Willard Memorial Chapel-Welch Memorial Hall
Why it's listed
Willard Memorial Chapel and Welch Memorial Hall form a single stone building at 17-19 Nelson Street in Auburn, New York, erected between 1892 and 1894 for the Auburn Theological Seminary. Andrew Jackson Warner designed it in the Richardsonian Romanesque manner, using rock-faced gray limestone with red sandstone trim, slate roofs and a small copper-topped cupola over the link between the two parts. Some of the limestone came from an 1820 seminary building dismantled in 1892. The chapel interior was carried out by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, with glass mosaic tiles, leaded opalescent windows, oak furnishings, wood hammer-beam trusses and stenciled ornament. It is described as one of the most intact church interiors in America designed by the Tiffany firm. Most other seminary buildings have been demolished, leaving this building on an open parcel. Welch Memorial Hall's former classrooms now serve as offices and meeting space, and the property is used as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for national landmark status because of the building's association with Louis Comfort Tiffany and the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, which executed the chapel interior. The chapel is described as one of the most intact ecclesiastical spaces in America designed by the Tiffany Company. The building is also a Richardsonian Romanesque design by Andrew Jackson Warner.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89000461, listed June 8, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 17--19 Nelson St., Auburn |
|---|---|
| County | Cayuga County |
| Listed | June 8, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000461 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Andrew Jackson Warner of Warner and Brockett (architect); Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company (chapel interior) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 5, 2005 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a museum; the former classrooms serve as office and meeting space. The chapel interior has had relatively few alterations since 1894. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.93697, -76.56377 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89000461.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8003459
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.