State launches early Black history initiative
New York State is rolling out a new multi-year effort to explore and share the state’s early Black history as two major anniversaries approach. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced new research, ... more
Becker family history to headline Seneca Falls Historical Society dinner
The Seneca Falls Historical Society will mark a milestone in its history with a special presentation highlighting the family that once called the Becker Mansion home. SFHS Executive Director Jonathan Monfiletto will present “The Beckers: ... more
102-year-old vet from Phelps earns France’s highest honor
A quiet D-Day hero who never fired a shot will soon receive France’s top military medal, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Addison “Cal” Sheckler, 102, will receive the French Legion of Honor on Jan ... more
Watkins Glen honors racing historian at 90
A packed room of family, friends, and racing fans celebrated a 90-year milestone for lifelong Watkins Glen resident James J. Scaptura, according to the Odessa File. The party unfolded Saturday at the International Motor Racing ... more
Watkins Glen honors local racing legend
Applause and cake filled the International Motor Racing Research Center as friends and family celebrated a hometown icon turning 90, according to the Odessa File. James J. Scaptura marked the milestone surrounded by admirers honoring ... more
RIT dance director to headline Geneva MLK event
A nationally recognized artist and educator will lead Geneva’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration this month, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Organizers named Thomas Warfield, director of dance at Rochester Institute of Technology, ... more
Asbestos forces Schuyler museum closure
Visitors won’t be walking through the doors anytime soon after a hazardous discovery shut down a local landmark, according to WETM. The Schuyler County Historical Society Museum closed for urgent renovations after crews found asbestos ... more
Antiques club plans February show and tell
Antique lovers will get a chance to share their favorite finds during a community show and tell in Geneva. The Antiques Club of the Finger Lakes will host an Antiques “Show & Tell” on Saturday, ... more
Erie Canal champion honored for years of dedication
A longtime volunteer turned Lyons into a must-stop canal town, and state leaders just made it official. Robert A. Stopper earned recognition for decades spent welcoming boaters, promoting local history, and helping visitors navigate the ... more
Replica canal boat rolls into Port Byron (video)
Drivers on the Thruway got a double take this week as a full-size 19th-century canal boat replica arrived at a new home, according to local officials. The historic vessel, Lois McClure, traveled by flatbed from ... more
Hundreds honor veterans at Finger Lakes cemetery
Crowds gathered at the New York State Veterans Cemetery – Finger Lakes as wreaths quietly reached nearly every grave during this year’s Wreaths Across America Day commemoration. Hundreds of families, volunteers, and community members came ... more
Schine Theaters program coming to Geneva History Museum
A free public program on the rise of Schine Theaters will be held January 3 at the Geneva History Museum, offering a unique look into one of America’s historic movie chains. The event, titled Schine ... more
The Oldest Buildings You Can Still See in the Finger Lakes Region NY
The Finger Lakes has architecture that's been around for centuries. Not replicas or anything like that, actual buildings people used two hundred years ago. Walking through them is different than reading about history in books, ... more
FLX WEEKLY: History of Dentistry in Seneca Falls (podcast)
Dr. Bruce Birchenough of Finger Lakes Dentistry is in-studio as his dental practice is set to celebrate 100 years in Seneca Falls. Dr. Birchenough joins Jim Sinicropi to discuss the history of dentistry in Seneca ... more
Hochul backs 19 new historic site nominations
Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing to add 19 more landmarks across New York to the State and National Registers of Historic Places — a move aimed at preserving everything from post-war housing in Brooklyn to ... more
How Rochester’s Blanche and Cab Calloway helped invent the DNA of hip hop
When people trace hip hop's origin story, they usually go straight to the Bronx: those fabled block parties, the breakbeats and scratch, and the revolutionary flair of Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa. But ... more
Livingston County Historian’s Office debuts online catalog
Historians, genealogists, and curious residents now have unprecedented digital access to Livingston County’s past. The County Historian’s Office has launched a new online catalog that makes nearly 50,000 public records searchable from anywhere, anytime. The ... more
Historic homes open for tours during ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ weekend
Visitors heading to Seneca Falls this December can step back in time with a rare look inside some of the town’s most storied homes. As part of the “It’s A Wonderful Life” Festival, the Seneca ... more
FLCC brings Anne Frank’s story to the stage Nov. 20–22
Finger Lakes Community College will stage three performances of The Diary of Anne Frank next week, offering a powerful retelling of one of history’s most enduring stories of resilience. The show runs Nov. 20 through ... more
