I’d been wanting to get down to Rochester, New York for a while to get this video done for the YouTube Channel. After all, the city is just a little more than an hour out of Niagara Falls and we’re there quite often.
Finally, I was able to get there in August, 2019. It would be the first stop on a multi-city weekend tour of the northeast United States. However, getting the video did come with its challenges.
First, traffic was not the greatest on the Ontario side of things. Second, the border crossing was extremely painful, taking over an hour to cross the Peace Bridge. Third, the storms that caused the delays at customs put me in a holding pattern after arriving in downtown Rochester. Fourth, the daylight hours were running out fast while I waited for the rain to stop.
But, everything aligned at the last minute and I got the video in. In fact, the lighting and wet surfaces seem to make for a better video than I was expecting.
Before the landmark descriptions and the actual video, we have an image gallery. The photos were taken in and around downtown. The quality was not the best and I was not able to get out and really set up for photography.
Rochester, New York Driving Tour Video
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Rochester, New York Image Gallery
For full-size versions of any of the photos in the gallery, simply click on the individual pictures.
6 Downtown Rochester, New York Landmarks
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of landmarks to be found in the downtown core. In fact, the area is full of unique and historic structures. I’m certainly planning to return for a more in depth look and a chance to do some serious photography.
With each, we give the time in the video where the landmark is first seen. Along with that, some info as to why each is a must-see.
Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial
First seen in the video at 8:38 on the left (seen again towards the end).
As a hockey fan, this was a highlight of the driving tour. The Blue Cross Arena was opened in 1955 as the Rochester Civic Center Arena. It has housed the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans since the 1956-57 AHL season. The Amerks have won six Calder Cup championships as tenants of the building.
But, the first pro sports team to move in did not require ice. The NBA’s Rochester Royals played in the venue for the 1955-56 and 1956-57 seasons before moving to Cincinnati. The franchise is now known as the Sacramento Kings. The Kings have been in California since 1985-86.
The arena was renovated in 1998. For hockey, there is seating for 12,428 fans. The Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League also play out of the Blue Cross Arena.
The Metropolitan
First seen in the video at 4:13 on the right.
Just the third tallest skyscraper in town, so why is it included here? The Metropolitan simply has some unique architecture. The 27 story building flares outward at the bottom.
The Metropolitan was completed in 1973 with renovations in 1987 and 2015. The building stands 392 feet in height.
Kodak Tower
First seen in the video at 15:50 on the left.
A bit of a loner, the Kodak Tower is located to the north of the main downtown core. The skyscraper was completed in 1914 and is owned by the Eastman Kodak Company.
The tower is 340 feet in height at the roof. The spire, which was added in the late 1920’s, puts the height up to 360 feet. There are 19 floors.
Times Square Building
First seen in the video at 8:50
This historic Art Deco skyscraper is unique and looks like it should be in a super hero movie. At the top, the ‘Wings of Progress’ rise towards the sky.
This building opened in 1930 as the Genesee Valley Trust Building. Standing 260 feet in height, there are 14 floors of office space. The current main tenant is the Citizens Bank.
Powers Building
Seen at 18:25 on the right (corner of State and Main).
This building was first opened in 1869. The Triple Mansard roof and observation tower were added between 1873 and 1888. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Xerox Tower
Seen first in the video at 3:52 on the right.
The tallest skyscraper in Rochester at 443 feet and 30 floors. The Xerox Tower was opened in 1968 and was initially the headquarters of the Xerox Corporation.
