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Travel Through Time History Is Alive In New York State

Visitors to one of New York State's many "Living History" museums can experience the lifestyle of a bygone era. Tour Old Bethpage Villageon Long Island, a pre-Civil War Farm Village, with costumed interpreters, an inn, store, church, blacksmith shop, hat shop, schoolhouse, craft demonstrations, animals and farm activities. Also on Long Island, visitors to the Museums at Stony Brook can attend a class at a 19th century one room schoolhouse or step into a blacksmith's shop, historic houses, a 1794 barn and an 1867 carriage house with a marvelous collection of vintage carriages. At Museum Village in Orange County, an entire 19th century village conducts its daily business as if time stood still. Stroll through the wooded grove and greet the town cobbler as you pass his shop. Visit the town printing office and watch a 19th century printing press at work. Stop in at the general store where you can buy hand-made candles or sticky salt water taffy, a favorite candy of 19th century children. Over 25 buildings are open to the public at Museum Village, and each one replicates life as it was in Orange County over 150 years ago.

The Farmers Museum in Cooperstown is an open-air museum of New York State history from 1790 to 1860. This charming village recreates 19th century life with authentic settings and costumed spinners, weavers, a blacksmith and a broom maker, among others. The Farmers Museum is also across the road from one of America's great folk art collections, housed in the Fenimore House. The Erie Canal Village in Rome has 19th century buildings on the banks of the canal, with a mule-drawn packet ride. Museums focus on the canal, cheese making and carriages. Visitors can enjoy a church, canal shop, store and tavern. Sainte Marie Among the Iroquois in Syracuse is a 17th century French Jesuit mission that recreates the lifestyle of a wilderness community, with costumed interpreters demonstrating blacksmithing, carpentry, cooking and farming. If you find yourself entranced by "living history," you won't want to pass up a visit to Genesee Country Village in Mumford. Join a log cabin family in preparing daily meals or sit in the family parlor of one of the town homes. Everything in Genesee Village is authentic -- even the gardens yield fruits, vegetables, and herbs that were grown in the 19th century. Experience the past as you kick up your heels at a 19th century hoedown or help with the village chores.

The Hudson River valley, legendary for its panoramic beauty, is replete with architectural wonders, fairy-tale gardens and sprawling estates built by famous Americans. One architectural heirloom is found in Tarrytown at Kykuit, the Rockefeller summer home. Kykuit is an extraordinary six story neo-classical mansion that commands a view of extensive formal gardens with rich marble fountains and terraces sculpted into the countryside. The house, itself a work of art, contains an extensive collection of 20th century art and sculpture. Access to this very popular attraction is available through New York Waterway boat cruise from New York City; or by a Historic Hudson Valley tour from Phillipsburg Manor in Tarrytown. While in Tarrytown, visit Lyndhurst, the Gothic estate of renowned financier Jay Gould. Elegant period furnishings and decor testify to his wealth and status. Nearby is Philipsburg Manor, with its stone manor house, grist mill, costumed guides and farm animals. Also in town, don't pass up a tour of Sunnyside, home of Washington Irving. This author's eclectic 19th century house is decorated like a scene from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with ancient weather vanes and stepped gables.

Only a short drive from Tarrytown, historic Boscobel captures a sweeping valley view. The mansion was moved piece by piece 15 miles north to its present location among apple orchards and rose gardens. Fully restored, the mansion is furnished with outstanding examples of New York Federal furniture and decoration. Follow the river north to Hyde Park, where you can visit Vanderbilt Mansion and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Historic Site, along with the more casual Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt's private retreat. At the Roosevelt homes, see the spacious formal rooms where world leaders dined with the Roosevelts. The Vanderbilt Mansion is a 54- room palace that represents the "Gilded Age" of America, with tall, stately columns and 200 acres of rolling grounds, elegant furnishings and decor. Just above Hyde Park, Annandale-on-Hudson boasts Montgomery Place, home of the family of Revolutionary War hero General Richard Montgomery. Tour the mansion and see the painstaking task of restoration in progress. Wander through 434 acres of wooded garden paths down to the river, and picnic on the grounds where the Montgomery family spent leisurely afternoons enjoying the country paradise. Visit Clermont, former home to seven generations of the Livingston family. Over 500 acres of beautiful grounds and gardens offer spectacular views of the Hudson River. Further north, Olana, the 19th century Moorish style villa of painter Frederic Edwin Church, has majestic grounds open to the public for hiking and cross country skiing.

