Lincoln Auditorium, Central High School Programs Collection

Lincoln Auditorium is located in the Central High School building in Syracuse, New York. Central High School was built in 1903 at the intersection of South Warren and Adams Street, to replace the 1867 Syracuse High School facility. Central High was designed by architect Archimedes Russell. The school has many unique architectural features, including its U-shaped design. The auditorium is located in the interior of the U-shaped building and has seating and a stage. It was originally called Assembly Hall, but was rededicated in 1903 as Lincoln Hall. Several years later the auditorium was altered to improve the acoustics by sound expert W.C. Sabine. In 1907 Lincoln Hall was reopened, with Neo-Baroque panels of acoustical plaster. The auditorium’s arch was said to be one of the largest in the United States and was adorned with a gilded eagle. In 1928 Central High was remodeled by architect Albert L. Brockway. He enlarged the assembly room to create the Lincoln Auditorium. The 1875 seat Lincoln Auditorium was used by the students at Central High, and was also used by the Syracuse community. It became Syracuse’s cultural center. Artists such as George Gershwin, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Arthur Fiedler performed at Lincoln Auditorium. The Syracuse Symphony performed in this hall for many years until the Onondaga County Civic Center was built in the mid 1970s.

The high school operated under the name Syracuse Central High School from 1903 to 1960 and later as Syracuse Central Technical High School. In 1975, the high school officially closed after the graduation of the senior class. Even though the high school has been vacant since 1975, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981.