Plum Street Temple
Reform synagogue in Cincinnati, Ohio. Built 1865 by James Keys Wilson. Added to the National Register in 1972, and a National Historic Landmark.




What it is
The Isaac M. Wise Temple, commonly called the Wise Temple, is an historic Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. The congregation's historic Plum Street temple was erected in honour of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, who was among the founders of Reform Judaism in the United States. The temple building was designed by prominent Cincinnati architect James Keys Wilson and its design was inspired by the Alhambra at Granada.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 8th and Plum Sts., Cincinnati, OH |
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | Dec 27, 1972 |
| Listed for | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Isaac M. Wise Temple; K.K. B'nai Yeshurun |
| Reference number | 72001021 |
| Built | 1865 · more from the 1860s |
| Architect | James Keys Wilson |
| Type of place | synagogue |
| Style | Moorish Revival architecture, Byzantine Revival architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, Local Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 8th and Plum Sts., Cincinnati, OH |
| Coordinates | 39.1038° N, 84.5180° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Cincinnati | 314 listed places in Cincinnati → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | William Howard Taft National Historic Site · 1 mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Overlook Shelter (Brookville Lake) 34 miles · Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake) 35 miles · Tailwater Shelter 2 (Brookville Lake) 35 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 2 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Hamilton County
Local history books for Cincinnati
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Ohio
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Plum Street Temple listed on the National Register?
Dec 27, 1972. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Plum Street Temple built?
1865, designed by James Keys Wilson, in the Moorish Revival architecture and Byzantine Revival architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Plum Street Temple?
Yes. Plum Street Temple is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Plum Street Temple?
8th and Plum Sts., Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. The nearest national park unit is William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 1 mile away.
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Plum Street Temple?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Plum Street Temple?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Plum Street Temple?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Overlook Shelter (Brookville Lake), 34 miles away. Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake) is 35 miles away, and Tailwater Shelter 2 (Brookville Lake) is 35 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Plum Street Temple?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 72001021. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.

