Rochester City Hall

Rochester City Hall is a government building built in Richardsonian Romanesque style, featuring brown sandstone walls with turrets and towers from the 1880s. Inside, the atrium showcases Tennessee marble columns, cast iron Liberty goddesses, and plaster lions arranged across three levels of ornamental detail.

Built between 1885 and 1889 as a federal building, it originally housed customs offices, taxation departments, courts, and the main post office. Over time, its functions shifted, and today it serves primarily as Rochester's municipal center with expanded cultural programming.

The Link Gallery on the ground floor features rotating exhibitions of work by local artists, selected by volunteers every six weeks. This space has become an important gathering point where visitors can encounter the creative expressions of Rochester's artistic community.

The building is centrally located and easily accessible on foot, with clear signage for visitors. Public spaces, including the gallery, are open during regular business hours and welcome visitors to explore the architecture and rotating exhibitions.

The Tennessee marble columns in the atrium reflect an era when importing fine materials symbolized prosperity and national reach. These imported stones tell a story about Rochester's economic ambitions that many visitors overlook while admiring the architecture.

Location: Rochester

Inception: 1885

GPS coordinates: 43.15694,-77.61500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:02