There are portions of the Pinnacle Range have been saved from exploitation of their resources.  Mount Hope Cemetery, Highland Park, and Cobb's Hill  are the preserved areas. Grading and landscaping has changed the natural surfaces, but the large features and general heights remain.

As long ago as 1895, there was an earnest effort for acquiring the range from Highland Park eastward to Brighton, but city funds were not available. An even more general movement to acquire the Pinnacle Range was made in the late autumn of 1909. Many city organizations participated in the effort. Several newspaper articles were written, and a short lived magazine, 'The Pinnacle' all championed the cause. It became evident that the case was hopeless, from the fact that the northwest slope and the summit of the hill were included in the St. Patrick's Cemetery, and most of the Pinnacle lay outside the limits of the city.

1838

• St. Patrick's Cemetery opens. It is a small Catholic cemetery for the city, on the hill's western slope.

• Pinnacle Hill is used by the Federal Government as a survey location during the primary triangulation of the Great Lakes.

• William Miller determines from mathematical calculations based on Bible dates that the world will end on Oct. 24, 1844. As early as 1831 he was gathering believers. Local 'Millerites' gave shelter to others who had given away all their possessions. Pinnacle Hill, being closest to heaven, was chosen as the best place to be, so a crowd gathered from miles around. All night long hymns, prayers, and hysteria poured from the crowd. The disillusioned Millerites went home the next morning to the jeers of their neighbors. Many stay loyal to Miller, and today form the Adventist Church.

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• Rochester Masons in Wells Lodge No. 2282, hold their last meeting before surrendering their charter, in secret, on Pinnacle Hill. Guards were placed to secure the site while Lodge records were buried.

• After 33 years St. Patrick's Cemetery is nearly full, and has no room to expand. Bishop McQuaid purchased 109 acres for a new cemetery, and urged that all Catholics move family members to the new Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. This was done, and the Pinnacle Hill site was abandoned.

• The Engineer Corps of the United States Army, occupies Pinnacle Hill as a survey station. Other stations were Baker's Hill, south of Fairport; the hill at Industry; and the highest point on the moraine at Brockport.The elevation of the hill was established as 748.7 feet above sea level. A 33 foot tall tower was erected on the summit to aid the surveyors.

The area between the Pinnacle and South Goodman Street was largely removed, and used for gravel. As the city expanded, the area was re-filled and graded, and is now a residential area.

• The United States Geological Survey set up their station on Pinnacle Hill. This survey provided information for the topographic map Rochester.

• On the invitation of the Engineering Department from the University of Rochester, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey sent a party which again reoccupied the Pinnacle station in establishing precise benches throughout the city.

• Bodies removed from St. Patrick's Cemetery to Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Southwest slope, showing the Schwalbach Gravel Pit 1895
Old Pinnacle Hill from Cobbs' Hill
Pinnacle Hill showing Rochester Orphan Asylum
Pinnacle Hill, From Cobb's Hill Reservoir 1922
St. Patrick's Cemetery
St. Patrick's Cemetery map