Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Ithaca New York

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Constructed in 1854, this structure was the second courthouse building located on this site and is the oldest extant structure in Tompkins County. The building is situated directly adjacent to First Presbyterian Church. The courthouse was designed with elements of the Gothic Revival style with notable features that include the open-timber roof and the three-story tower. The building served as the home of the county government until 1923 when the current courthouse was completed. Today, the building is used by the Tompkins County Legislature.

2. Ithaca Conservatory of Music Historic Marker (Ithaca Colllege)

This marker indicates the original site of the Ithaca Conservatory of Music. Founded in 1892, this institution grew to become Ithaca College.

3. Boardman House

The historic Boardman House was built in 1866 for George McChain, but it is most associated with its second owner. The second resident of the home was Douglass Boardman, the first dean of the Cornell University Law School. Following the death of Boardman and his wife, the house was purchased by the Ithaca Conservatory of Music. In the late twentieth century, the building was nearly demolished, but was spared because of the work of Historic Ithaca. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

4. U.S. Post Office (Ithaca Town Hall)

Constructed in 1910, the U.S. Post office in downtown Ithaca is considered a fine example of the Classical Revival and French Baroque architectural styles. It was designed by architect James Knox Taylor, who was the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Department of the Treasury from 1897-1912. He is designed many of the post offices in New York. The building became the Ithaca Town Hall in 1998 after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), which a built a new facility elsewhere, sold it to the town of Ithaca. So as to not leave downtown without a post office, the USPS leased a portion of the building to continue mail services. The Town restored the historic building and reopened it in 2000.

5. The History Center in Tompkins County

Located in the Tompkins Center for History & Culture, the History Center in Tompkins County is dedicated to preserving and promoting Ithaca's past through its exhibitions, educational programs, and partnerships with local non-profit organizations. The History Center Exhibit Hall offers annually changing exhibits on local history, and the Research Library & Archives are open by appointment. The museum also owns and operates a historic structure built in 1827 called the Eight Square Schoolhouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum's living history programs take place in the schoolhouse.

6. Sagan Planet Walk

The Sagan Planet Walk is a 3/4 mile (1,200 meters) long scale model of the solar system. It consists of several stone markers with interpretive signs describing the planets and other information. The walk is one five-billionth of the actual size of the solar system. The first marker is located on State Street between Cayuga and Tioga Streets, just outside Ithaca Commons. The walk extends northward and ends with Pluto at the Sciencenter. Click the link below for a map. The walk was created to not only educate the public about the solar system but to also honor the life and legacy of Cornell University astronomy professor Carl Sagan (1934-1996), who was one of the foremost astronomers of the 20th century. He is best known for the 1980 television series he hosted and helped produce called Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. He was also a prolific author, penning hundreds of scientific papers and over 20 books.

7. Clinton House

One of the most recognizable buildings in downtown Ithaca, the Clinton House was built in 1830 as a hotel. At the time, the completion of the Erie Canal a few years earlier was expected to bring tremendous growth to Ithaca, and the hotel was planned to be one of the grandest in the state. For much of the twentieth century, the building housed Historic Ithaca, who saved it from demolition. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

8. State Theatre

This historic theater opened on December 6, 1928, and served Ithaca during an era when its downtown was home to 17 other theaters. Some of these venues, such as the Lyceum, the Crescent, and the Strand, were just as grand as the State. The Strand Theatre was demolished in the early 1990s and the State Theatre nearly shared its fate after the city condemned the building. Thanks to the efforts of preservationists and residents, however, State Theatre was saved and continues to serve Ithaca residents. The act on opening night was Paul Tremaine and his Aristocrats of Modern Music. The building housing the theater dates back to 1915 and was originally a car garage and dealership. Cornell Theaters, Inc. bought the building in 1926 and hired architect Victor Rigaumont to renovate the space. Rigaumont was a well-known theater architect. He designed the State using elements of Moorish and Renaissance Revival Styles and elements of Collegiate Gothic symbolism to coordinate with Cornell University.

9. St James A.M.E. Zion Church

Built in 1836, the church became known as one of the first AME Zion churches in the US and the oldest church in Ithaca. However, the church became more well known for its role in the Underground Railroad as a transfer point for fugitive slaves en route to Canada. While it became famous for its role in aiding fugitive slaves, those same slaves were impressed by the community that surrounded the church that many opted to instead stay in Ithaca rather than moving on to Canada.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Ithaca New York

Created by Clio Admin on April 18th 2019, 8:49:12 pm.

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This brief walking tour starts at the oldest remaining structure in Tompkins County which served as the courthouse from 1854 to 1923. The tour includes historical markers, such as one that designates the location of the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, as well as historic buildings such as the Clinton House, State Theatre, and Boardman House. Be sure to also visit Ithaca's historic St. James AME Zion church just a few blocks west of this tour as well as the many museums and historic buildings at Cornell University.

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Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Ithaca New York

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