Religious Buildings in Downtown Ithaca

This tour focuses on religious buildings located in the DeWitt Park, Southside, and Northside neighborhoods.

Historic Ithaca offered a walking tour in 2009 to heighten awareness about historically important and/or architecturally significant religious buildings that have served as community institutions in the DeWitt Park, Southside, and Northside neighborhoods.

These religious buildings reflect a wide range of architectural styles and sacred traditions. Anglicans, Quakers, Roman Catholics, Jews, numerous Protestant denominations are represented. The particular ecumenical practices of each group, as well as Colonial Revival architectural styles, changing tastes, local climate, and the availability of particular materials all influenced the design of these houses of worship.

Please be respectful of each house of worship and appreciate that this walking tour does not presuppose being able to enter the buildings. It is possible that some of the churches may be open to the public, but you should check in with the offices to see if and when you might be able to go inside the buildings.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES ABOUT THE TOUR:

Intended as a walking or cycling tour.

Total distance travelled: 1.69 miles

Elevation: Mostly flat

Listen to the tour on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/tompkinshistory/sets/st-james-ame-zion-church

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This tour is based on research coordinated by Historic Ithaca Board member Thresa Gibian, working with a cadre of dedicated volunteers in 1995 to highlight historic houses of worship in downtown Ithaca.