In 1788, two Yankee traders purchased two and a half million acres of land from the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois Nation. This area would become Rochesterville, and then Rochester, New York.
By 1810, Colonel Nathaniel Rochester (whose name the city still carries) and his partners had purchased this land. Flour mills were built--their water wheels powered by the mighty Genesee River; but it was the man-made Erie Canal that turned Rochester into a "boom town." More than a source of power, the Genesee River and its four, magnificent waterfalls also attracted plenty of visitors, as well as some notoriety.
Today Rochester has over 11,000 acres of parkland which provide recreation through all seasons.
The George Eastman House is the former home of the George Eastman, the man who founded the Eastman Kodak Company. The house contains a fabulous museum on photography and film.
The Campbell-Whittlesey House Museum is an example of restored Greek Revival architecture. The house has been restored and furnished to reflect life in a flour miller's house during the early 19th century.
The Center at High Falls is an educational and entertainment complex featuring 3-D exhibits, an art gallery that displays local artists, and visitors can tour the ruins of an 1816 factory. A pedestrian bridge allows for scenic viewing of High Falls.
Address: Center at High Falls, 60 Browns Race, Rochester, NY 14614-1005, United States
Phone: 1 (585) 325-2030, Fax: 1 (585) 325-2414
The land was donated by George Eastman and William Durand in 1909. This Monroe County Park is an island of bird habitat, offers an 18-hole golf course and the roads that ran through have been closed to allow foot trails for hiking and cross-country skiing in winter.
Highland Park is one of Rochester's oldest parks with the world's largest collection of lilacs. There are 500 different varieties of lilacs covering about 20 acres of Highland Park. The park is home to the annual Lilac Festival.
The Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester features works of art spanning 5,000 years and various countries around the world. Emily Sibley Watson founded the Gallery as a memorial to her son, architect James Averell, in 1913. The permanent collection includes more than 12,000 objects from relics of antiquity to contemporary works.
Address: Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607-1415, United States
Phone: 1 (585) 276-8900, Fax: 1 (585) 473-6266
Hours:
11am-5pm; Thu:11am-9pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Tips: Reduced general admission on Thursday evenings from 5 pm-9 pm.
Seneca Park opened in 1893 and animals were first displayed one year later. The Seneca Park Zoo features the Rockey Coast exhibit which features polar bears, sea lions, and penguins. This facility provides many of the Zoo's animals with more spacious natural homes. In 2004 the Animal Health and Education Complex was opened.
Hours:
January 1 to March 31: 10am-4pm
April 1 to October 31: 10am-5pm
November 1 to December 31: 10am-4pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: The Zoo is closed the first Saturday in June for Zoobilation.
Visitors can learn about the past through hands-on exhibits, educational programs and collections at the Strong National Museum of Play. More than 500,000 items are on display including toys, doll houses, miniatures, household furnishings and dolls.
Hours:
10am-5pm; Sun:12pm-5pm; Fri:10am-8pm
Always closed on: Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Susan B. Anthony, pioneer leader for women's rights, lived in this house from 1866 until her death in 1906. This is the site of her famous arrest for voting in 1872. In the third floor attic Susan helped write "History of Woman Suffrage."
Woodside Mansion houses the Rochester Historical Society. Built in 1840, the house features portraits, period furnishings and costumes. A perennial garden is beyond the rear veranda.
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