Historical Industrial Buildings (Self Guided), Rochester
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 – Italians, Germans, Irish and others – that saw Rochester expand dramatically on both sides of the Genesee River. During that period the city rose to prominence as the birthplace and home of some of America's most iconic companies, such as Eastman Kodak, Xerox, Western Union and more.
Owning to its rich industrial heritage, Rochester abounds in historical industrial buildings. Foremost among them is, undoubtedly, the Kodak Tower, formerly the headquarters of Eastman Kodak, recognized as an icon in the world of film photography (dubbed the "nerve center of photography"). Following its completion in 1914, it was the city's tallest building for over half a century until the Xerox Square Tower surpassed it in the late 1960s.
In 1967-69 Xerox Corporation built in Rochester a 30-story office building – Xerox Tower. The edifice is still the city's tallest, as well as the third tallest structure in New York State outside of New York City.
Another prominent landmark in the Rochester Skyline, boasting a triple mansard roof and observation tower, is the Powers Building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1904, it was once also the tallest building in Rochester, between 1873 and 1888. Not least noteworthy in this respect is the Times Square Building, an Art Deco skyscraper of 14 floors.
To visit these and other historical places that had shaped the image of Rochester, NY as the center of American industry, take this self-guided walking tour.
Owning to its rich industrial heritage, Rochester abounds in historical industrial buildings. Foremost among them is, undoubtedly, the Kodak Tower, formerly the headquarters of Eastman Kodak, recognized as an icon in the world of film photography (dubbed the "nerve center of photography"). Following its completion in 1914, it was the city's tallest building for over half a century until the Xerox Square Tower surpassed it in the late 1960s.
In 1967-69 Xerox Corporation built in Rochester a 30-story office building – Xerox Tower. The edifice is still the city's tallest, as well as the third tallest structure in New York State outside of New York City.
Another prominent landmark in the Rochester Skyline, boasting a triple mansard roof and observation tower, is the Powers Building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1904, it was once also the tallest building in Rochester, between 1873 and 1888. Not least noteworthy in this respect is the Times Square Building, an Art Deco skyscraper of 14 floors.
To visit these and other historical places that had shaped the image of Rochester, NY as the center of American industry, take this self-guided walking tour.
How it works: Download the app "51±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51±¬ÁÏÍø App
Historical Industrial Buildings Map
Guide Name: Historical Industrial Buildings
Guide Location: USA » Rochester (See other walking tours in Rochester)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 7
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Author: Linda
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: USA » Rochester (See other walking tours in Rochester)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 7
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Author: Linda
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Kodak Tower
- Button Factory Building
- Triphammer Forge Site
- Parazin Building
- Powers Building
- Times Square Building
- Xerox Tower
1) Kodak Tower
Kodak Office Tower is the seat of one of the most successful American brands, Kodak, the leader in the film and camera industry; it was established in 1892 by an amateur photographer, George Eastman, and became the city's main industrial employer. The tower itself was built in 1914 and is a sixteen-storey building, with three additional floors, roof and cupola having been added in 1930; it has interesting architectural elements and big historic value.
2) Button Factory Building
Button Factory Building was established in 1904, housing the former Rochester Button Company, founded in 1887 by Moses B. Shantz. Producing buttons from vegetable ivory, plastic and milk curd, the company became one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of buttons, until 1990, when its activity came to end. Today this important historic building houses some commercial offices.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
3) Triphammer Forge Site
The Triphammer Forge Site is an archaeological site in the Brown's Race Historic District. The original building dated back to 1836 and was the site of a triphammer used to forge the wrought-iron tools created here. Although the building saw expansion in the late 1800s, Its use as an industrial building gradually declined since then.
This building burned in 1977, and a critical discovery took place after the fire. There was a basement room that locals had forgotten about found under the rubble. The iron and wood water wheel measuring 25 feet was found in this room, marking an important discovery.
As an archaeological site, Triphammer Forge provides an exciting glimpse into the city's industrial past. These ruins have been stabilized, allowing visitors to walk by without disturbing any of the artifacts present. The massive water wheel has been reconstructed, demonstrating the importance that this area once held in the manufacturing industry in New York.
This building burned in 1977, and a critical discovery took place after the fire. There was a basement room that locals had forgotten about found under the rubble. The iron and wood water wheel measuring 25 feet was found in this room, marking an important discovery.
