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Clinton Square

Syracuse, Italy

Clinton Square

Clinton Square is a public square in downtown Syracuse, New York, United States, that has served a gathering place since the earliest days of the city. The square was the original town center and first came into existence in the early 19th century as the crossroads of two major roadways. With the co

nstruction of the Erie Canal through the square in the 1820s, the intersection was further transformed. During the 19th century, the square was a marketplace and hosted various public events, including an 1870 public barbecue reportedly attended by 20,000 people. As a busy intersection, the square hosted several large hotels and other historic buildings. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument was dedicated in the square in 1911. In 1917 the Canal was closed and filled in. In the decades that followed, Clinton Square was redeveloped into a park that holds various annual festivals. Since the 1990s, the square has held an ice skating rink in the winter. A major 2001 redevelopment project saw a larger fountain implemented. Clinton Square is also the site of Syracuse's municipal Christmas tree and menorah during the holiday season. In the modern era, the square has hosted a number of festivals, beginning...

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