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Landmark Alerts

Sacred Sites Tour - Last chance to get tickets!

Only a handful of tickets are left for this weekend’s Sacred Sites tour, which includes an optional pre-tour lecture tomorrow, Wednesday May 17th.

On Sunday, May 21st ticketholders will be able to visit five of greater Rochester’s most iconic houses of worship.  We will explore religious architecture that spans over 150 years, from Gothic Revival edifices to contemporary landmarks by noted architects Louis Kahn and James Johnson. The five sites include The Church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene (Episcopal) on S. Fitzhugh Street, St. Michael’s Catholic Church on N. Clinton Avenue, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on East Avenue, First Unitarian Church on S. Winton Road, and Temple Sinai on Penfield Road. Participants will drive between each tour stop, following a provided schedule of presentations with the first one starting at 1 pm and and the last one concluding at 5 pm. A team of experts will provide commentary at each stop: Joseph Kelly, Professor of Religious Studies (Emeritus) at Nazareth College, Christopher Brandt, Preservation Architect, and Cynthia Howk, Landmark Society Architectural Research Coordinator (retired.)

The Sunday, May 21st tour is sure to sell out, so don’t wait until the last minute to get your tickets!
Learn more and get your tickets

Learn about Rochester's Architectural Rulemakers and Rulebreakers

Have you ever wondered about some of the back stories behind some of Rochester’s most famous buildings?  Sign up for one (or both!) of our Rochester’s Great Architects classes (“The Rulemakers” on May 18th and “The Rulebreakers” on June 1st) through Rochester Brainery. These indoor classes will be held at our office in historic Warner Castle, and will provide you with fun facts, great visuals, and a bit of historical gossip! They’re the perfect complement to our walking tours!
Register for upcoming classes

Volunteer Event on Monday, May 22nd

Join Landmark Society staff and volunteers on Monday May 22nd between 5pm and 7pm for an informal gathering at Warner Castle, and find out about all of the different volunteer opportunities with The Landmark Society. We’ll share about such diverse activities as the House and Garden Tour, garden volunteers, tour leaders, beer/architecture scavenger hunts and more.

Whether you have never volunteered with us, or if you volunteer at one activity and would like to learn about the others – we’d love to see you! Light refreshments and informal tours of the first floor of Warner Castle will be offered.

Come with your questions and your calendar – take away information, or even sign up on the spot!

Please RSVP to Cindy Boyer so we have enough nibbles for everyone (and can give you parking instructions) at cboyer@landmarksociety.org
Learn more

2023 House & Garden Tour tickets are on sale now!

The 2023 House & Garden Tour will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 10th and 11th.  We’re especially excited about this year’s event, which will provide exclusive access to a neighborhood that has never before opened its doors to a Landmark House & Garden tour: Brighton Browncroft. This picturesque neighborhood, located above Ellison Park, features distinctive lots on curvilinear roadways, a central triangular park, and a classically inspired bridge traversing a creek.

Ticket holders will be invited to tour six private homes, including fabulous mid-century modern homes by Olga Valvano and celebrated African American architect Thomas Boyde Jr., several early 20th century classic houses; along with two special gardens.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, on our website only. This year, your ticket is good for both days of the tour, with a limit of one visit to each site. Visit the link below to get yours!
More info and tickets

Landmark Travels - Summer trips!
Landmark Travels has an exciting summer schedule!  We have three great day trips:
  • Cazenovia and Skaneateles on Tuesday, June 27th. This trip sold out last summer, so we’ve brought it back for an encore!  We’ll begin the day in Cazenovia with a visit to the Stone Quarry Art Park and Hilltop House. Then we’ll enjoy lunch at Lincklaen and free time in adorable downtown Cazenovia.  We’ll make a stop at the 1828 Cazenovia Public Library and Museum and then head on to the Lorenzo State Historic Site before finishing in Skaneateles.  You’ll have time to shop before a delicious meal at the iconic Sherwood Inn.
  • All Wright, All Day on Tuesday, July 11th. We’ll spend a full day appreciating Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural genius; with visits to the Martin House complex in Buffalo and Greycliff overlooking Lake Erie.  As a special offer, those who participate in this tour will get priority access to purchase up to two tickets to the September 30th tour of Rochester’s own Frank Lloyd Wright building, the privately-owned Boynton House.
  • Perry and Pike on Friday, August 18th. We’ll discover the charming village of Perry and the strides they’ve taken in preservation.  After lunch, we’ll tour the Silver Lake Institute, a summer community of late 19th century cottages and historic buildings on the shore of Silver Lake. We’ll end the day with a late afternoon visit to the Wyoming County Fair on the Pike Fairgrounds, one of the last 19th century rural county fairgrounds remaining in New York State.
In addition to our summer day trips, we’ve also planned a three-day Savour Niagara trip from Saturday, August 12th to Monday, August, 14th.  Sip, Savour, and Stroll is the Shaw Guild’s signature event, which includes visits to two private gardens and an exclusive cocktail party.  The trip includes tickets to Gypsy and A Grant Night for Singing, with the option to add a third show. We’ll also visit several fabulous wineries, enjoy gourmet meals, and have plenty of time for shopping and relaxing!
If you’re itching for something more adventurous, don’t forget that we have our Gems of Eastern Europe cruise on the Eastern Danube in October! Join us for a 12-day trip (October 4-15, 2023) aboard a luxurious Emerald Cruises StarShip.  Visit five distinctive countries: Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania with expert guides and personal attention. Rates for the Gems of Eastern Europe tour start at $6,645 per person, depending on cabin selected. Reserve your spot with a deposit ASAP!  Free airfare through May 30th. 
More information

Ellwanger Garden Open Weekends

If you didn’t get a chance to visit Ellwanger Garden this past weekend, you have another chance this weekend! On Saturday May 20th and Sunday May 21st, Ellwanger Garden (625 Mt Hope Ave) will be open from 12-noon to 3pm. Look for signs directing to nearby off-site parking.  This perennial flower garden has been continuously cultivated since 1867, and boasts unusual plants that our volunteers and horticulture staff will be happy to point out! A $5 donation per person is appreciated to help maintain this historic landscape.

The garden will open again in early June (Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th) for our annual Peony and Rose weekend, where you can enjoy old fashioned roses and gorgeous peonies. Hope to see you in the garden!
More about Ellwanger Garden

Upcoming Events

May 20th and 21st: Ellwanger Open Garden Days (Lilac Festival weekends)

May 18th: Rochester Brainery Class: “Rochester’s Great Architects: The Rulemakers“

May 21st: Sacred Sites Tour

May 22nd: Volunteer Open House

May 23rd: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Maplewood’s Lake View Park” (SOLD OUT!)

June 1st: Rochester Brainery Class: “Rochester’s Great Architects: The Rulebreakers“

June 10th & 11th: 2023 House & Garden Tour (Saturday & Sunday) – Tickets on sale now!

June 14th: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Exploring the 19th Ward“

June 22nd: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Maplewood’s Seneca Parkway” (SOLD OUT!)

July 26th: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Exploring Corn Hill’s Architectural History“
Full Events Calendar

Thank you to our past event sponsors!

The Landmark Society of Western New York is supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature

The Landmark Society receives support from Monroe County through the Mid-Size Arts Organization Grant

5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620
PHONE: (585) 546-7029 x10 · FAX: (585) 546-4788

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