What an incredible museum!…read more If you know me, you know I have a deep love of historic architecture. Now I've seen my fair share of octagon houses - and often being volunteer-run historic sites or restrictive museums, it isn't too often I get the chance to get a complete top-to-bottom tour. However, we happened to be in the right place at the right time for the Wilcox Octagon House Museum! This place is only open on select Sundays throughout the year, all of which can be found on their website. This place is entirely volunteer-run, and the women we met who gave us a tour of the site were incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the site itself but about the intriguing things going on in the world throughout the house's lifetime. We started on the bottom floor and learned about the structure itself, and all of the changes it went through as it changed ownership from its original builders, the Wilcox's. It was very interesting to see how at one point the house had been turned into a duplex, had a remodeled 1940's kitchen, and the unique and oddly-shaped closets. My favorite fun-fact was that the house was so highly taxed when it was constructed because each room - including the tiny closets throughout the house - was taken into consideration when being taxed. As we moved throughout the house, we were able to see the super-cool wine cellar in the basement, original kitchen, plus the top floor and the gorgeous windowed overlook with an amazing view of the surrounding town of Camillus. The volunteers were very informative and friendly, and understanding of the fact that we were kind of in a rush, only because we had plans to catch a boat ride at another museum a short drive away. I am so grateful that they were incredibly accommodating of us! In short, this was an incredibly cool place to experience, and I absolutely recommend coming here if you happen to be looking for something to do on a lazy sunday. A historic home like this is truly a treasure and it always feels good to support small volunteer-run historical such as this.

Still love this place. Came 2/25/2023 with several friends who had never been…read more It was a moving experience and sparked very good conversations while there. Come with an open heart and mind and you will leave humbled and inspired. Visited the gift shop on the way out and purchased several things and added $20 to my total as an added donation. Cannot recommend enough.

Very informative; knowledgeable staff, interesting artifacts, information videos, children's…read moreactivities etc.

The perfect place to take your kids, especially in the winter season! Such a gem for kids &…read morecurious adults. There is always something new to explore. We love coming here, and every visit feels a little different because they keep adding new, hands on areas for kids to explore. The newest GROW exhibit is a huge hit with my crew, especially the part where they buy eggs and pretend to run their own little farm stand. It blends imagination, real world skills, and ag technology in such an engaging way. I also loved the Amateur Nature Photography winners wall. It's such a beautiful way to celebrate local talent and get kids excited about nature. As someone who loves nature photography myself, I could've stayed there all day. A few favorite spots: Building Bricks area -- my boys love making forts Science Playhouse -- a multi-level indoor play area with climbing, sliding, and exploring. Indoor playgrounds are rare these days, and this one is fantastic. Micron area -- super engaging and surprisingly educational. Vending machines and bathroom layout -- easy, clean, and parent-friendly (a huge win). And don't miss the Dome shows. It's always worth checking the showtimes. My kids love grabbing popcorn and watching the short movies and planetarium-style features. This is one of those places where you can spend 30 minutes or three hours and feel like it was absolutely worth it. Staff is friendly, everything is clean, and it's genuinely fun to watch kids learn through play. Highly recommend for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking for a relaxed, meaningful outing with young kids.

Just in time for valentine's day, the chocolate discovery fundraiser! Held at the MOST, plenty of…read moreroom to roam the designated area and sample all the chocolate treats, provided by Sweet on Chocolate. Truffles, chocolate covered strawberries and cherries, pretzels, and candy logs! Lovely to be greeted with sparkling rosé! 1911 was on site, pouring selections. The large charcuterie table prices a savory compliment! The evening ended with a show in the planetarium. What a great evening of science, discovery, and sweetness!

My friend and I stumbled across this gem of a museum during a downtown festival. There was no…read moreadmission on this particular Sunday and had tons of complimentary books, brochures and information regarding historical and present Syracuse! We spent well over an hour marveling at the rich history of the Salt City of Syracuse, original maps, antiques, so much to see! You definitely could spend hours digging into the history of Syracuse, Erie Canal, and surrounding areas! They do have an area for games and reading and a gift shop.

I ain't sayin she an Onondaga But she ain't messin' wit' no…read moreBroke MAGA I ain't sayin she an Onondaga But she ain't messin' wit' no hat wearer 18 years 18 years She work for this association For 18 years 18 years, at this association And after 18 years She found out I'm not Asian!? This is a lovely old building in the heart of downtown Syracuse which is probably most famous these days for being the epicenter for the ghost walks. It's great that they organize them and have jumped on the massive popularity of these things all over the world. Syracuse has a lot of old scary buildings so it's perfect for ghost walks, and the ghost walk run by this little place is actually probably one of the very best we've ever been on.

The Everson is a place I've appreciated since I was a kid. It showcases a variety of art that is…read moreadmirable on countless levels. They host classes available to the community- one I took was pasta making which I'd never would have thought I'd make pasta in an art museum which made it even more glorious. Always check to see what exhibits are in house & take the time to appreciate the space when you have the opportunity to.

