Plum Street Temple
About this property
The Isaac M. Wise Temple (formerly the Plum Street Temple), commonly called the Wise Temple, is an historic Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. The congregation's historic Plum Street temple was erected in honour of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, who was among the founders of Reform Judaism in the United States. The temple building was designed by prominent Cincinnati architect James Keys Wilson and its design was inspired by the Alhambra at Granada. The temple is located at 720 Plum Street in Cincinnati and was built chiefly during the Civil War at a cost of $275,000 ($6.05 million in 2025) by members of the Lodge Street Synagogue. The temple was dedicated on Friday, August 24, 1866, and is among the oldest synagogue buildings in the United States. The temple is across Plum Street from the historic Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral and next to the site of the former St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral, which was demolished in 1937. In 1972, the Plum Street Temple was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975 for its architecture and its role in the Reform movement. In 1976, the congregation expanded its facilities to include a new synagogue, community center, and school located in Amberley Village.
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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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Questions about this property
When was Plum Street Temple listed on the National Register?
Plum Street Temple was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 27, 1972.
What type of historic resource is Plum Street Temple?
Plum Street Temple is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Plum Street Temple a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Plum Street Temple has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Plum Street Temple?
The period of significance for Plum Street Temple is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Plum Street Temple?
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 Plum Street Temple will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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