Discover 7 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Fairport (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Fairport Lift Bridge, First Baptist Church of Fairport, and Fairport Public Library. Also, be sure to include Egypt Park in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Fairport (New York).
Table of Contents
Fairport Lift Bridge
Truss bridge in Fairport, New York. The Fairport Lift Bridge is a through-truss mechanical lift bridge that carries NY Route 250 over the Erie Canal in downtown Fairport, New York, United States. It was constructed in 1913-1914 by the Lackawanna Bridge Company of Buffalo, New York and contracted by H.S. Kerbaugh, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, replacing an 80 ft fixed bridge built in 1886 which was removed when the Erie Canal was widened. The Fairport Lift Bridge officially opened to automobile traffic on August 15, 1914. Originally having a wooden deck made of yellow pine, the bridge floor was replaced with steel grating in later years. It is one of sixteen vertical lift bridges located along the western portion of the Erie Canal between Fairport and Lockport.
The 139 ft (42 m) bridge is of unique design, being a decagonal style structure with no two angles the same throughout and no square corners on the bridge floor. It also crosses the canal at a 32-degree angle with the southern side being on the higher end. Powered by 40-horsepower electric motors, the bridge has a vertical lift of 10.6 ft (3.2 m). The structure is entirely raised straight up on four corner posts despite the bridge floor having a 4% grade. Over an average water level on the Erie Canal, approximate clearances below the bridge are 6 ft (2 m) when lowered and 16 ft (5 m) when raised. The control building is located on the southeast side of the bridge.
Due to increased traffic usage and need of significant repairs, the Fairport Lift Bridge was threatened to be replaced in the 1970s with a new concrete bridge spanning both the railroad tracks and canal. A decision was eventually made to replace the bridge at nearby Turk Hill Road instead to ease congestion and keep the historic lift bridge in place on Main Street.
Because of its unusual appearance, the Fairport Lift Bridge was apparently listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not! On September 4, 2019, the New York State Department of Transportation closed the Fairport Lift Bridge for general maintenance and rehabilitation. It was re-opened on June 25, 2021. The bridge was previously refurbished in 1988, although some repair work was also done in 2013.
As part of the New York State Barge Canal system, the Fairport Lift Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 2014.[1]
Address: Main Street, 14450 Fairport
First Baptist Church of Fairport
Church in Fairport, New York. The First Baptist Church of Fairport is a historic Baptist church located at 94 South Main Street at Church Street in Fairport, Monroe County, New York. It was built in 1876, and is a 2+1⁄2-story, cruciform plan, High Victorian Gothic church. It is constructed of brick and rests on a Medina sandstone foundation. It has a large square corner tower topped by a tall narrow spire. It features ornamental stone trim, a steeply pitched gray slate roof, and 72 original stained, leaded glass windows. In 2006 a national drugstore tried to buy the land but, in response to adverse local reactions including a concert held by local youth musicians, money was raised to help repair the church instead.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[2]
Address: 26 Fairport Village Landing, 14450-1802 Fairport
Fairport Public Library
Gift shop, Shopping, Library
Address: 18 Perrin St, 14450-2122 Fairport
Egypt Park
Playground, Park, Relax in park
Address: 7 Victor Rd, 14450-9582 Fairport
Henry DeLand House
The Henry DeLand House also known as the Green Lantern Inn was built from 1874 to 1876 in the village of Fairport, New York as a home for Henry Addison DeLand. DeLand was a member of an influential local family and was a baking soda manufacturer. It is located at 1 East Church Street, at the intersection of South Main street.[3]
Wilbur House
Wilbur House is a historic home located on Main Street in Fairport in Monroe County, New York. It is a Second Empire–style structure built about 1873 that features a two-bay, 2-story tower that projects from the northeast corner of the 1+1⁄2-story front section. The tower, as well as the rest of the front section, is covered by a decorative fish scale and octagonal slate mansard roof. Also on the property is a contributing carriage house.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Hiram P. Wilbur was the superintendent (some say the first such) of the westernmost section of the Erie Canal, and also the postmaster for the town of Perinton. The home he built in 1873 later served as a boarding school before reverting to a private residence. The house is currently 3,792 square feet (352.3 m2) with five bedrooms. Many of the historic details have been retained, including speaking tubes for intra-house communication.[4]
Perinton Park
Playground, Tennis court, Park, Relax in park
Address: Fairport Rd, 14450 Fairport