Schenectady in Schenectady County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Nott Memorial

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 17, 2008

1. Nott Memorial National Historic Landmark

Inscription.
Nott Memorial has been designated a National Historic Landmark. This site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.
1986 - National Park Service - United States Department of the Interior.

Erected 1986 by Union College.

Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1986.

Location. 42° 49.02′ N, 73° 55.74′ W. Marker is in Schenectady, New York, in Schenectady County. It can be reached from South Lane near Library Lane. Located at the center of the Union College campus. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Schenectady NY 12308, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the

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Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Walnut Grove (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Howard Payne (approx. 0.2 miles away); Union College (approx. ¼ mile away); Mother Of Fraternities (approx. ¼ mile away); Whipple Bowstring Truss (approx. ¼ mile away); Second Ward Second World War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nott Terrace High School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nott Memorial at Union College (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Schenectady.

More about this marker. The Nott Memorial Hall was listed In The National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1972.

Nott Memorial was Designated a National Historic Landmark on June 24, 1986.
Statement of Significance: "Completed in 1876, this is representative of the High Victorian Gothic Style which was made popular from the early 1860s until the 1870s by the writings of English critic John Ruskin (1819-1900) . With an open interior, it is essentially a stone cylinder supporting

Nott Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 17, 2008

2. Nott Memorial Marker

The Marker is to the right of the entrance.

a cast-iron drum and dome between 94 and 100 feet in diameter. It was to be the focal point of the unrealized plan of Union College, founded in 1795, one of the oldest "planned" schools in the nation. It has served as a museum and a library."

Regarding Nott Memorial. One of America's most dramatic Victorian buildings, the Nott Memorial is an elaborate 16-sided stone-masonry building which serves as both architectural and physical centerpiece of the Union College campus in Schenectady, New York.

The building is dedicated to Eliphalet Nott (1773-1866), who was the president of Union College for sixty-two years. A Presbyterian minister, Nott was also an inventor and a major leader of American education. His many innovations include patents for anthracite coal-burning stoves and furnaces, and the introduction of scientific and engineering curricula at a liberal arts college.

The building was conceived by Nott in consultation with the French architect Joseph Jacques Ramee. Nott envisioned the central building as an Alumni Hall or Graduates’ Hall. The Nott Memorial was designed by architect Edward Tuckerman Potter, the grandson of

Nott Memorial at Night image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, June 27, 2006

3. Nott Memorial at Night

President Nott and a Union College graduate (1864). It is a stone cylinder 89 feet in diameter, supporting a cast iron and steel hip roof and capped by a ribbed dome. The interior framework of the building is a cast iron and steel skeleton. The central space rises 102 feet to the apex of the dome. The exterior wall combines dark Schenectady bluestone with lighter Ohio sandstone. Columns of red and gray Aberdeen granite stand before the mullion of the window on the main floor. The dome and hip roof are covered in three colors of Vermont slate. Decorating each of the sixteen sections of the dome are small and large six-pointed star or "healpha," so named by the architect. Girding the lower portion of the dome is a band of red slate bearing a modified inscription from the Talmlud. Translated from the Hebrew it reads: "The day is short, the work is great, the reward is much, the Master is urgent."

Construction of the Alumni or Graduates’ Hall, the early name for the Nott Memorial, began in 1858. Construction was officially completed in 1879, 21 years later. In 1902 Andrew Carnegie pledges $40,000 to renovate the building. In 1904, on the

The Nott Memorial Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 17, 2008

4. The Nott Memorial Building

Centennial of Eliphalet Nott's inauguration as Union College President, the College dedicated the build in his honor. For nearly sixty years the building was the College Library. Begun in 1993, a major restoration and renovation of the Nott Memorial was completed at a cost of $11 million (with nearly 1,800 donors) for Bicentennial celebration of the College's founding held on February, 25 of 1995.

Union College alumni commissioned a large portrait of Eliphalet Nott by Henry Inman in 1839.

Today the Nott Memorial is used for lectures, conferences and other college events. Also galley space is used for presenting art, science, and history exhibitions. The third floor is an informal gathering and study space for students.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. : The Nott Memorial at Union College

Additional keywords. Schenectady, Union College, Eliphalet Nott Memorial, Andrew Carnegie

Eliphalet Nott Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 21, 2008

5. Eliphalet Nott Plaque

Located just inside the main entranceway:
This building stands as a memorial of Eliphalet Nott, presdient of Union College from 1804 to 1866. One of America's greatest educators. A man of genius, of persuasive eloquence and of rare personal power. Through the efforts of his grandson Eliphalet Nott Potter, president of Union College from 1871 to 1884, this enduring memorial became possible. The final adaptation of the building to the purposes of a library is due to the generous gift of Andrew Carnegie.

Eliphalet Nott image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 21, 2008

6. Eliphalet Nott

Union College alumni commissioned a large portrait of Eliphalet Nott by Henry Inman in 1839. This painting is installed on the ground floor of the Nott Memorial.

Nott Memorial Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, January 23, 2008

7. Nott Memorial Interior

Nott Memorial Dome Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, January 23, 2008

8. Nott Memorial Dome Interior

The dome is set with 709 small colored glass windows called "illuminators", each about the size of a silver dollar, and arranged in complex decorative pattern.

Nott Memorial image. Click for full size.

Collection of Joe Connor

9. Nott Memorial

This old hand colored photo post card shows the Nott Memorial and the Washburn Hall on the Union College campus. Washburn Hall was torn down in the 1960s.

Nott Memorial at Dawn with Moon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, January 24, 2008

10. Nott Memorial at Dawn with Moon

Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 2,509 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on October 17, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.