 when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the 1970s, it took on a new civic role as the official City Hall of Rochester, transitioning from federal to local government use.

Today, Rochester City Hall remains a central hub for municipal operations, offering a wide range of services from city council meetings to public records access. The building continues to house essential departments that serve residents and businesses, while also playing a vital role in community development, public outreach, and neighborhood initiatives.

In recent years, preservation efforts have focused on restoring and maintaining the building鈥檚 sandstone exterior. The city commissioned a comprehensive rehabilitation plan involving stone cleaning, selective replacement, and the consolidation of architectural details. This ongoing care underscores the city鈥檚 commitment to honoring the building鈥檚 past while ensuring its functionality for future generations. Across the street, the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse continue the legacy of federal presence in Rochester, creating a civic corridor rooted in history and public service.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rochester. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: City Hall
Sight Location: Rochester, USA (See walking tours in Rochester)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Rochester Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Rochester, New York

Create Your Own Walk in Rochester

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rochester is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Rochester Introduction Walking Tour

Rochester is New York's third-biggest city. The location of the Genessee River helped to establish Rochester as a mill town early in its history. English settlers arrived in the area that would become the city when the Iroquois tribe ceded their territory after the American Revolution.

The Eerie Canal construction in the 1820s helped the city grow into an urban center that would set the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles

Historical Industrial Buildings

Once a major manufacturing center, Rochester, NY went down in history as one of the United States' first boom-towns. Back in between 1860 and 1900 the city's population grew threefold on the back of the inflow of numerous immigrants 鈥� Italians, Germans, Irish and others 鈥� that saw Rochester expand dramatically on both sides of the Genesee River. During that period the city rose to... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Historical Churches

The city of Rochester's community is diverse, with many religious denominations coexisting peacefully within its borders. The spiritual attitude of locals is duly reflected by the historic churches, their congregations and architectural elements. A good number of places of worship found in the city are designated historic sites. Here are some of the most prominent of them.

Downtown United... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

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