National Register of Historic Places

Hall of Languages, Syracuse University

Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
Listed
September 19, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001236

About this property

The Hall of Languages is a Syracuse University building designed by Horatio Nelson White in the Second Empire architectural style, and built in 1871–73. It was the first building constructed on the Syracuse University campus and the building originally housed the entire university. The building's cornerstone was laid on August 31, 1871, by Jesse Truesdell Peck, and the building was dedicated on May 8, 1873, by Edmund S. James, then Bishop of the New York Conference. It is styled after the Gridley Building in Downtown Syracuse, which was also designed by the same architect. It features three large towers or cupolas and is made of Onondaga limestone and wood framing with interior cast-iron columns. The original building consisted of the east and west towers only; in 1886 the central tower was added. It was originally home to the College of Liberal Arts (now defunct), and subsequently the College of Arts and Sciences. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The interior was completely rebuilt in 1978–79. The iconic building has been prominently displayed as a representation of the university in many forums. The building served as creative inspiration for the Addams Family home in the TV show. Most recently starting in 2010 the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team started wearing Nike jerseys that feature an aerographic of the Hall of Languages.

Location

Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
43.03848, -76.13431

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Hall of Languages, Syracuse University

This page lists Hall of Languages, Syracuse University. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Hall of Languages, Syracuse University report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Syracuse University-Comstock Tract Buildings
Industrial
0.1 mi
Crouse College, Syracuse University
Industrial
0.1 mi
Upsilon Alpha Chapter House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pi Chapter House of Psi Upsilon Fraternity
Industrial
0.2 mi
Walnut Park Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hall of Languages, Syracuse University listed on the National Register?

Hall of Languages, Syracuse University was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 19, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Hall of Languages, Syracuse University?

Hall of Languages, Syracuse University is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hall of Languages, Syracuse University?

The period of significance for Hall of Languages, Syracuse University is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hall of Languages, Syracuse University?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Hall of Languages, Syracuse University will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Onondaga County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Onondaga County.

Explore OnondagaCounty ›

More historic places in New York

Browse all historic places in New York.

View New Yorkhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New York history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Yorkhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Hall of Languages, Syracuse University will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report