Take a Tour of Geneva’s Historic District

Geneva’s Historic District is said to be an architectural gem of the Finger Lakes region, but we like to call it the crown jewels. Found on the National Registry of Historic Places, Geneva’s South Main Street is a historic and timeless collection of structures built mostly between 1825 and 1850. The north end consists of Pulteney Park, the city’s first commercial district, and continues through highlights such as the Row Houses, the President’s House, the Garden Lots, and the Prouty-Chew House. Besides the breathtaking architecture of these up-scale residential buildings, you’ll also have some beautiful views of Seneca Lake.

Start your tour at 380 South Main Street, at the corner of William Street and South Main Street. From Seneca Street south to Conover Street, you’ll pass more than 140 structures as well as the original quad of the Hobart College campus. Be sure to visit the large Greek Revival Parthenon-like structure that once housed churches as well as the Geneva Masonic Temple. You can’t miss this elongated “ancient” white temple with its large fluted columns and triangular pediment built in 1832.

Nearby, you’ll find Pulteney Park, the original village green at the center of Geneva as it was surveyed and laid out in 1794. Within a few years, this park was surrounded by the Geneva Hotel, the post office, a grocery store, and the Geneva Academy; all of which overlooked the scenic expanse of Seneca Lake.

To plan your tour, or to find out more information on each of the locations, visit the website. 

Geneva Historical Society

543 South Main Street

Geneva, NY 14456

315.789.5151