Finding History in Ontario County 101: An Introductory Course

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A good place to start learning about Ontario County's past is at the Ganondagan State Historic Site, located at Rt. 444 and Boughton Hill Road in Victor, New York.

Almost every community in Ontario County has its own historical museum. The Geneva Historical Society operates several sites, including the Prouty Chew Museum, located in the heart of the city's historic district. Canandaigua is home to two museums – the Ontario County Historical Society Museum and the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum, both located on Main Street. The Phelps Historical Society Museum and Clifton Springs' Foster Cottage Museum provide a glimpse into small town America in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Then there are the specialty museums; like the A.W.A. Communications Museum in Bloomfield , Vintage Tracks Museum in Bloomfield and Mormon Historic Sites in Manchester and Palmyra, NY.

Some places, at first glance, do not seem to be the typical "museum", but can still tell us a lot about our past. The Smith Opera House in Geneva is a good example – an architectural gem provides a glimpse into cultural history of small town America. At the Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, visitors learn about the history of wine making in the Finger Lakes Region. A walk around the historic districts in Geneva, Clifton Springs, Phelps, Canandaigua and Bloomfield is a lesson in history – architectural history. Ever think that you could learn something about history by visiting cemeteries? The artwork and epitaphs on the tombstones say a lot about our ancestors. Area libraries are a treasure trove of local history material. Researchers looking for family history in the Ontario County area will want to visit the County's Records and Archives Center in Canandaigua.

History is on display throughout Ontario County, so passing this course should be a cinch. Just get on the roadways and start looking for signs of "history".