As an archaeological site, Triphammer Forge provides an exciting glimpse into the city's industrial past. These ruins have been stabilized, allowing visitors to walk by without disturbing any of the artifacts present. The massive water wheel has been reconstructed, demonstrating the importance that this area once held in the manufacturing industry in New York.
4) Parazin Building
Parazin Building, erected in 1826, was the prime house of the Seyle Fire Engine Company, where the first fire engines were produced and provided to adjacent cities of the New York State. The building represents typical architecture of the district at early times; the first two floors are designed with coursed stone rubble and the two upper floors, with random ashlar stone.
5) Powers Building
Powers Building is a historic office building located in Rochester. It was built in 1869 and is a nine-story, 165-by-171-foot (50 by 52 m) building, laid out around a large open stairwell in the center. It features a triple mansard roof and observation tower which were added after initial construction, between 1873 and 1888, by Daniel Powers to maintain its standing as the tallest building in Rochester. It was designed by noted Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In 2019, the adjacent Powers Hotel was also added to the listing.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In 2019, the adjacent Powers Hotel was also added to the listing.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
6) Times Square Building
The Times Square Building is an Art Deco skyscraper designed by Ralph Thomas Walker of the firm Voorhees, Gmelin, and Walker located in Rochester. At 260 feet (79 m), it is the eighth-tallest building in Rochester, with 14 floors. The former Genesee Valley Trust Building is a streamlined twelve-story building supporting four aluminum wings 42 feet high, known as the "Wings of Progress", each weighing 12,000 pounds.
These structures are among the most distinctive features of the Rochester skyline. The trompe-l’oeil style is used for the decor throughout the building's interior and features various depictions of stylized wheat in reference to Rochester's presence as "the flour city".
An interesting historical note about this building is that the cornerstone of this building was laid on October 29, 1929, "Black Tuesday" of the 1929 stock market crash.
These structures are among the most distinctive features of the Rochester skyline. The trompe-l’oeil style is used for the decor throughout the building's interior and features various depictions of stylized wheat in reference to Rochester's presence as "the flour city".
An interesting historical note about this building is that the cornerstone of this building was laid on October 29, 1929, "Black Tuesday" of the 1929 stock market crash.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
7) Xerox Tower
Xerox Tower is a skyscraper in downtown Rochester, New York, standing at 443 feet (135 m) tall. The tower is the centerpiece of a roughly 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) complex named Xerox Square. When it was built in 1967, it was the tallest building made of poured-in-place exposed aggregate concrete. It is the tallest building in Rochester, as well as the third tallest building in New York outside of New York City. It was initially used as the headquarters of Xerox Corporation.
The "Digital X" Xerox logo at the top of the building was removed in 2005 with Xerox's new positioning away from "The Document Company" signature and the related logo in use since 1994.
On April 18, 2009, Xerox announced their wish to sell the tower and other buildings in Xerox Square, and lease back the office space. In August, 2013 the property was sold to Buckingham Properties for $40 million. Under the terms of the sale Xerox will continue to lease space in the building for eight years, with an option to renew. Between the Summer and Autumn of 2015, a multi-color light display was added to all four corners of the tower roof.
The complex formerly featured an outdoor skating rink and an English pub-style restaurant called The Shakespeare, both of which operated until the late 1970s or 1980s before being converted to a private outdoor lounge for Xerox employees.
On January 26, 2018, Xerox has announced that it would vacate the entire building to move all their local employees to Webster.
The "Digital X" Xerox logo at the top of the building was removed in 2005 with Xerox's new positioning away from "The Document Company" signature and the related logo in use since 1994.
On April 18, 2009, Xerox announced their wish to sell the tower and other buildings in Xerox Square, and lease back the office space. In August, 2013 the property was sold to Buckingham Properties for $40 million. Under the terms of the sale Xerox will continue to lease space in the building for eight years, with an option to renew. Between the Summer and Autumn of 2015, a multi-color light display was added to all four corners of the tower roof.
The complex formerly featured an outdoor skating rink and an English pub-style restaurant called The Shakespeare, both of which operated until the late 1970s or 1980s before being converted to a private outdoor lounge for Xerox employees.
On January 26, 2018, Xerox has announced that it would vacate the entire building to move all their local employees to Webster.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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.
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
Downtown United... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
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
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
The Most Popular Cities
/ view all