For those interested in learning about the Native American influence in New York State, a trip to western New York can be the next best thing to taking a trip back in time. The Seneca-Iroquois Museum on the Allegany Indian Reservation can take you on a journey through the rich heritage of the Senecas, known as the Keepers of the Western Door of the Iroquois Confederacy. The museum houses more than artifacts; authentically reconstructed historical exhibits help you discover this vibrant culture. In the Finger Lakes, the authentic Iroquois village of Ganondagan in Victor outlines the history of Native Americans. Several marked trails penetrate the forest, following paths once walked by the Seneca-Iroquois who inhabited the village in the 17th century. East of Victor in Auburn, visit the Owasco Teyetasta, a museum and cultural center devoted to tracing the culture of Native Americans. The museum features artifacts from the pre-historic Owasco culture and the present-day Cayugas. In Syracuse, discover the adventure of life in the 17th century, at Sainte Marie Among the Iroquois. This living history museum brings visitors back to the year 1657, with costumed craftsmen and a colonial setting.

In the Thousand Islands, the Akwesasne Museum and Library in Hogansburg is on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation and includes lacrosse displays, wampum belts, basketry, tools, clothing and beadwork. The National Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave promotes the continuing creative spirit of the Iroquois and includes a children's museum, storytelling, archeological and historical exhibits and nature trails. The Iroquois nation is also on display at the New York State Museum in Albany, the oldest and largest state museum in the nation, with a major exhibit on Native American peoples, with life-size dioramas, sound and video and historical artifacts. The National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution in Manhattan is a fabulous collection of nearly one million artifacts of Native Americans in the Western Hemisphere. This is a must-see exhibit for serious students of their cultures.

A trip to New York State is always exciting for the sports buff. Pay tribute to America's favorite pastime in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This museum traces the most memor-able events and people that made the sport an American tradition. Computer screens allow visitors to summon vast stores of information on any aspect of the game, while showcases display priceless pieces of sports history such as Ty Cobb's spikes or Babe Ruth's ball and bat. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs pays tribute to thoroughbred racing in an authentic race track setting. Feel the thrill as you enter the starting gates, experience the excitement of the crowds, and wonder at the elegance of turn of the century Saratoga Springs as re-created at the museum. The city of Saratoga Springs is a charming resort town, with a wide variety of accommodations and dining experiences for those who want to spend a night or even a weekend. Complete your racing visit with breakfast at the Saratoga Race Course, where you can take a tour and watch the thoroughbreds work out.

At the Hall of Fame of the Trotter/Trotting Horse Museum in Goshen in the Hudson Valley, fans and horse lovers can trace the roots of this acclaimed sport. After experiencing the history of the sport at the museum, you are invited to come to the historic track next door to see harness horses working out. The National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta invites you to explore the sport that can trace its origin to ancient Greece, China, and South America. Visitors should check the museum's events schedule for a chance to attend tournament games which are held indoors and outdoors through-out the year. In Canastota, 60 miles west of the Baseball Hall of Fame,get a ringside seat at the International Boxing Hall of Fame Museum. With a gift shop offering a wide assortment of boxing collectibles and an extensive research library, the Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum makes a memorable stop on a sports history tour.

