Learn more about the themes you can expect to see in the virtual museum.
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Trailblazers
These are the innovators: the ambitious, the restless and energetic. Their strong drive for their principles, or the tasks at hand, are what propelled them forward into the history books– for not only our area, but for our nation.
This theme includes stories on:
- Dr. Henry Foster
- Marcus Whitman & Narcissa Prentiss
- Gideon Granger
- Fred M. Locke
- Haudenosaunee
- Henry M. Flagler
- William R. Brooks
- Isaac Hathaway
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Changemakers
Ontario County has played host to many notable change-agents. These signs are dedicated to relentless advocates in fighting for diversity, equity, women's rights, and temperance.
This theme includes stories on:
- Susan B. Anthony
- 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua
- Elizabeth Blackwell
- Underground Railroad
- Farmington Quakers
- Mary Clarke Thompson
- Gideon Pitts
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Pathways
Linking people, ideas, and innovations over time have made Ontario County a mecca for pathways to progress. First the connections were by pathways, then waterways to rail, and then, modern byways.
This theme includes stories on:
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Land and Lakes
Our Finger Lakes region is a timeless treasure — from its formation by glaciers more than two million years ago, to the beauty of our landscapes, and our notoriety for fresh water and fresh air.
This theme includes stories on:
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Communities
Formed in 1789, Ontario County was never just "government" and "land speculation." Ontario County thrived as towns, villages, communities, and neighborhoods.
This theme includes stories on:
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Farm & Table
The Finger Lakes is blessed with terroir—the right mix of land, water, and sun. Passionate, skilled people make the most of that gift: farmers tending orchards and vineyards, and scientists perfecting seeds, soils, and best practices. Farm & Table is a tour of love and passion for the land.
This theme includes stories on:
- Agricultural Experiment Station
- Brewery Ardennes
- Seedway
- Wine and Grapes
- White Corn Project
- South Bristol Grange Hall
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Commerce and Craft
Explore the evolving stories of commerce from the hands of masons and local artisans to the development of shopping malls.
This theme includes stories on:
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Live and Play FLX
Welcome to life— Finger Lakes style! Explore the charming locations that make up Ontario County's unique playground. It's an invitation to stay, play, and explore!
This theme includes stories on:
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Learning Legacies
Discover a region where the pursuit of knowledge has always been a cornerstone of community, fostering personal growth and collective advancement. Our "legacy places" tell the story of educational evolution and the cultivation of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This theme includes stories on:
- Ansley Schoolhouse
- Finger Lakes Community College
- Bristol Library
- Canandaigua Academy
- Abbey Road School
- Canadice Town Hall
- Former Academy
- South Farmington Chapel
- Clifton Springs YMCA
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Who Knew?
A collection of fun stories that deserve to be shared! This trail is filled with interesting facts and oddball trivia - and you can bounce from one place to the next and leave joining the "who knew" club.
This theme includes stories on:
