State Theater
Also known as: Agora
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 at 213 Federal Plaza West in downtown Youngstown, this movie theater has a narrow but highly ornamented white glazed terra cotta facade. A large central arch holds a recessed niche with fluted Ionic columns, a dentilled cornice, a leaded glass fanlight, garland trim and a gargoyle keystone. A name and date plate sits below the projecting modillioned cornice. A narrow entrance leads back to a much larger theater building faced in brick, whose secondary facade is about five stories tall on Boardman Street. The theater replaced the Orpheum, a frame theater dating from about 1915, and added sound equipment later in 1927. It operated as a movie house until about 1970 and now serves as a concert hall. The street level has been altered, but the upper facade remains intact. It is listed as the only intact 1920s theater downtown and as one of three surviving architecturally significant theaters, alongside the Liberty and Warner.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a well-preserved example of early 20th century theater architecture and the only intact 1920s theater remaining downtown. Its ornate terra cotta facade reflects the importance of movie houses in Youngstown and contributes to the group of decorative terra cotta facades on West Federal Street. It is also one of three architecturally significant theaters left downtown.
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 86001942, listed July 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 213 Federal Plaza W, Youngstown |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | July 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001942 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts / Neo-Classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in good condition; the street-level storefront and entry have been covered over and a lighted sign added. The building is used as a concert hall (Agora). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10119, -80.65219 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 86001942.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17063229
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.