History
Events
Shellback: A Journey Through War, Survival & Forgotten History
Cortland County Historical Society 25 Homer Avenue, Cortland, NY, United StatesHistory isn’t just dates and dusty pages—it’s drama, struggle, and the fight to survive. Step into the past on April 24 at noon, as Karen Foresti Hempson brings the Great Depression and World War II roaring back to life with her gripping novel, Shellback. Inspired by real people from Utica, Shellback follows a young boy, […]
Stagecoaches, Saloons & the Strange Side of Travel: A Talk with Richard F. Palmer
CNY Living History Center 4386 US Route 11, Cortland, NY, United StatesBefore GPS and gas stations, there were muddy turnpikes, bumpy coaches, and taverns where you might hear a ghost story and get a hot meal—if you were lucky. Join author and history-sleuth Richard F. Palmer for a deep dive into the dusty days of stagecoaches and roadside inns in 19th-century Cortland County. With rare photographs, […]
Immigrant Entrepreneurs of Cortland
United Unitarian Church 3 Church St, cortland, NY, United StatesYou’ve seen the names, walked past the storefronts, and maybe even uncovered a few stories on the Cortland Curiosities trail—but do you know the people who built them? Join the Cortland County Historical Society for a special talk with historian and former Cortland resident Dr. Diane Vecchio, as she reveals the real lives behind the […]
1890 House Path Through History
1890 House Museum 37 Tompkins Street, Cortland, NY, United StatesOn June 14 & 15, from 12pm to 4pm, the grand stone silhouette of the 1890 House beckons curious souls for I LOVE NY’s Path Through History Weekend. Once the opulent home of industrialist Chester Wickwire, the mansion is now a monument to the strange echoes of Cortland’s Gilded Age. Behind its ornate doors lie […]
Write This Down: Historical Journaling
Cortland County Historical Society 25 Homer Avenue, Cortland, NY, United StatesWhat if your grocery lists, doodles, love notes, and late-night rants became the stuff of legend? While you're busy living an "ordinary" life, future historians might be dying to read all about it. Join the Cortland County Historical Society and Laurie Seamans for a hands-on workshop that will turn your everyday into a future artifact. […]
Sunday Stitcher’s Series
Magpie Custom Creations 75 E Court Street, Cortland, NY, United StatesSomething revolutionary is unfolding in Cortland County—one stitch at a time. Magpie Custom Creations, in alliance with the Cortland County Historical Society, invites daring dressmakers, costume historians, and curious souls to take part in the Bloomer Costume Challenge, a bold nod to the reformers of 1855. Participants will bring to life the iconic Bloomer ensemble—once […]
The Forgotten Stories Behind Victorian Trading Cards
Cortland County Historical Society 25 Homer Avenue, Cortland, NY, United StatesBefore hashtags and clickbait, there were trade cards—bold little messengers of the strange, the stylish, and the downright sensational. These brightly printed curios once fueled the dreams and desires of a nation, hawking everything from miracle tonics to must-have fashions... and leaving behind a trail of stories hidden in plain sight. Join collector and storyteller […]
The Old State Road: Miles of Stories
Cortland County Historical Society 25 Homer Avenue, Cortland, NY, United StatesThe Road That Time (Almost) ForgotThe Cortland County Historical Society invites the brave and the curious to join Val Ross for a journey down one of Central New York’s oldest and oddest byways: Joseph Chaplin’s Old State Road. First carved through the Military Tract in 1796, this rugged route connected Oxford to Cayuga Lake—cutting through […]
“Dreams of Freedom” with Marilyn Higgins
Cortland County Historical Society 25 Homer Avenue, Cortland, NY, United States“Dreams of Freedom” with Marilyn Higgins History, mystery, and a movement that shook a nation—Marilyn Higgins invites you into the charged and transformative world of Dreams of Freedom, her riveting new book exploring Upstate New York on the brink of Civil War. From the roaring momentum of the Erie Canal to the radical energy of […]
Tick Tock and Tall Tales: A Horological Happening
J. M. McDonald Sport Complex 4292 Fairground Drive, Cortland, NY, United StatesTime flies—unless you're at the Eastern States Regional, where it ticks, tocks, chimes, and occasionally cuckoos. This isn’t just any collector’s meet-up. It’s the 55th annual gathering of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, drawing horology enthusiasts from across the Northeast to marvel at mechanical mysteries, trade timeless treasures, and swap stories that […]
Secrets Beneath the Surface: The Erie Canal at 200
Taylor Historical Society 4332 Cheningo Solon Pond Rd, Taylor, United StatesSecrets Beneath the Surface: The Erie Canal at 200 What lies beneath the still waters of the Erie Canal? A marvel of engineering, a gateway to fortune, and a trail of strange stories. For two centuries, this man-made river has carried whispers of ambition and forgotten lives. Join the Taylor Historical Society on Monday, September […]
Main Street’s Secrets Unlocked
Step into the heart of downtown Cortland and discover the stories hidden in plain sight. On this captivating walking tour, City Historian Kate O’Connell will lead you through the business district’s storied streets, peeling back the layers of history to reveal tales of ambition, scandal, and resilience. From architectural marvels to the unforgettable characters who […]