1964-Gone but not Forgotten

Based on a remarkable 1964 aerial picture found at the Canandaigua Daily Messenger, “1964” showed the city’s incredible transformation to the present with a tragic and unbelievable 50 plus buildings missing since that picture was taken. Visitors saw that now famous picture showing all the missing buildings side by side with a 2017 drone replication.It […]

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

With the first successful flight of the Wright Brothers in 1903, the era of modern aviation began. Within ten years, flying grew in popularity in the Finger Lakes beginning with Glenn Curtiss’ flight of his “June Bug”, to local barnstormers, to pilots in the world wars and other military conflicts, to the growth of local […]

How Do We Get There From Here?

This age-old question motivated people in New York to develop and utilize transportation systems from footpaths, rivers, and roads, to canals and railroads. In the 19th century, these systems moved settlers and travelers, raw materials, agricultural and manufactured products from farms and villages to cities across the region and country. Transportation links helped create regional […]

Tying the Knot

A wedding is a universal rite of passage steeped in tradition, ceremony, and symbolism. This exhibit explored Ontario County weddings from 1790 to 1990 as reflected in the special gowns, outfits, accessories, photographs and life stories preserved to remember this special, life-changing event.

City of Canandaigua

Over the past one hundred years, the city of Canandaigua has faced many challenges and opportunities brought on by social, economic and political changes. Government restructuring, immigration, women’s suffrage, prohibition, world wars, economic busts and booms, urban renewal and historic preservation all have impacted the community. This exhibit explored the many changes to life in […]

Backyards of 1858 Canandaigua

Step Back into Pre-Civil War Canandaigua. In 1858, Canandaigua was a bustling community with a rapidly growing downtown and residential area of elegant homes along North Main Street. Most houses had deep lots for flower and vegetable gardens, orchards, animals, barns, and carriage houses many of which can be seen in the images. In addition, […]

So Where’s All the Old Stuff?

Many visitors ask this very question. In this exhibit we hope to answer that by displaying selected artifacts and explaining what and why we collect and how we care for them. What will you see in the exhibit? You’ll see a selection of historic artifacts made, owned or used in Ontario County. This includes building parts, […]

Champeen Stretchers and Gandy Dancers

What do baseball and the railroads have in common? In the village of Manchester, like in many railroad towns across this country, the railroad yards were the place where men got together to play America’s favorite pastime. This exhibit brings to life turn-of-the-century, semi-professional baseball. See dozens of photographs, 3-D sculptures and life size paintings […]

Self Made in Western New York

What does being “self made” mean? To most it is the Horatio Alger story of going from rags to riches. However, in Lincoln’s time, being self made also meant to improve oneself through good morals, character, lifelong learning so that he/she could be a better citizen. In doing so a person might bring wealth to […]

Abraham Lincoln

The Museum was proud to host this national traveling exhibit, developed by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation in Springfield, Illinois. Our museum was the only venue in Western New York to host the exhibit.