National Register of Historic Places

Oswego City Library

Oswego, Oswego County, New York
Listed
September 21, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000554

About this property

Oswego City Library is a historic library building in Oswego, New York. It has also been known as the Oswego School District Public Library. It was built in about 1855 and is a two-story brick structure over a full basement. It features a distinctive castellated style with exterior battlements, machicolations, tower, turrets, corbels, and arcaded windows. It was a gift from Gerrit Smith, who gave $25,000 for the building construction and $5,000 for books. The library is credited for being the oldest public library in the United States that maintains operations out of its original building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Location

120 E. 2nd St.
Oswego, Oswego County, New York
43.45686, -76.50650

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
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.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Oswego County Courthouse
Industrial
0 mi
Littlefield, Hamilton and Rhoda, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Richardson-Bates House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Standard Yarn Company Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Edwards, John B. and Lydia, House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Oswego Fort Area Conflict 1756
1756Colonial
0.2 mi
Raid on Oswego
1814Early Republic
0.2 mi
Battle of Oswego (May 1814)
1814Early Republic
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Oswego City Library listed on the National Register?

Oswego City Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 21, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Oswego City Library?

Oswego City Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Oswego City Library?

The period of significance for Oswego City Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Oswego City Library?

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