Honoring the history to the Gateway of the Finger Lakes.

Resident President gets a hand from some dedicated Sea Scouts

Huge thank you to the Seas Scouts for helping our President Tyde Richard paint our beautiful building!

Upcoming Events

Late Summer Newsletter

Check out the latest local Historical news.

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Our Boating Hall of Fame

Our inaugural Boating Hall of Fame was a rousing success! We’d like to thank everyone involved in helping us. We look forward to working with you all for the next one!
October Cemetery Tours

October 25th
Tour Times: 10:30am • 12:00pm • 1:30pm
Festival of Wreaths

Coming Soon!
"Jumpin' Joe Whiting Performance & Book Signing

September 26th 1:00 Book signing from 3:00pm-4:00pm
Don’t miss out on a intimate performance form local legend Joe Whiting!

Joe's Website
Painting Restoration Unveiling presented by West Lake Conservatory

Sunday, September 28th • 2:00pm
Join us for the stunning restoration from one of our collection’s most revered works by William Anderson Coffin.
Presented by Joey Foster Ellis on West Lake Conservatory this event welcomes Donations. Refreshment served.
Uncovering 200 Years of Lore

October 21 • 2:00pm
An immersive telling of the histories of New Hope Mills, and the two centuries of legends that still echo from its waterfalls flowing to Skaneateles Lake.

CNY Central

Founding

The Skaneateles Historical Society was formed on March 22, 1961, when an initial meeting that was attended by 48 residents was held in Library Hall. For the first six years, meetings were held in the high school cafeteria. Beginning in 1967, the Society began to meet at St. Mary’s Hall. On March 22, 1982, the Society moved to meeting rooms in the Town Hall on Jordan Street.
Granted Charter

On March 29, 1968, the Skaneateles Historical Society was granted a charter by the State of New York Education Department, “incorporating Marian S. Holben, Alzina C. Loveless, Catharine R. Barnes, Julia L. Dowling, and Maurice F. Baumgartner and their associates and successors as an educational corporation under the corporate name of The Skaneateles Historical Society…to study, research, exhibit, preserve and promote whatever may relate to the history of the township of Skaneateles.”
Creamy Museum

The Society eventually began to search for a permanent home. Some places considered were a baggage car from the Skaneateles Short Line Railroad, the Harvey house at the corner of East Genesee St. and East Lake Rd., and the old Grand Union building. In 1989, an opportunity was offered to the Society to take over the former Skaneateles Creamery Co. building at 28 Hannum St. The members voted in favor of this project, and with the help of the community, it opened in 1992 as the permanent home of the Skaneateles Historical Society.