CENTER CITY SIGHTS
Capitol District
8. KUNKEL MEMORIAL PLAZA - Riverfront Park at State Street.
Classically styled plaza with river overlook, benches, gardens, trees and sculpture punctuating the vista of the Capitol looking up State Street. Commemorates the Kunkel Family’s role in Harrisburg, from Christian Kunkel I, city mayor in 1796, to present day. Named for late U.S. Rep. John Crain Kunkel and his late wife Kitty. Erected in 1991.
9. LOCUST COURT BUILDING - 212 Locust Street.
Built in 1975 and features a glass-sheathed atrium lobby, which rises to the full height of the building. Elevator shafts are glass allowing for interesting ascents and descents. Fashionable ground floor restaurant and lounge with decked outdoor cafe.
10. NURICK BUILDING - N. Front and Pine Streets.
Sharply appointed Front Street office address built in 1966. Recently renovated into state-of-the-art suites. Building materials and architectural design are a credit to Front Street character’s and resulting river views.
11. OLD WATERWORKS - N. Front and North Streets.
Stone portion dates to 1841. At one time, city’s principal facility which pumped water from the old City Island filtration plant to the original reservoir on North Street and later to Reservoir Park. Expanded in 1904. Now converted to prestigious office space. Superb restoration compliments unique river setting.
12. PAYNE-SHOEMAKER BUILDING - N. Third and Pine Streets.
Art deco styled, 1929 office building affording a panoramic view of the downtown and Capitol. Restored in the late 1980’s. Design is reflective of the building boom of the late 1920’s. Note distinctive rooftop cupola.
13. PENN STATE DOWNTOWN CENTER - 243 N. Third Street.
Originally served as a men’s clothing store designed in the Tudor Revival style c. 1930. Now serves as the first permanent presence of the Pennsylvania State University in the city. Offers graduate level instruction and governmental study. Also provides research and issue analysis.
14. PINE STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - 300 N. Third Street.
Designed in the English Gothic style in 1859 and a remembered part of the cityscape for Union soldiers encamped in Capitol Park across the street. Building further enhanced in 1926 when the roof was raised, creating a striking clerestory space. Vast sanctuary features richly carved woodwork, exposed beams and rafters, beautifully executed stained glass windows and fine acoustics.
15. SOUTH STREET - 100 Block - between N. Front & N. 2nd Streets.
Birthplace of Harrisburg’s “back to the city” residential revival in the early 1970’s. Charmingly restored private dwellings dating from 1810 to 1910. Ironically, northern boundary of the original 1785 Borough of Harrisburg.
16. ST. MICHAELS LUTHERAN CHURCH - 118 State Street.
Original congregation offered services in the German language. Characteristically Central Pennsylvania in ethnic heritage. Completed in 1906. Part of the fine row of church buildings on the northside of State Street.
17. ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL - 212 State Street.
Roman Catholic seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg built 1904-07. Italian Renaissance in style capped with a classically influenced dome. Finely crafted, ornate sanctuary rises to the dome’s rotunda. Edifice distinguishes State Street and its relationship to the Capitol.
* Individually Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
