Columbus Circle (Syracuse, NY)
Encyclopedia
Columbus Circle is a neighborhood and plaza in the downtown section of Syracuse, New York
. Columbus Monument was designed by the Syracuse-born architect, Dwight James Baum
in 1895. Columbus Circle is home to Syracuse's two cathedral
s, the Episcopalian
St. Paul's Cathedral and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
. As well as County Court House and the County's John H. Mulroy Civic Center
, home of the Onondaga County Government.
era homes. Columbus Circle was first known as Library Circle (1895) and later as St. Mary's Circle (1901). It was designed in 1895 by Dwight James Baum
and is located at Onondaga Avenue, East Jefferson Street and Montgomery Street in Syracuse, New York
.
The new features were added by laborers during the Depression
-era Works Progress Administration
(WPA) program and completed in May 1936. The new Columbus Park was dedicated soon after.
The statue, sculpted by Lorenzo Baldo, is surrounded by buildings designed by renowned architects such as Archimedes Russell
, Melvin King, James Randall and Michael O'Connor. The circle is listed in both the National Register and Local Preservation District.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. Columbus Monument was designed by the Syracuse-born architect, Dwight James Baum
Dwight James Baum
Dwight James Baum was an American architect most active in New York and in Sarasota, Florida.-Biography:Baum was born in Newville, New York and moved to Syracuse as a young man, eventually graduating from Syracuse University in 1909 with an architecture degree...
in 1895. Columbus Circle is home to Syracuse's two cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
s, the Episcopalian
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
St. Paul's Cathedral and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, New York is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.-History:The church was initially constructed in 1874 by Lawrence J. O’Connor and named Saint Mary's Church and became the first parish in Syracuse. Formerly under the Diocese of...
. As well as County Court House and the County's John H. Mulroy Civic Center
Oncenter
The Oncenter is a three-building convention and entertainment complex in Downtown Syracuse, New York, USA. It is composed of a convention center, sporting arena, and theaters.-Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter:...
, home of the Onondaga County Government.
History
The small park was originally a traffic circle surrounded by VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
era homes. Columbus Circle was first known as Library Circle (1895) and later as St. Mary's Circle (1901). It was designed in 1895 by Dwight James Baum
Dwight James Baum
Dwight James Baum was an American architect most active in New York and in Sarasota, Florida.-Biography:Baum was born in Newville, New York and moved to Syracuse as a young man, eventually graduating from Syracuse University in 1909 with an architecture degree...
and is located at Onondaga Avenue, East Jefferson Street and Montgomery Street in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Columbus statue
Over the years, many properties that bordered the circle were razed and a new courthouse and library were constructed. The traffic circle underwent several design changes, the most significant, in 1934, when the statue of Christopher Columbus and associated fountain were erected. At that time, the circle was paved over which closed the area to through traffic.The new features were added by laborers during the Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
-era Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
(WPA) program and completed in May 1936. The new Columbus Park was dedicated soon after.
The statue, sculpted by Lorenzo Baldo, is surrounded by buildings designed by renowned architects such as Archimedes Russell
Archimedes Russell
Archimedes Russell was an American architect most active in the Syracuse, New York area.Born in Andover, Massachusetts and trained under local architect Horatio Nelson White, Russell served as a professor of architecture at Syracuse University from 1873 through 1881.In the course of his career he...
, Melvin King, James Randall and Michael O'Connor. The circle is listed in both the National Register and Local Preservation District.
Recent years
Columbus Circle is host to many events including the annual Arts & Crafts Festival.External links
- Columbus Circle - City of Syracuse
- Onondaga County Courthouse
- Dwight James Baum