Discover Potsdam: Music and Architectural History

Potsdam invites you to discover music, architectural history and time by the water as different aspects of a trip. Exhibitions at the Potsdam Public Museum change regularly. The objects on display provide information about the history of Potsdam and its residents. The Crane School of Music offers a different focus: students, faculty and guest artists present more than 300 public performances each year. The specific program may vary from year to year.

Music and Changing Exhibitions

The Crane Chorus and the Crane Symphony Orchestra also perform at an annual concert in Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall. This gives Potsdam both changing museum exhibitions and recurring musical events. Those interested in music can make performances a focus when planning their trip; those who would rather explore local history will find a different perspective at the museum.

Buildings with Different Stories

Potsdam’s historic buildings reflect a range of architectural and historical influences. The Jonathan Wallace House is a Federal-style residence. It was built in 1828 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Old Main was the first building constructed to house classrooms for the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology. By contrast, the Jonathan Wallace House highlights residential architecture, while Old Main reflects the early use of the site for education.

St. Mary's Catholic Church combines the Gothic Revival style with roughly hewn sandstone; a rose window defines its façade. The Aaron Hopkins Shop is also a sandstone building, here with Italianate cornices. The building was formerly used as a tannery and leather shop. The Potsdam Water Works, in turn, is a Romanesque Revival-style building and part of the Market Street Historical District. Trinity Church on Fall Island was built as a replica of Trinity Church on Manhattan Island, located at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street.

These different architectural styles and former uses can be considered side by side, without assuming that all the buildings tell the same story. Visitors who want to explore the topic of sandstone further can find a walking tour of buildings in Potsdam in the Potsdam Public Museum’s material on Potsdam sandstone. This makes the building material itself a possible thread for exploring the city.

Trails and Water

The Munter Trail offers a different focus for a trip. It is wide and level, with a firm sand surface. The trail includes several viewpoints, picnic areas and a boat launch. Conditions and amenities may change; check conditions before your visit.

On the banks of the Raquette River, Clarkson University’s Potsdam campus has its own canoe launch. Water access may be seasonal. This gives trip planning a connection to the water as well as to historic and musical attractions. When planning, take into account that water access may be seasonal.

When looking for a vacation rental in Potsdam, it helps to first consider what kind of stay you have in mind: will music and architectural history be the main focus, or would you rather include trails and water in your trip? These interests can shape your trip planning without requiring you to assume an unsubstantiated proximity between individual attractions.

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