If you're a fan of the Christmas classic film, you will love the It's a Wonderful Life Museum in…read moreSeneca Falls. Having seen the movie many times, I was overjoyed to visit the museum, which contains a treasure trove of unique photos and artifacts related to the movie. While many of the items are replicas not used in the actual film, it's still a perfect place for fans of the movie to kill a bit of time perusing pictures of the cast members, some of which who visit the museum annually for events. Admission is a modest $5 donation, and they have a cute gift shop with items for purchase. Staff on site at the museum cannot have been any friendlier, and were willing to let us stay a few minutes even past the closing time as we had arrived shortly before they closed for the day. There is a perfect photo op spot to commemorate your bisit to "Bedford Falls." This particular museum is located in a temporary spot through 2026 while the original permanent museum is undergoing major construction and expansion. While I'm sure the permanent museum complete with theater.would be a perfect 5 out 5 rating from me, this temporary museum space was still a very enjoyable experience for me. If you are a fan of It's a Wonderful Life, make it a point to visit this museum in Seneca Falls. There is a bridge in town which served as inspiration for the bridge scene in the movie.

Was dying to visit this spot--this is a favorite movie, special to my family--as I I know it is to…read moremany--and certainly deserving of its esteem and lore, IMHO. The museum itself is a small spot that is chock full of great photos and interesting stories about the movie and its cast, many of which were new to me. I learned some interesting tidbits and could definitely feel the care and appreciation with which the museum is curated. It is, though, very small, and surprisingly lacking in actual memorabilia--as explained up front, only 5 known movie props exist, most with private collectors. Perhaps unfair, but I guess I was expecting something a bit more. Still and all, worth a visit if you are visiting scenic Seneca Falls and the amazing Women's History National Park nearby. Make sure to walk over to the nearby bridge after your museum visit, which is definitely a convincing piece of this town's claim to be the "real" Bedford Falls.

The women's rights exhibition at the museum was amazing and thought provoking. I went with my…read morepartner and we both thought it was great to experience! I would love to go back sometime!

We stopped in while strolling through town. I think it's so ingenious that the visitor's center…read moredoubles as a museum. The girl at the front desk told us that the town approached them to merge a few years ago and it just makes sense. There are a few exhibits highlighting points of history like the history of industry and past factories, women's rights, and wine production. There aren't a ton of exhibits but enough that you can stroll around, and spend some time if you really read and wander. Neat little place.

Well worth a visit for anyone interested in American history. It was hot but our tour guide Ally…read morewas unflappable, entertaining and gave us a fantastic experience. The history of the house and the Seward family was very interesting and Ally knew about every painting and object our group asked about.

I highly recommend going here and learning about our secretary of state for Abe Lincoln. I like…read morelearning about all the people he met and how he had them sign a picture of themselves up in the upstairs. Very interesting history. I also liked seeing the basement where the kitchen was.

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.

A hidden upstate NY gem. High quality, changing visual arts exhibitions featuring local & emerging…read moreartists. Well worth a few hours off the beaten track! Had I the time to sign up for one of plenty of interesting programs, I could stay here all day or 2. Beautifully designed gift shop with trendy unique inventory.

If you love Modern Art and you love art made by New Yorkers and you are contemporary I mean really…read morecontemporary you would love this place. Some of the Art Is Out of My League that I just don't get it. Those who do get it will be in love. The current show I was juried and the 70 or so pieces were selected from over 300 entries. This means that you have the best of art from New Yorkers all contemporary , none before 2013. The staff is a sweet nice and kind as you could possibly imagine and it's ready to show you around come on in and enjoy a local Museum

After too long, I finally made it to the Susan B. Anthony House. What was I waiting for??!! The…read morefacilities and tour were amazing! We had the best tour with Matilda! She was full of information and answered my many questions with great knowledge. She was accommodating and patient as we asked questions about the house, its contents as well as historical facts. I would definitely recommend going as soon as possible. And if you get Matilda as your tour guide, it will be a bonus!

I stopped in while in the area about 40 mins before they closed to see if I could take a quick peak…read morearound and they were super accommodating and had a tour guide give me a brief tour with high level talking points. Even with the abbreviated version of the tour I learned so much!! It was so nice to see how they restored the house to match the photos and to see and feel the tour guides passion while giving the tour. I'm glad I made the last minute decision to go, it was such a unique to Rochester experience.

My first visit here and I know I'll be back. The George Eastman museum is both his mansion and with…read morevery tasteful renovations and additions a beautiful art gallery. We were lucky to make it in time for the guided tour of the mansion. We learned about George Eastman, his family and very interesting facts about the huge mansion. Many of the furnishings were original to the house and the architecture was amazing. They have a lovely cafe inside so we sat down for just a drink since our lunch plans were already made. The Hibiscus ice tea was wonderful. We took our time and viewed the exhibit "Edward Steichen and the Garden". He was a reknowned photographer and horticulturist creating many new strains of his beloved Delphiniums. The detailed information posted by each item was fascinating. Everyone working there was pleasant and helpful. They also have events like movies and music, so check the schedule.

It feels to me like if you haven't visited the Eastman Museum, you haven't fully experienced…read moreRochester. Having visited many contemporary mansions in the Mid-Hudson Valley, I think the Eastman home is comparable if not better. The gardens were beautiful, and I took notes and made a landscaping project list for my own home for next year. The photography museum is icing on the cake. It does seem ironic, though, that while we're visiting a museum devoted to the history of photography, now most of us are taking our pictures on digital media. How times and technology have changed and grown!

I came here on a Saturday for the 2pm tour. They have tours twice a day, on most days of the week,…read moreexcluding Sundays. It's advised to call in advance to make a reservation, but there were several walk-ins when I visited and they were easily accommodated. Admission is $7 and includes the tour. The historical site is operated solely by Reverend Paul, a highly knowledgeable steward who had such a passion for honoring and celebrating the life of Harriet Tubman that he quit his job in Washington, DC and moved to Auburn to run this landmark. Paul was a fantastic guide. He checked everyone in at the start of the tour. If you arrive early, you can wander through the visitor center on your own, which has photos and facts about Tubman, her contemporaries, and other relevant details about the Underground Railroad, abolition, the Civil War, and women's suffrage. Once the tour starts, attendees sit while Paul spends about an hour telling Tubman's life story in great detail, from childhood to old age. Paul's talk is thorough, humorous, and wonderfully educational. He asks for audience participation throughout to keep the group engaged. After the talk, we moved to one of the houses on the property that was open to the public and where Tubman actually lived. Paul shared additional details about the history of the abode. It contained furniture pieces to exemplify what might have been inside the home when Tubman lived there. After the tour, attendees were free to walk the grounds, return to the visitor center, or peek inside the other brick home on the property, which was not open for entrance. I would budget about 2 hours for the experience. Great opportunity to learn about Tubman, a remarkable and legendary figure who shaped our nation's history.

Paul is remarkable. So animated and engages the visitors. Love this because of him…read more Also please donate to restore the house!! SU has excavated amazing artifacts waiting to be displayed. This place needs to be finished/restored. It's a treasure.

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.