Finger Lakes, New York State Attractions
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According to Iroquois legend, the long, narrow lakes in the landscape west of Syracuse were formed by the impression of the fingers of the Great Spirit. This is an area, which can be discovered on the Cayuga Trail, the Seneca Lake Trail and the Keuka Trail. In Ithaca is the youngest of the "Ivy League" universities, Cornell University with is Art Museum and Planetarium, and in Seneca Falls the American feminist movement came into being in 1848, as documented by the National Women's Hall of Fame. Rochester, home of Kodak, has an excellent Museum of Photography and in Corning the Museum of Glass has an outstanding glass collection. For recreation there is the Watkins Glen State Park, where the peace is not even disturbed by the sound of engines on the famous race trace.
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Genesee Country Village & Museum, Mumford, New York
Genesee Country Village and Museum is a living history museum with a collection of 68 structures that were moved from their original sites, restored and furnished. Costumed villagers perform activities that offer a glimpse into village life from 1797 to 1870. The John L. Wehle Gallery of Art has over 700 works on display.The Genesee Country Nature Center is open year-round with interpretive trails and tours of the grounds. Visitors will discover the natural history of Western New York.
Corning, New York
Corning is recognized the world over for the glass products that are manufactured here. The main commercial district has been restored to its appearance in the late 19th century. The Spence Crest Nature Center is situated on 200 acres of wooded grounds and features nature trails and displays. Hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing and snow shoeing opportunities are available.
Corning Museum of Glass
The Corning Museum of Glass has the largest glass collection in the world, featuring 45,000 objects, that span over 3,500 years. Daily glass blowing demonstrations occur at the Hot Glass Show and there is opportunity for visitors to create their own glass souvenirs.
Rockwell Museum
The Rockwell Museum is housed in a Romanesque revival brick building. It has various collections including Western paintings and sculptures, 2,000 examples of Steuben glass, antique toys and firearms. An interactive art room for children is available.
Painted Post Historical Society Museum Complex
The Painted Post Museum Complex is a collection of restored buildings that represent Corning's history. The buildings include a cabin, blacksmith shop, barn and schoolhouse - all furnished in 19th century furniture.
West End Gallery
Original oils and watercolors by regional artists are on display, with exhibits changing every 6 to 8 weeks.
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Horseheads, New York
Horseheads gained its name from the horses that were destroyed, upon collapsing on the return journey to Pennsylvania, after the battle with the Six Nations of the Iroquois. The over 300 sun-bleached skulls were all that greeted the European settlers that arrived in 1789. The Historical Society Museum houses local artifacts and work by 20th century political cartoonist Eugene "Zim" Zimmerman.
Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (formerly National Warplane Museum)
Wings of Eagles Discovery Center presents aviation history from 1919 to present through the museum exhibits. Transport, sea, fighter, and scout planes as well as memorabilia and model airplanes are on display.
Science & Discovery Center
The Science & Discovery Center in Horseheads features hands-on exhibits to educate visitors about science and technology.
Salt Museum, Liverpool, New York
The Salt Museum presents the Onondaga salt industry during the 19th century when Syracuse earned the name "Salt City". It was America's leading salt manufacturing community. Exhibits include the full scale reconstruction of an 1856 boiling block, a "sights and sounds" tour of a 19th century salt worker's neighborhood, and re-created craft shops.
Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville, New York
Beaver Lake Nature Center can be explored through nine miles of trails and boardwalks in forests, meadows and wetlands. The 600 acre park offers canoeing, swimming and other opportunities for the outdoors. The diverse habitats are home to more than 200 species of birds and over 800 varieties of plants.
Fort Brewerton, Brewerton, New York
Fort Brewerton was built in 1759 as a point of defense between the Great Lakes and Albany. The Stevens Block House is a replica of the original home built in 1794 by Oliver Stevens, the first permanent white settler in Oswego County. The house had room for the Stevens family as well as offering accommodation for travelers.
Centers for Nature Education at Baltimore Woods, Marcellus, New York
The Centers for Nature Education provide a recreated pioneer homestead, herb garden, streams, fields and a mixed hardwood forest. Seven trails wind through the various areas.There is a one-acre wildflower garden, a pioneer herb garden, a medicinal herb garden and a butterfly garden.
Montour Falls, New York
Montour Falls is located on the site of Catharines Town, it was ruled by and named for Queen Catharine Montour of the Iroquois Nation. The town is surrounded by glens that contain many waterfalls. Havana Glen has hiking trails and camping facilities.
