History Takes Flight

The Livingston County Historical Society & Museum lives within an 1838 cobblestone schoolhouse. The museum offers exhibits that touch on the stories of more than a dozen communities throughout the county, bringing in artifacts ranging from agricultural items to textiles, ceramics to musical instruments. Current exhibits focus on topics including the 1918 Influenza, the Genesee River Valley’s salt mining industry, and the county's connections to World War I.

The Springwater-Webster Crossing Historical Society Museum’s mission is twofold: preserve and inform about the area’s heritage, which stretches back to the early 1800s, when settlers arrived in Springwater and the town was established soon after.

Big Springs Museum is specifically dedicated to the Caledonia and Mumford communities, their peoples and their industries. Exhibits highlight topics such as Black history in the two communities and the region’s agricultural heritage. The museum is particularly worth a visit if you want to learn more about the nearby fish hatchery, which just so happens to be the oldest such hatchery in not just the state or the country, but the entire Northern Hemisphere. The museum sits partially in the original Caledonia School.

The Lima Historical Society’s Tennie Burton Museum resides in an 1830s home and is named for the city’s first historian. Artifact collections include items from the 1800s and 1900s, ranging from furniture to farm equipment, clothing to musical instruments. A resource room offers historic photographs, memorabilia and other documentation.

Part history museum, part art gallery, the Nunda Museum & Rose Shave Gallery features nearly 50 paintings by local artist Rose Shave, who worked in the area from 1875 to 1925. The museum also features artifacts reflecting two centuries of Nunda history.

The Avon Preservation & Historical Society offers a constantly revolving series of window displays and exhibitions featuring Avon artifacts. The museum is also home to a wealth of resources for those interested in researching local history, whether that be history tied to local business and industry or genealogy. The museum also frequently hosts speakers to discuss topics related to the area’s past.

Operated by the Livonia Area Preservation & Historical Society, the Maurice F. Sweeney Museum, named for a former local businessman and historian, sits within a 19th-century bank and displays artifacts that reflect the Livonia area’s history. You’ll see textiles, kitchenware, war memorabilia and even food items.

For any train aficionado, the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is a can’t-miss. This museum boasts the largest collection of historic trains and operating vintage diesel locomotives in the state. Beyond both indoor and outdoor exhibits, the museum also offers historic train rides.

Overseen by the Dansville Area Historical Society, this free museum encompasses three floors filled with artifacts and memorabilia tied to Dansville’s past. Expect to learn about the area’s history, starting with the very first house that was built in Dansville, in 1795, as well as the area’s economic development over the last two centuries.

If you prefer living history museums to your standard series of exhibitions, make tracks to the largest living history museum in New York State and the third-largest living history museum in the country, the Genesee Country Village & Museum.

The historic village includes nearly 70 buildings, primarily from the 1800s, including a selection of shops, a historic tavern, a Victorian mansion, and more. You’ll want to take your time exploring and getting to know the costumed interpreters, who will introduce you to the century’s simpler way of life. After you’re finished exploring the village, stop into the John L. Wehle Gallery to see exhibitions featuring 1800s art and clothing, as well as a relatively new exhibition on waterfowling and conservation. The museum is also home to a nature center and multiple dining options.