Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Building

Location

315 Clinton St, Binghamton, NY 13905, USA

Lat/Long

42.110030924997, -75.936574398831

Grant Recipient

Tri-Cities Opera Co., Inc.

This building was constructed in 1917 and became home to the Lithuanian National Association by 1918. Situated in the heart of Binghamton’s industrial center, it served as a cultural anchor for Lithuanian immigrants who had been arriving in the region since the late 19th century.

The hall was a vibrant hub for social and intellectual life, hosting plays, concerts, and community celebrations. It was also a center of political discourse, where rigorous debates regarding socialism and Lithuanian independence were held. Notable speakers including Serbian Army Captain and author Hadjin Dimietrievicz also spoke here.

Throughout the early 20th century, the Lithuanian Hall was a popular venue for mass meetings and international advocacy. In 1931, it served as a meeting place for the anti-war movement. The hall hosted a gathering of 2,000 residents who protested Polish and Hungarian annexation demands for Carpathian-Russian territory in 1938. Additionally, the building held a mass meeting, sponsored by the Committee for Restoring Lithuanian Independence, to thank the U.S. government for refusing to recognize the Soviet annexation of the Independent Republic of Lithuania.

In 1964, the building was sold to the Tri-Cities Opera Company. The company utilized the space for rehearsals and set construction, and they continue to own and operate it today, producing three full-scale operas per season alongside various educational programs.

In recognition of its deep social and historical significance, the hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.