What to See in Geneva - Top Sights and Attractions

Hotel in Ontario County, New York. Belhurst Castle is a former private residence on the shores of Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York. It was designed by architects Fuller & Wheeler and built between 1885 and 1889. The three-story, nine bay wide Romanesque Revival style mansion is constructed of Medina sandstone. It has a slate gable roof, one-story solarium, and four rectangular stone chimneys. It features projecting porches, bays, towers with conical and pyramidal roofs, eyebrow windows, and a porte cochere with Syrian arch.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Supplemented by modern facilities, Belhurst Castle has been adapted for hotel and retail uses. It holds a hotel with three choices of lodging (Vinifera Inn, Chambers in the Castle, and White Springs Manor); two ballrooms to host weddings, two restaurants (Edgar's Restaurant and Stonecutters); spa, and a winery.

Belhurst Castle has previously been used as a speakeasy during Prohibition, casino, and supper club. Edgar's restaurant is a formal dining restaurant (but it does not enforce a dress code); it is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Stonecutters is more eclectic and a more relaxing atmosphere.^[2]

Church in Geneva, New York. The original St. Peter's began as an Episcopal mission established in 1853. Bishop William H. DeLancey appointed Dr. James Rankine, who conducted services in a small wooden chapel in 1861. He served as first rector of the new St. Peter's church from 1861-1896 and also served as the president of Hobart from 1869 to 1871. Another president of Hobart, Dr. Maunsell Van Rensselaer also served as an early rector of St. Peter's Church.

The cornerstone of the current large gothic structure, designed by the noted American architect Richard Upjohn was laid in 1868 and the church construction completed in 1870, when it was consecrated as a memorial to Bishop DeLancey, where his remains are interred. A large bell tower was added in 1878. Most recently, in 1986, the church underwent a complete restoration and the St. Peter's Community Arts Academy was established.

From the Parish Records—Rectors of St. Peter's Church

• The Reverend James Rankine, 1861 - 1896
• The Reverend Maunsell VanRensselaer 1870 - 1871
• The Reverend John Brewster Hubbs 1897 - 1914
• The Reverend Kenneth Bray 1914 - 1924
• The Reverend Ross R. Calvin 1925 - 1926
• The Reverend Herbert Hawkins 1926 - 1928
• The Reverend Howard Hassinger 1928 - 1944
• The Reverend Norman Remmel 1944 - 1972
• The Reverend Smith Lain 1972 - 1980
• The Reverend James H. Adams 1981–present

Opera house in Geneva, New York. Smith Opera House, also known as the Geneva Theater, the Smith, and Smith's Opera House, is a historic theater building located at Geneva in Ontario County, New York. It was constructed in 1894 and is a 3+1⁄2-story, detached brick-and-stone building. It was built by one of Geneva's most respected citizens, William Smith. It was renovated in 1931 as a movie theater by architect Victor Rigaumount in a unique combination of Art Deco and Baroque motifs. At one time, it was part of the Schine Theater Chain and was substantially redecorated and redesigned under their ownership. In the late 1960s the theater changed to the ownership of Panther Enterprises and was renamed simply The Geneva Theater. The Geneva Theatre was renamed Smith Opera House in 1983.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is located in the Geneva Commercial Historic District.^[4]

Geneva Downtown Commercial Historic District is a national historic district located at Geneva, Ontario County, New York. It encompasses 83 contributing buildings in the central business district of Geneva. They were built between about 1840 and 1940, and include notable examples of Greek Revival, Italianate, Romanesque Revival, Colonial Revival, and Art Deco style commercial architecture. Located in the district are the separately listed Farmers and Merchants Bank, Smith's Opera House, and United States Post Office. Other notable buildings include the Prouty Block, YMCA, Wheat Building, Guard Building, Geneva City Hall, Odd Fellows Building, and Kresge Building.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.^[5]

Heritage building in Geneva, New York. The Durfee House is a historic building that now serves as student housing for Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. It was originally built downtown as a land speculator's office during the nascence of European takeover of Native American territory in the region. Dated to 1787, it is the oldest known extant structure in Geneva and the surrounding area; however, the building was moved to its present location at 639 South Main Street in 1838 and expanded at least once in its history, in the late 1790s and/or in the 1840s. This hinders its historical landmark eligibility, despite the fact that it is considered to be one of the oldest extant frame buildings west of Rome, New York. Owned by Hobart College since 1840, the building is named for mathematician and dean William Pitt Durfee.^[6]

Post office in Geneva, New York. US Post Office—Geneva is a historic post office building located at Geneva in Ontario County, New York. It is a symmetrically massed one story structure faced with red brick and trimmed in limestone. It was constructed in 1905-1906 and is the first post office constructed in New York state in the Colonial Revival style. It is one of 13 post offices in New York State designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department under James Knox Taylor. The entrance portico features four Doric columns supporting a full Doric entablature and pediment with an oculus in its tympanum. The interior features a mural titled "The Vineyard" by Peter Blume and installed in 1942.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It is located in the Geneva Commercial Historic District.^[8]