Historic Court House: Auburn, NY

Kirstie Donahue

Culminating Project

Work of Art

What I Noticed

What I Noticed Continued…

The Court House is Centrally Located in the City. (In relation to other important buildings)

It Appears Prestigious Next to Most Buildings on the Same Street.

There is a Veterans Memorial to the Right of the Building for Local Veterans of World War II.

Work of Art From the Past

Contextual Information

Located: 152 Genessee Street Auburn, NY Original Greek Revival Structure Designed by

John I. Hagaman. Constructed in 1836 for $30,000. In 1922 a Fire Destroyed Most of the Court

House and Caused the Original Dome to Drop Through the Building.

Court House is on the National and State Historic Registries‘ as well as the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Contextual Information Continued…

More About John I. Hagaman› Known for Being the First to Introduce the

Greek Revival Style to Auburn, NY› Between 1821-1843 Hagaman designed

several public, commercial, religious and residential buildings (including his own home) in the area.

› Ran a School for Architecture Link

› http://www.hgtv.com/video/greek-revival-video/index.html

Personal Connections

Grew-up Outside of Auburn, NY Continually Drawn to the Grand

Architecture of the Court House. It’s Unique Qualities Allow it to Stand Out Despite it’s Overall Simplicity.

Academic Connections› Linked to a Variety of Subjects

History, Art & Music, English/Writing, Mathematics

Possible Lines of Inquiry & Key Ideas

Lines of Inquiry

Line of Inquiry:› How does John I. Hagaman’s architecture

[represented in the Cayuga County Court House] use stately symmetry, heavy form, and simplistically bold details to reflect a self-portrait of society during the early to mid 19th Century in Upstate New York?

Activity Ideas History

› Research and Present on Greek Revival Architecture from the Early to Mid 19th Century.

Art/Music› Create Your Own Representation of Greek Revival.

Sculpture Drawing Painting Musical Representation

English/Writing› Create a Story Incorporating 19th Century Historical Aspects as well

as Greek Revival Architecture. Mathematics

› Research Mathematical Concepts that Pertain to Greek Revival Architecture (For Older Children).

› Counting Activity- Using Column and Details (For Younger Children).

Resources

Booth, E. (2001). The Everyday Work of Art: Awakening the Extraordinary in Your Daily Life. Lincoln Nebraska: iUniverse. [ISBN 0-595-19380-3].

http://www.livingplaces.com/NY/Cayuga_County/Auburn_City/South_Street_Area_Historic_District.html

https://www.nycourts.gov/publications/benchmarks/issue6/Courthouse.shtml

http://www.hgtv.com/video/greek-revival-video/index.html