I always love going to the Everson museum. I appreciate the rotating artwork, pop up events, and…read morefood truck Fridays (during the summer). My favorite event is the Annual Festival of Trees. They are celebrating the 40th year of the event this year and the trees are creative and amazing. This event is held the first 2 weeks of December and offers a variety of decorated trees on display throughout the museum. Trees, wreaths and other holiday creations are donated by local artists and businesses. The trees are for sale for anyone interested and most-if not all-proceeds go to the museum. If you purchase an item it can be picked up/ delivered after the last day of the festival, which this year is December 13th! In 2020 I purchased a Peanuts tree that was donated by a family who's grandmother/mother had passed and I still display the tree every year. There are also scheduled music and dance performances, arts and crafts, and live music in the main gallery. Santa even appears on some days and volunteers are welcome via sign up. They used to have an opening night gala that was held the night before the festival opened to the public which offered heavy hors d'oeurves, live music, and first pick of items for sale. I think this stopped with the pandemic and have hoped for it's return. Anyway if you have a chance to go see the trees, it's a festive addition to the holiday season!

Whether you're a Syracuse resident or just visiting, the Erie Canal Museum is a must see…read more The Museum is small but mighty. It packs fun and education all into one place. Meander around the self guided museum to see a variety of exhibits including a boat you can actually sit in! The museum is great for all ages; young and old. The staff is super friendly and the admission price won't break the bank.

I didn't know much about Syracuse on the whole other than they have a university. And that the Erie…read moreCanal passed through here when it was a major mode of transportation. I am glad that I came to this museum as it added to my knowledge of the Erie Canal. More than I thought I knew. Do check out the website ahead of time. It has some important information. One such thing is parking, if you are lucky enough, you will be able to snag a spot reserved for the museum parking in the city lot located across the street from the museum. Find the spots that are labeled "Visitor Center Parking," this place doubles as the visitor center as well. Otherwise, there is street parking available at a small cost. Also from the website you will find the hours and price for admission. Admission here is technically "pay-what-you-wish" meaning it can be whatever you feel an admission is. But they suggest $12 at the time of me writing this review. Once inside you will be greeted right away. The staff here is mostly volunteers but definitely know their stuff when it comes to the canal. I was given the layout of the museum and suggested where to go first. The museum is two floors and it is suggested to go through the first floor first, unless you need to use the restroom, those are upstairs. If that is what you need, you can start upstairs. I started off by just checking out the first areas of the exhibits and was approached by another volunteer who took me on quick once through about the canal and important dates and events that marked the opening of the canal. You also find out that the street in front of the museum is named Erie Boulevard because that was once the canal route. That is until it was rerouted. The things you learn when you just listen. Then I was sent on my way to make it through the museum. I went slow and took a lot of pictures so I could go back to them in case I missed something. I really enjoyed the set up of this museum. You go through an explanatory phase of the museum and then you get to explore set ups and walk through displays. Take some time to explore the canal boat as you can walk through it and see what it was like to travel by canal. Believe it or not, people still travel through the canal for leisure travel and they have had visitors here that have shown up via the canals. Once you complete the first floor, trek upstairs and take a look at the displays of the businesses of the day. Bar, pottery place, general store, and theater. All meticulously put together and showing what it was like back in the heyday. After you have taken in everything in the museum you can head outside and take in a bit more. On the canal side of the building you can view the boat inside and what the weigh station looked like. Street side there are a few things to check. Their garden area is beautiful and a nice place to catch some rest. Fun fact, Syracuse was a major stop on the canal because of all the salt. Hence their nickname The Salt City.

The Syracuse University Art Museum, located on SU's campus it's a small museum, occupying part of a…read morefloor in Shaffer Hall. The collection is well curated, showing a variety of mediums and perspectives. A lot of the exhibits rotate so that the vast art collection at SU can be seen, as having the ability to bring in traveling exhibits. Most of what I saw while I was there would be on display until March 2022. Wandering through the rooms I found myself moved by the visiting exhibit in the first couple of room, which was "Per(Sister) Incarcerated Women of Louisiana". It had a variety of mediums conveying the stories of women in prison. It felt really accessible, art which would reach and communicate clearly to anyone. "Reckonings: American Art and the Slow Violence of Climate Crisis", was a handful of images brought together by SU students from the 1800 through mid-1900s which had a really thought provoking commentary on art as a reflection of climate change and human treatment of the environment. The work on display of Mary Petty made me laugh, and again think deeper about the time and context in which she was creating her illustrations. More traditional and global work can be found in the Collection Highlights. If on campus to visit the museum on the weekend you can use the College Lot for free. It's only a block from the museum so it's quite convenient. For the size the Art Museum delivers a lot and it is well worth a visit.

Historical Railroad Station that starts with a railway video, a tour through the museum and through…read morethe restored and preserved trains. Kid friendly learning to inspire new generations. This location is ran by donations so feel free to help them out. This is a great window into the history of railway transport. It is set next to an operating railway, so you may even get to see a train pass by. It is free parking and free admission. They do have a small gift shop in the form of a purchase display cabinet where you can buy historical learning items, rail conductor hats and handkerchiefs. They do have a history library that they welcome you to look through. This has two floors in the main building with lots of artifacts to help you embrace the learning experience! It is worth the visit if you want to take a unique peek into history!