Schuyler County Historical Society Museum
The museum is housed in an 1828 brick building. Artifacts beginning with the Indian era are on display. Some of the other items are antique farm implements, tools, American Indian relics, ladies' fashions, and antique toys.
Terwilliger Museum, Waterloo, New York
Terwilliger Museum is an annex of the Waterloo Library, which opened in 1960. It provides a picture of the history and development of Waterloo. Photos and maps that date back to 1806 and items such as vehicles, Native American artifacts, antique guns, dolls and medical instruments are on display.
Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua is on the site of the Seneca Indian village Kan-an-dar-gue, that was destroyed by Gen. John Sullivan in 1779. Canandaigua Lake contains bass, pickerel, pike and trout.
Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum
The Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum, is an historic 1816 Federal style mansion, built by Gideon Granger, Postmaster General to the United States 1800 - 1813 under presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The Carriage Museum offers the largest collection of antique horse drawn vehicles and farm implements in Western New York.Guided tours of the mansion and carriage museum are available. The museum hosts special events, including 19th century and contemporary musical performances, and more.
Sonnenberg Gardens
Sonnenberg Gardens was the former summer home of Canandaigua benefactors Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson. Built in 1887, the Victorian mansion contains period furnishings. Themed gardens include Japanese, rock, Italian, Colonial as well as fountains, ponds and streams.
Ontario County Historical Society and Museum
The Ontario County Historical Society presents Civil War displays, and other exhibits of local history, archives and genealogy. Historical research can be done through books and a public access computer.
Captain Gray's Boat Tours
Captain Gray's Boat Tours feature narrated cruises around Canandaigua Lake for 1, 2 or 3 hour periods.
Cortland, New York
Cortland began in 1808 and was named for Gen. Pierre Van Cortlandt, the first lt. governor of New York. The Cortland Repertory Theatre presents five productions from mid-June through August.
1890 House Museum
This house belonged to Chester Franklin Wickwire, the owner of a grocery store on Main Street, which later became successful for it's ability to produce reasonably priced window screening and wire fencing in a variety of household items. Once his business was a success, he began the construction of his house which is the 1890 house.
Cortland Country Music Park
Cortland Country Music Park offers a 500 seat performance center that began over 20 years ago. The park promotes country music and pays tribute to country music artists - particularly those from New York State. The highlights for most visitors is the live bands and the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame. There is also a 104 site campground.
Finger Lakes National Forest
One-third of the land in Finger Lakes National Forest is pasture for beef and dairy cattle. The remaining area is for camping, hiking, horseback riding, fishing and hunting.
Geneva, New York
Geneva is located on Seneca Lake, one of the largest Finger Lakes. It is an area rich in agriculture. Geneva offers golf, tennis, boating and water sports opportunities.
Rose Hill Mansion
Rose Hill Mansion was completed in 1839 in Greek Revival architectural style with 21 of the 26 rooms furnished in Empire style. It was the center of a busy and productive farm in the 1850s. Through family letters, photographs, and diaries, visitors explore the family's joys and sorrows and their interactions with neighbors and the many workers required to keep the large house and farm in working order. Robert Swan used innovations like tile drainage to make his farm more productive and profitable.Paint colors, wallpaper and textiles are typical of that period. The grounds of Rose Hill feature a boxwood garden.
The Johnston House and Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum
Visitors will learn how the development of early "agribusiness" affected life in a prosperous American home when visiting the homestead of the Johnston family, who helped to transform American agriculture in the 1800s.Also on-site is the Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum with a collection of over 500 drain tiles dating from 500 BC to present.
Homeville Museum, Homer, New York
This Federal-style home has thousands of artifacts on display including a 1942 World War II paratrooper's folding bicycle, a 1952 Korean War army truck, a 1/4 ton Army cannon jeep, and a 1968 M60 A3 Main Battle Tank.
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Lyons - Wayne County Historical Society Museum
The Museum of Wayne County is located in the brick mansion and attached stone jail were built in 1854. Some of the displays include antiques, farm implements, ship artifacts and displays regarding the early judicial process.
Naples, New York
Located at the southern end of Canandaigua Lake, Naples has three scenic glens closeby - Parrish, Tannery and Grimes. It is also a very popular area for rainbow trout fishing.
Hoffman Clock Museum, Newark, New York
Antique timepieces from all over the world are on display at the Hoffman Clock Museum. The exhibits illustrate the history of timekeeping, clockmaking and watchmaking.
