Thomas Indian School

Thomas Indian School is a campus with red brick buildings in Georgian Revival style located on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. The complex was designed by New York architects Barney and Chapman and features multiple structures that reflect institutional design from the early 1900s.

The school was founded in 1855 by Presbyterian missionaries and operated as a residential institution until 1957. Over this century-long span, the facility went through shifts that reflected changing national education policies toward Native populations.

The site sits on tribal lands and represents a chapter when residential schools sought to reshape Native American identity and ways of life. Today the buildings stand as a physical reminder of these policies, visible to anyone walking through the grounds.

The grounds form a National Register Historic District with multiple buildings that you can explore on foot. The structures are visible from outside and give a good sense of how an early 20th century school campus was laid out.

Students spent half their day in structured work programs that kept the campus running while they learned practical trades. This arrangement was a defining feature of how these schools operated during their most active years.

Location: New York

Architectural style: Georgian architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.53944,-78.99667

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03