Lower East Hill Historic District

The East Hill Historic District includes the greatest concentration of historically and architecturally significant buildings in the city.

The East Hill Historic District on the slope between Collegetown and Ithaca's business district includes the greatest concentration of historically and architecturally significant buildings in the city.

The buildings date from 1830 to the 1930s and reflect many popular American architectural styles.

The district is on the Nation Register of Historic Places and was designated a local historic district in 1988. Structural changes to the exterior of any building in the district, as well as any new construction in the district, must meet the approval of Ithaca's Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The district is bounded on the east and west by Eddy and North Aurora streets and on the north and south by the gorges of Cascadilla and Six Mile creeks.

This tour describes twenty-seven buildings in the lower portions of the district (i.e., west of Stewart Avenue) and includes many examples of Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival styles. Also represented are Second Empire, Swiss Chalet, Richardsonian Romanesque, English Revival, and Mission styles.

This walking tour was developed by Historic Ithaca, Inc. For more information about events, walking tours, and preservation advocacy, please visit the Historic Ithaca website.

Please use discretion when approaching private property. Thank you, and we hope you enjoy the tour!

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES ABOUT THE TOUR:

Total distance travelled: 1.08 miles

Elevation gain rating: Hard (multiple hills)

Listen to the tour on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/tompkinshistory/sets/lower-east-hill-historic-district

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