Can You Name the Oldest Buildings in the U.S.?

San Miguel Chapel in New Mexico is the oldest church in the continental United States. Though written records are scarce, oral tradition suggests that the chapel was built in the early 17th century by Tlaxcalan Indians in conjunction with Spanish Franciscan friars. Parts of its original adobe walls still stand more than 400 years after construction.

Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, has been open every summer since 1846, making it the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the U.S. Its first attraction was a scientist who entertained crowds by performing flashy experiments involving explosives. The park now has 50 rides and is the largest water park in the state.

The Palace of the Governors is the oldest public building constructed by European settlers that is still in use today. The Spanish built it in 1610 for colonial administration. Over the years, it has served a variety of functions as control of the New Mexico territory passed from Spain to Mexico to America. Today, the building is home to the New Mexico History Museum.

Located in Philadelphia's Centennial District, the Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in the United States. It was originally chartered in 1859, but its opening was delayed by the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. It finally opened in 1874 with an admission fee of 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. A lifetime pass could be purchased for a one-time payment of $50.

While Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S., the oldest building at any college in the country is located at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Wren Building was built in 1700 and originally contained living quarters for students and faculty, classrooms, a kitchen, and a library. Its classrooms are still in use today.

The Redwood Library and Atheneum in Newport, Rhode Island, is America’s oldest purpose-built library. Constructed in 1747, the library was founded by a Newport literary society led by Irish philosopher George Berkeley. The building houses more than 200,000 books, many of which have been there since the 18th and 19th centuries.

In 1793, Kodiak, Alaska, was established as the first Russian settlement in North America. In 1808, a Russian trading company constructed the Russian American Magazin, a storage facility that remains the oldest building in Alaska. Today, it serves as the home of the Kodiak History Museum.

South Carolina’s Charleston Museum, also known as America’s First Museum, was founded in 1773, inspired by the creation of the British Museum in 1759. The museum is dedicated to the South Carolina Lowcountry region, and features a prominent collection of ethnological and zoological specimens that Harvard scientist Louis Agassiz described as among the finest in America.

The Walnut Street Theatre continues to host live performances after originally opening its doors in 1809. President Thomas Jefferson was among the many in attendance on the opening night of its first production, “The Rivals.” It was the first American theater to install gas footlights as well as air conditioning. The tradition of the curtain call also began at the Walnut Street Theatre.

The native Tiwa people have lived in the Taos Pueblo community since long before America was founded, as the adobe buildings are estimated to have been constructed between 1000 and 1450 CE. Approximately 150 people currently live in the structures, which are located at an elevation of 7,200 feet on land spanning nearly 100,000 acres.

Dating back to 1772, the Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol still in use today. It also served as the first peacetime capital of the U.S. — making it the only statehouse to have once served as the nation’s capital. The Continental Congress met in the Old Senate chamber from 1783 to 1784, a period during which the Treaty of Paris was ratified, formally recognizing American independence.

Puerto Rico’s Catedral de San Juan Bautista holds the distinction of being the oldest church on U.S. soil and the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere. The building’s history stems back to 1521, during the initial Spanish colonization of the island, though the original structure was destroyed by a hurricane and replaced in 1540 with the building that stands today.

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the White Horse Tavern opened in 1673 and is both the oldest operating restaurant in America and 10th-oldest worldwide. The building was constructed as a private residence in 1652 and converted into a tavern 21 years later. It also served as a meetinghouse for the colony’s general assembly, criminal court, and city council. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark.

German immigrant David G. Yuengling founded America’s first brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1829. The brewery was originally known as Eagle Brewery but changed its name to Yuengling in 1873 (though an eagle still appears on its label). During Prohibition, the brewery produced Juvo, a non-intoxicating cereal beverage. In 1976, the landmark was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1821, Christian missionaries in Hawaii constructed Ka Hale La'au in Honolulu, and today, the building is the oldest surviving wooden building in the state. The house was built out of precut timber from Boston, which was shipped around Cape Horn to reach the island of Oahu.

Maryland’s College Park Airport is the oldest in the U.S. It was built in 1907 as a training facility for the first generation of American fighter pilots. The Army commissioned the Wright brothers to build the first aircraft for the facility, and hired Wilbur Wright to provide flight instruction to the fledgling pilots.

Originally called New College, Harvard University was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1636. A year later, the university purchased a house on College Yard, which became the heart of modern-day Harvard Yard. The school was renamed after its first benefactor, John Harvard, in 1639 and hosted its first commencement in 1642, with a graduating class of just nine students.

The Home Insurance Building, nicknamed “Father of the Skyscraper,” was built in Chicago from 1884 to 1885, though it was sadly demolished in 1931. Designed by architect William LeBaron Jenney, the building reached 10 stories and 138 feet tall. The structure featured a steel frame and brick exterior, which spawned a style called the “Chicago Skeleton,” paving the way for a new era of skyscrapers.

Boston’s Fenway Park opened in 1912 with seating for 35,000 fans. Designed by architect James McLaughlin, it cost $650,000 to construct (roughly $19 million in 2022 dollars). The stadium is known for its 37-foot-high left field outfield wall, colloquially known as “the Green Monster.” Fenway was added to the National Register of Historic Places to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012.