77 Cornell St, Kingston, NY 12401

In February 1917, F. Jacobson & Sons opened the doors to their newest factory building. Located at 77 Cornell Street in Kingston, New York, The Shirt Factory was the largest factory in the State. The four-story building originally manufactured shirts and featured what was considered a state-of-the-art sprinkler and fire safety system, as well as space for an employee cafeteria and dance hall. Over the years, many different industries have called The Shirt Factory home. Today, this historic building is a cornerstone of Kingston’s Midtown Arts District (MAD) and a hub for ceramicists, filmmakers, textile artists, and musicians.

Today, 63 artist studio spaces make up the 65,000 square feet of The Shirt Factory. Walking the long hallways and riding the original 2.5 ton freight elevator, anyone visiting the building can imagine what it must have been like to be one of the 1920s factory workers. Original brick and hardwood floors adorn each art studio. And planned renovations to the community spaces, such as the lobby and community garden, aim to inspire the already vibrant artistic spirit found at The Shirt Factory, solidifying the building’s reputation as an anchor of the Kingston Midtown Arts District community.