New York was at the heart of the Revolutionary War with some of the most important battles fought here. The state's military heritage has endowed it with impressive stone forts and defensive locations that stand in testimony to the various struggles that have helped shape and build our nation. Many offer tours of the grounds and battle re-enactments, live weapon demonstrations and historical exhibits. Fort Ticonderoga to the north became the site of the first American victory of the Revolutionary War. The fort, reconstructed in 1908, once again commands the shores of Lake Champlain. Red coats, booming cannons, and the Ticonderoga Fife and Drum Corps provide an exciting excursion through the American struggle for independence. At the Crown Point State Historic Site in Crown Point are the original ruins of a fort that controlled the narrows of Lake Champlain. The Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome is a reconstructed Revolutionary War fort with costumed guides, film and a museum. Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown has six stone buildings, begun in 1726, which saw service under French, English and American flags. Visitors can watch military drills and demonstrations by costumed soldiers, along with musket and cannon firings. In addition to historic forts, the state has many related historic sites, including the Saratoga National Historic Park, the site of the 1777 battles of Saratoga, turning point of the American Revolution; and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and its Fort Putnam along with nearby Stony Point Battlefield, the site of General Anthony Wayne's successful revolutionary war attack in 1779.

Seneca Falls is the birthplace of women's rights. Here, the Women's Rights National Historic Park at the site of the first Women's Rights Convention in 1848 commemorates the struggle for equality. Trace the history of the women's suffrage movement through films, videos, exhibits, and guided tours. Park tours include a visit to the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Also in Seneca Falls, the National Women's Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of extraordinary women, past and present. See Amelia Earhart's silk slippers, photos of outstanding women in history, or even attend the annual induction on October 14. This year is the 175th anniversary of the birth of Susan B. Anthony, whose house in Rochester was a center for the fight to give women the right to vote. Here she planned her campaigns and chronicled the struggle. Festivities were held in February to celebrate her birthday and the 75th anniversary of the 19th amendment that bears her name.

Fourteen Urban Cultural Parks link 22 New York State communities from New York City to Whitehall, and from Albany to Buffalo. Each Urban Cultural Park is developed around a central theme-- such as transportation, natural environment or reform movements--which provides insight into the history of the local areas. Set among traditional parks, historic neighborhoods, and old mills and churches, in an Urban Cultural Park the community becomes the park. Begin your exploration of each UCP community at its UCP Visitor Center.

The literature of the country -- and the world--has been enhanced by authors who found inspiration in New York State. Several of their homes are open to the public, including: Walt Whitman's Birthplace, Huntington Station, Long Island, boasts exquisite 19th century architecture, Whitman's library and special exhibits. Memories of his rustic childhood home, now a state historic site, made a powerful impact on his writings. Sunnyside, Tarrytown, is the 19th century home of Washington Irving, author of the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and its unforgettable headless horseman. With its stepped gables, antique weathervanes and breathtaking view of the Hudson River, Sunnyside has charmed visitors for years. Laura Ingalls Wilder described some of childhood's most endearing stories with delightful tales of home, family and early experiences. The Almanzo Wilder Homestead, Malone, is the farm of the real-life character Farmer Boy portrayed in her "Little House" book. Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage, Saranac Lake, was the rehabilitating mountain retreat of the author, who wrote well-known short works here. The books of James Fenimore Cooper had a profound impact on American art and literature. The brave pioneer who was the hero of his novels, "The Leatherstocking" defined America's self-image. The Central- Leatherstocking region draws its name from Cooper's famous series, set near Lake Otsego. The village of Cooperstown, in the heart of the region, has 34 sites that have close Cooper associations, many of which appear in his works. The Fenimore House Museum, which reopens in July, is home to James Fenimore Cooper memorabilia, folk art and academic paintings. The mention of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) conjures up images of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, boyhood rafting trips and underground caves, along with recollections of his sharp wit and deft satire. Visit the Mark Twain Study and Exhibit in Elmira and the farm where he wrote his major works by calling the Center For Mark Twain Studies for an appointment. The Mark Twain Musical Drama, also in Elmira, showcases professional drama all summer long at the expansive Domes Stage. The author is buried in nearby Woodlawn National Cemetery.