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Central Synagogue
Photo: Jim.henderson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons · tap to enlarge
★ National Historic Landmark

Central Synagogue

Also known as Congregation Ahawath Chesed-Shaar Hashomayim

One of 273 National Historic Landmarks in New York116 of them in New York City, the highest tier of the National Register
Listed 1970New York City
DirectionsIts website ↗Add an old photo
About

About Central Synagogue

Central Synagogue, at 646-652 Lexington Ave., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Oct 9, 1970. It was named a National Historic Landmark on May 15, 1975, one of 273 in New York. The Register lists it for its architecture and religion, at the national level. Nine more Register listings are within a quarter mile.

What it isSynagogue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗

PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 28 MB · National Archives↗
Through the years

1872 to today

  1. 1872Built, designed by Henry Fernbach
  2. 1970Added to the National Register of Historic Places
  3. 1975Named a National Historic Landmark
  4. 2026On the Register for 56 years
Visit

Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 10 minutes

646-652 Lexington Ave., New York City · about 0.3 miles on foot, as the crow flies

DirectionsWalk the tour in Google Maps
  1. 1Central SynagogueStart here
  2. 2St. Peter's ChurchBuilt 1977 · next door
  3. 3Seagram BuildingModern · Built 1958 · 0.1 mi on
  4. 4Racquet and Tennis Club BuildingNeo-Italian Renaissance · next door
  5. 5Lever HouseBuilding · next door
Around it

28 more Register listings within half a mile

★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.

StSubstation 42Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements0.1 miSGreenacre ParkBuilt 19710.2 mi★St. Bartholomew's Church and Community HouseByzantine0.2 miBVillard HousesNeo-Italian Renaissance0.2 miBWilliam H. Moore HouseRenaissance Revival · Built 19000.2 miDSutton Place Historic DistrictAmerican Georgian Colonial0.3 mi★St. Patrick's CathedralGothic Revival · Built 18580.3 miBLook BuildingModern Movement · Built 19500.3 miBNew York Bible SocietyBuilt 18730.3 miBHouses at 647, 651-53 Fifth Avenue and 4 East 52nd StreetBeaux Arts Style0.3 miBHouses at 311 and 313 East 58th StreetBuilding0.3 miBSt. Thomas Church and Parish HouseFrench Gothic Revival · Built 19130.3 miBUniversity ClubItalian Renaissance0.3 miDResidences at 5-15 West 54th StreetLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals0.3 miDTurtle Bay Gardens Historic DistrictItalianate0.4 miBLescaze HouseItalianate · Built 19340.4 miBPublic School 35Romanesque Revival0.4 miBGeneral Electric BuildingModern Movement · Built 19310.4 mi
Show the other 10
★Rockefeller CenterBuilding0.4 miBWomen's National Republican ClubBuilt 19210.4 miDTreadwell Farm Historic DistrictLate Victorian0.4 miOSidewalk Clock at 783 5th Avenue, ManhattanObject0.4 mi★Plaza HotelFrench Renaissance0.4 miBBarbara Rutherford Hatch HouseSpanish Renaissance0.4 miBFred F. French BuildingModern Movement0.5 miBRadio City Music HallArt Deco · Built 19320.5 miDWest 67th Street Artists' Colony Historic DistrictGothic0.5 miBRoosevelt, Sara Delano, Memorial HouseGeorgian · Built 19070.5 mi
More like it

Other National Historic Landmarks nearby

The nearest Landmarks with a photo, within 25 miles, and the year each was named.

St. Bartholomew's Church and Community House0.2 mi away · 2016
St. Patrick's CathedralBuilt 1858 · 0.3 mi away · 1976
Rockefeller Center0.4 mi away · 1987
Plaza Hotel0.4 mi away · 1986

Memories of Central Synagogue

The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.

Town Square →
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Have an old photo of it?Add it · +10

Questions about Central Synagogue

Is Central Synagogue on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. It was added on Oct 9, 1970 (Register number 70000423).

Is Central Synagogue a National Historic Landmark?

Yes, since May 15, 1975. New York has 273 National Historic Landmarks, 116 of them in New York City.

Can you visit Central Synagogue?

It has its own website, the place to check whether and when it is open to visitors.

Where can I read the history of Central Synagogue?

In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 28 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.

Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 75319356 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.