White Memorial Building

The White Memorial Building is a Gothic structure in Syracuse made of Ohio sandstone blocks, red brick, and a base of Onondaga limestone with black cement lines throughout. These materials create distinct horizontal and vertical divisions across the facade.

The building was constructed in 1876 to honor Asa White, an influential Syracuse resident the family had lost. The project was guided by Andrew Dickson White and architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee based on designs inspired by buildings observed in Manchester.

The structure was built during an era when wealthy families commissioned buildings to memorialize deceased relatives. It shows how the White family used architectural grandeur to express their standing in the community.

The structure is located downtown on East Washington Street and can be viewed from the outside during a walk through the city. Since its registration on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, it has been officially recognized and protected as a historic landmark.

The roof blends French design elements with the building's Gothic architecture in an unusual way that few visitors expect. Black brick patterns create a visual rhythm that stands apart from typical masonry work of the period.