Wilder Building

The Wilder Building is an eleven-story office structure faced with red brick and designed in the Romanesque Revival style, located in downtown Rochester. The facade displays the characteristic rounded archways and detailed stonework that define this architectural approach.

The building was constructed between 1887 and 1888 by architect Andrew Jackson Warner and stands as one of Rochester's first modern tall buildings. Its construction marked a turning point in how the city developed, as new structural methods made higher construction possible.

The building shows how Rochester looked to larger American cities for architectural inspiration during the late 1800s. You can see in the facade how local craftsmen adapted this national style to their own construction traditions.

The building sits centrally on East Main Street and continues to serve as office space for businesses today. You can view it from the street as a landmark, though the interior is not open to the public.

The building contains a mail chute installed during its construction in 1887, the oldest surviving example in the United States. This feature shows how early builders added innovative technology to tall structures to make daily work easier.

Location: Rochester

Architects: Andrew Jackson Warner

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.15530,-77.61220

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:10