Brown's Race Historic District

Brown's Race Historic District is an industrial heritage area with 15 brick and stone buildings ranging from one to six stories distributed along the Genesee River gorge. The entire complex spreads across about 11 acres and demonstrates the building density of a working factory complex.

The complex was established in the 19th century to harness water power from the Genesee River for flour milling and textile manufacturing. This water-powered operation shaped Rochester's transformation from a small settlement into an industrial city during that period.

The buildings display Second Empire and Romanesque architectural styles that reflect the industrial period of Rochester. They stand closely together and form a unified ensemble showing how people worked and lived during that era.

The area can be explored on foot and provides views of the High Falls and industrial landscape from several vantage points. The Pont De Rennes pedestrian bridge is the main access point to the best viewing spots in the district.

The original mill race channel remains visible in the district, showing how water was directed from the river into the factories. This engineering system was the heart of the entire industrial operation in this area.