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Museums in Ontario County

Antique Wireless Association Electronic Communication Museum

Village Green

6910 Rts. 5 & 20

Bloomfield, NY 14469

585-657-6260

Located in the three-story 1837 Academy Building, the museum is one of the few devoted to the research, preservation, and documentation of the history of wireless communications. There is a complete range of historical communications equipment on exhibit, some of which can be associated with famous people like Guglielmo Marconi, Lee De Forest, Edwin Armstrong, Thomas Edison, and others.

Balmanno Cottage

S. Main St.

Geneva, NY 14456

315-789-5151

An outstanding example of early Gothic Revival architecture in Geneva. Its terraced garden lot is a unique feature of the Seneca Lake shoreline. Owned by the Geneva Historical Society.

East Bloomfield Academy Museum

8 South Ave.

East Bloomfield, NY 14443

585-657-7244

Restored 1838 brick schoolhouse. Rotating exhibits, genealogical records, gift shop, herb garden.

Foster Cottage Museum

9 E. Main St.

Clifton Springs, NY 14432

315-462-7394

Owned by the Clifton Springs Historical Society, the museum preserves the history of the community and the work of Dr. Henry Foster.

Ganondagan

1488 Rt. 444

Victor, NY 14564

585-742-1690

A living museum of a 17th century Seneca Indian village. Visitors' center, longhouse, hiking trails.

Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum

295 N. Main St.

Canandaigua, NY 14424

585-394-1472

Learn about Gideon Granger and the Granger family. Visit the carriage museum, house, and 10 acres. Museum has nearly fifty horse drawn vehicles, including carriages, sporting vehicles, sleighs, coaches, commercial wagons, and even a couple of hearses on exhibit, showing the history of 19th-century transportation in western New York. Carriage and sleigh rides in season.

M'Clintock House Museum

14 E. Williams St.

Waterloo, NY 13165

315-539-0895

Exhibits about the M'Clintocks and their Quaker community, and the contributions they made towards the First Women's Rights Convention. Part of the Women's Rights National Historic Park.

Ontario County Historical Society Museum

55 N. Main St.

Canandaigua, NY 14424

585-394-4975

Located in a Greek Revival building in the heart of the city's historic district, the Society's library has holdings of over 7,000 historic volumes and original manuscripts, 16,000 photographic images, and genealogical information on thousands of surnames. It manages a collection of over 100,000 artifacts, ephemera, and archival materials.

Prouty-Chew House and Museum

543 S. Main St.

Geneva, NY 14456

315-789-5151

Lovely brick building in the Federal style. Home of the Geneva Historical Society.

Dr. John Quincy Howe House

66 Main St.

Phelps, NY 14532

315-548-4940

The house is owned by the Phelps Community Historical Society whose current focus is the house's restoration. The Howe House has the only known two-story brick privy in the country.

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park

151 Charlotte St.

Canandaigua, NY 14424

585-394-4922

Former summer home of Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson, this beautiful Victorian mansion is open to the public. Extensive gardens with tea and glass houses. Next to the Finger Lakes Wine Center.

Valentown Museum

7377 Valentown Square

Victor, NY 14564

585-924-4170

Originally built in 1879 by Levi Valentine as a shopping plaza and community center, the building is a monument to Valentine's inspiration. The home of the Victor Historical Society, it contains the town's local history collection.

Vintage Tracks Museum

3170 Wheeler Station Rd.

Bloomfield, NY 14469

585-657-6608

If it travels on tracks, you'll find it here--tractors, bull dozers, graders, and antique construction machinery. Over 100 machines, representing such companies as Caterpillar, Allis, Earthmaster, International Harvester, and John Deere.

Updated 8 April 2012