Canandaigua Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Canandaigua's historic core is protected as a district of 354 properties, 338 of which contribute to its character. Buildings date from the 1810s to the 1930s and are made of brick, wood and stone. Atwater Park, a landscaped green on North Main Street, is the focal point, surrounded by civic and religious landmarks such as the Ontario County Courthouse, the post office, City Hall and the First Congregational Church. North of the park, North Main Street holds the largest and most elaborate houses, while Howell and Gibson Streets feature Queen Anne, Italianate and Federal mansions. South of the park lies the commercial center of two- and three-story masonry blocks, mostly from the third quarter of the nineteenth century, and nearby working-class streets with modest frame homes. The district expands an earlier North Main Street district to cover the whole historic center. Its boundaries exclude areas where modern construction and heavy alterations weaken the historic setting.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to preserve the entire historic core of the city, with civic, religious, residential and commercial buildings that keep their architectural integrity. It shows a wide range of nineteenth and early twentieth century American styles. Areas beyond the boundary were left out because of modern intrusions and heavy alteration.
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 16000345, listed June 7, 2016. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Catherine, Dungan, Brook, Hubble & Sly Sts., portions of Park, Wood, Washington, Howell, Bemis, Main & Gibson Sts., Canandaigua |
|---|---|
| County | Ontario County |
| Listed | June 7, 2016 |
| Reference number | 16000345 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Wide range of styles including Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Italian Villa, Queen Anne, Eastlake, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical and Art Moderne |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | 354 properties, of which 338 contribute and 16 are non-contributing; the area remains a mix of residential, commercial, religious and civic uses. |
| Acreage | 227.8 |
| Within district | Canandaigua Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.89148, -77.28266 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 16000345.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5031115
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.