Seward House museum wins top state award
The Seward House Museum in Auburn has received the Museum Association of New York’s Board of Directors Special Achievement Award of Distinction. The honor recognizes the museum’s exhibit, Rooted in Reform, which highlights the Seward ... more
Cayuga Museum reopens with new exhibits
The Cayuga Museum in Auburn reopens for the 2025 season on Wednesday, Feb. 5, featuring fresh exhibits alongside beloved classics. New displays include "Making History," which highlights Auburn’s industrial heritage, and "Silent Films on Cayuga ... more
Oldest gun in the U.S. discovered in Arizona
Archeologist Deni Seymour unearthed a 500-year-old bronze cannon in Arizona near the Santa Cruz River, making it the oldest firearm found in the continental U.S. The cannon, linked to the 1540 Coronado Expedition, was abandoned ... more
Historic Newfield barn set for restoration
The 141-year-old '1883 Barn' in Newfield, New York, is being revitalized under new ownership. Purchased in August 2024 by preservation-focused developer Seth Adams, the barn, once an art hub and market, is set for a ... more
Seneca County honors fallen officer in remembrance ceremony
The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office held a solemn Remembrance Ceremony on January 9 to honor John Walters, the agency’s only member to die in the line of duty. The ceremony marked the anniversary of Walters’ ... more
Steuben County Historical Society hosts geology talk
The Steuben County Historical Society will host a free presentation on the region's geology and geography on Friday, Jan. 10, at 4 p.m. at the Bath Fire Hall. Retired social studies teacher Rick Bates will ... more
Warren Upton, Pearl Harbor’s oldest survivor, dies at 105
Warren Upton, the last survivor of the USS Utah and the oldest living Pearl Harbor attack survivor, has died at age 105 after battling pneumonia in California. On December 7, 1941, Upton was aboard the ... more
Butler society aims to restore historic church museum
The Butler Preservation Society hopes to repaint and repair the 1836 Church Museum ahead of the town's 2026 Bicentennial, according to The Finger Lakes Times. Trustee Lori Schmidt launched a fundraiser to raise $20,000 for ... more
Holiday celebration supports historic preservation in Fayette
The Fayette Historical Society will host its third annual Holiday Happening & Historic Christmas Ball on Saturday, December 28 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Fayette Fire Hall. The festive fundraiser will feature food ... more
Dundee Library, East Bloomfield Historical Society honored with preservation awards
Two Finger Lakes landmarks—the Dundee Library and the East Bloomfield Historical Society—have been recognized for their dedication to preserving history with 2024 Stewardship Awards from The Landmark Society of Western New York. The awards, presented ... more
Expansion plans for It’s a Wonderful Life Museum move forward
Officials at the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum have raised $1,012,000 for the expansion of their facility at 32 Fall St. The museum, temporarily housed at 76 Fall St. with additional exhibits at 80 Fall ... more
Ithaca honors Pearl S. Buck with historic marker
A new historic marker in Ithaca commemorates author Pearl S. Buck’s pivotal time at Cornell in 1924, according to Cornell Chronicle. Buck, who later won the Pulitzer Prize and became the first American woman to ... more
Cayuga County church nominated for National Register of Historic Places
A state board has recommended the First Presbyterian Church of Springport in Union Springs for the National Register of Historic Places. Already added to the state register, the nomination will now be reviewed by the ... more
Historic Seward Barn and Carriage House to receive new life with rehabilitation project
The Seward House Museum is embarking on a significant restoration and rehabilitation project for its historic barn and carriage house, addressing nearly a century of deferred maintenance. This $2.5 million endeavor, funded through a combination ... more
Harriet Tubman Coin Sales Conclude This Month
The U.S. Mint’s Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin Program, which began in January, will end sales this month, according to The Auburn Citizen. Coins commemorating Tubman’s bicentennial include $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar ... more
Cayuga Museum to reopen with free admission after renovations
The Cayuga Museum of History & Art in Auburn will reopen next Saturday, Nov. 30, following months of construction for the West End Arts Campus project. The museum will welcome visitors from 11 a.m. to ... more
Historic Canandaigua Lake shipwreck nominated for preservation
The Seneca Chief, a steam yacht sunk in Canandaigua Lake in 1896, has been nominated for inclusion in the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Built in 1887 as the lake’s first steel-hulled, screw-driven ... more
Seneca Falls museum launches annual appeal to fund programs and exhibits
The Museum of Waterways and Industry is calling on the community for support as it seeks to raise $5,000 before the year ends. The funds will ensure the continuation of cherished programs and the development ... more
Wayne County Revolutionary War vets honored with historic marker
A Historical Patriot Marker was unveiled at East Palmyra Cemetery on November 8, honoring Revolutionary War veterans buried there. Hosted by the Rochester Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the event featured a ... more
