2025 House & Garden Tour: South of Park Avenue
The Landmark Society’s House and Garden Tour will be returning to the Park Avenue neighborhood, with several never-before-seen homes!
This year’s tour includes homes on Westminster Road, Park Avenue, and Rutgers Street. We will be showcasing various architectural styles, including an adorable Craftsman bungalow and a stunning Dutch Revival home. These houses have been lovingly maintained or restored, with plenty of remarkable original details. Come experience beautiful Rochester architecture while supporting The Landmark Society’s preservation mission! All tour proceeds support our work.
The Tour Neighborhood
Park Ave. is one of Rochester’s most popular neighborhoods, and for good reason. Lined with boutiques and restaurants, the Park Ave. neighborhood is one of the rare walkable communities in the city. The surrounding streets are known for their many unique, historic homes with large porches and lush gardens. In 2020, the Park Avenue Historic District was even placed on the National Register of Historic Places. We are excited to return to this neighborhood for the first time since that designation.
Park Avenue originally developed as three separate streets, which were annexed into the City of Rochester throughout the 1860s and 70s. This meant that when the street was finalized in 1874, it kept a distinctive, curving shape. Throughout the 1880s, horse-drawn streetcar lines were built along Park Avenue, and middle-class residential development increased alongside the nearby upper-class mansions constructed on East Avenue. Street names leading off of Park Ave. were chosen to craft a sophisticated image of the neighborhood; Westminster and Barrington evoke British nobility, while Rutgers, Cambridge, and Berkeley reference higher education. Today, the neighborhood still maintains much of its original early 20th century housing and stands out as a reflection of Rochester’s historic character.
How will it work?
- Tour tickets must be purchased in advance (no day of tour sales). Your ticket is good both days of the tour, with a limit of one visit to each site.
- Purchase your ticket online, and on the day of the tour bring your ticket receipt to Tour Headquarters to receive your map pass to the tour, required to enter the homes.
- Young children/babies will be refused entry to the private homes. Children over 12 years may attend if they can wear a mask properly, where requested. They must have their own full-price ticket.
- When you purchase your tickets, you will receive a confirmation email with directions on how to obtain your map pass (required to enter the houses) at the start of your tour day, as well as parking information. Be sure to check your spam folder so you don’t miss that important email!
- Prior to the tour dates you will receive a second email with a link to download the program, or you may simply read it online. You may also choose to pick up a print copy at Tour Headquarters.
- Tour Headquarters are located at School No. 23, 170 Barrington, only open on tour days from 9am-4pm
- This is a tour of private homes that may not be physically accessible, may require steps to enter, and may have narrow passageways. We regret that assistive devices such as walkers or wheelchairs are not permitted in the homes.
Questions?
Contact Emilia Del Vecchio or give us a call at 585-546-7029.
