Schiller Park

Historic Origins

Schiller Park is a small urban park located in downtown Rochester, New York, at the corner of Franklin Street and Andrews Street. Originally known as Franklin Square, the park was renamed in honor of Friedrich von Schiller, a renowned German poet and playwright.

The park's centerpiece is a bronze bust of Friedrich von Schiller atop a marble pedestal. This monument was commissioned by local German-American societies in the early 1900s and was initially installed in Anderson Park.

Cultural Heritage

Schiller Park serves as a reminder of Rochester's German-American heritage. The park's location was once at the heart of a thriving German-American community in the city.

Today, it provides a small green space within the urban landscape of downtown Rochester, offering passersby a place for brief respite and reflection.

Evolution Through Time

The park's history reflects the changing urban landscape of Rochester over the decades. When Anderson Park was largely destroyed during the construction of the Inner Loop in the 1960s, the Schiller monument was relocated to its current location.

What remains of Schiller Park is considerably smaller than the original Franklin Square, as much of the former park area was lost to road construction and urban development. Despite its reduced size, the park continues to serve as a unique historical landmark in downtown Rochester.