Penn Yan Historic District, historic district in New York, United States
Penn Yan Historic District is a protected historic area in the center of the town of Penn Yan, New York, covering about 65 acres with over 200 structures. The buildings span from the early 1800s to the early 1900s and display architectural styles such as Federal, Greek Revival, and Queen Anne.
The town expanded after 1823 when it became the county seat, and grew further with the canal opening in 1833 and the arrival of the railroad in 1884. The grape and milling industries of the late 1800s shaped its development and left behind many structures from that period.
The name Penn Yan comes from settlers who arrived from Pennsylvania and New England. The streets show traces of different communities, including Mennonite families who have added horse-drawn buggies to the town since the 1970s.
The streets are easy to walk and many historic sites are within close reach of each other. The area is flat and accessible, with parking available nearby and local shops and cafes scattered along Main Street.
The Sampson Theatre, built in 1910, was constructed using a rare poured-concrete method that was innovative at the time. The building stands as an example of early construction techniques and remains a reminder of experimental building methods from that era.
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