Seward, William Henry, Memorial
Why it's listed
Standing at the entrance to the public junior and senior high school on Main Street in the Village of Florida, New York, this monument honors William Henry Seward, who was born in the village in 1801. Dedicated on September 24, 1930, it consists of a heroic-size bronze portrait bust sculpted by Daniel Chester French on a six-foot pink granite pedestal. The bust sits at the center of a raised circular bluestone platform with granite benches, a setting designed by architect Richard Henry Dana, Jr. The idea originated with Seward's heirs in 1923, and banker George F. Baker paid two-thirds of the sculptor's fee, with local citizens raising the rest. Seward served as New York governor, U.S. senator and Secretary of State, and promoted the purchase of Alaska. The memorial is valued as a work by a leading American sculptor and as a refined example of Neo-Classical design. It remains largely intact, apart from lost plantings and a widened driveway.
Significance in brief: The memorial honors William Henry Seward, born in Florida, who served as New York governor, U.S. senator and Secretary of State. It is presented as a distinguished work by master sculptor Daniel Chester French, with a setting designed by architect Richard Henry Dana, Jr., and as an expression of early twentieth-century Neo-Classical aesthetics. It also links the village to its famous native son.
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 99001489, listed December 9, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Florida |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | December 9, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001489 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Chester French, sculptor; Richard Henry Dana, Jr., architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals, Neo-Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as remaining essentially intact to its 1930 construction. The bronze is in very good condition, though it has turned green and would benefit from conservation. Two granite seats are broken, and the original plantings have not survived. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.33345, -74.35681 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 99001489.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8012151
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.