Victorian Doll Museum and Chili Doll Hospital, North Chili, New York
The Victorian Doll Museum is home to over 3,000 dolls made of bisque, china, wax, tin and vinyl. Victorian memorabilia, dollhouses, children's china tea sets and paper dolls are also on display
Tioga County Historical Society Museum, Owego, New York
Local and regional history displays at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum include Iroquois Indian artifacts, 19th century tools, toys, and fashions. Genealogical information dating from the 1800s is available.
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Misty Meadow Farm, Romulus, New York
Misty Meadow is a working farm with an interactive approach to agriculture. Farm animals can be held and fed, narrated wagon rides are available. Sunflowers can be picked when in season.
New York Museum of Transportation, Rush, New York
The New York Museum of Transportation is a hands-on museum featuring trolleys, a snow sweeper, pump-type handcars, lanterns, signs, baggage carts, diesel engine cutaways, cap badges, and tools.
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is located at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It is popular in the summer for auto racing and is noted for the many salt wells, that made it one of the state's major salt producers.
Watkins Glen State Park
The scenic glen has rock formations and 18 waterfalls. Cliffs rise as much as 300 feet above the stream and a bridge rises 165 above the water.
Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises
Scenic tours of Seneca Lake are available including brunch, dinner and other cruises. The Stroller IV provides a brief look into the history of the lake as well as the surroundings.
Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is a working farm that rescues animals such as pigs, cows, turkeys and goats from slaughterhouses and stockyards. Visitors can pet the animals on guided tours.
Wilcox Octagon House, Camillus, New York
This is one of the few remaining octagon houses, it was built in 1856 by Isaiah Wilcox. The home is furnished with antiques.
Robert Ingersoll Museum, Dresden, New York
This is the birthplace of Robert Ingersoll, a lawyer, politician and writer of the mid 1880s. The museum houses a collection of his speeches and writings.
Millard Fillmore Cabin, Moravia, New York
A replica of the cabin in which Fillmore was born is designated with markers in Fillmore Glen State Park.
Mount Morris - Mills Mansion
This Federal-style mansion was built in 1838. Mills Mansion features 14 rooms, 6 fireplaces, an original bread oven and kitchen hearth.
Penn Yan, New York
Penn Yan offers recreational opportunities that include swimming, boating, and hiking.
Oliver House Museum
The Oliver House, built in 1852, was the residence of the well known Oliver family of physicians in Penn Yan. Six period rooms are furnished with a mix of the Oliver's belongings as well as a collection of items belonging to the Historical Society.
Agricultural Memories Museum
Over thirty years of farming and transportation items are on display at the Agricultural Memories Museum in Penn Yan. Forty years of collecting established the items on display that include 45 carriages, 50 tractors, and agricultural toys.
Mid-Lakes Navigation Company, Skaneateles, New York
Mid-Lakes Navigation Company offers sightseeing cruises that can include lunch or dinner.
Little Red Schoolhouse, Sterling, New York
The restored schoolhouse was built in 1853 and is set up as it originally was with desks, a sink, blackboards, a stove, attached outhouse and a well.
Sterling - Sterling Renaissance Festival
The Sterling Renaissance Festival presents costumed actors, street theater, games, food and puppet shows.
Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport was home of aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss.
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Glenn Curtiss was a successful cyclist, motorcyclist, aviator, engineer and entrepreneur. The museum focuses on his early achievements and work from the turn of the century through the 1930's. Exhibits include early aircraft, motorcycles and engines as well as a Turn of the Century Life exhibit and Hammondsport Historical Exhibit.
Keuka Maid Dinner Cruise (closed)
NO LONGER OPERATING.The Keuka Maid is docked at the southern tip of Keuka Lake. From evening and daytime cruises to private parties, the ship can hold up to 500 passengers.
Victor, New York
Victor offers many recreational activities including camping, skiing and golfing.
Ganondagan State Historic Site
Ganondagan State Historic Site features a 1700th C Seneca village that portrays life in the 17th century for this native tribe. Their lifestyle can be traced through their food and medicine as well as political beliefs. This Town of Peace was destroyed in 1687.The site also has Miles of trails that have signs describing both site history and plants and animals used by the early occupants. The Visitors Center with displays and video of site history.
Valentown Museum
The Valentown Museum contains artifacts, articles and objects that represent the local history of Victor and Rochester, NY.
