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History & Culture

Courthouse Square Railroading Erie Canal Culvert & Historic Ridge Road Trails Cobblestone Museum

Waterways, railways and highways have defined our historical evolution since the early 1800's. The engineering feat of the grand Erie Canal, the heyday of the New York Central Railroad and Iroquois Indian trails turned to turnpike, are all brought to life with a museum tour, a quiet walk through a historic memorial cemetery, or a stop at our many antique shops.

Only in Orleans County!
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Historical & Cultural Attraction
Description

Cobblestone Society Museum
14393 Ridge Road West
Routes 98 and 104 at Childs, NY
P.O. Box 363, Albion, New York 14411
(585) 589-9013 or (585) 589-9510
www.cobblestonesocietymuseum.org

The Cobblestone Society Museum, the only cobblestone museum in the world, showcases the unique masonry construction method using stones rounded and polished into cobble by glacial action. The museum offers guided tours of seven buildings housing artifacts from the Cobblestone Era (1825-1860) including the oldest cobblestone church in North America and the cobblestone parsonage once owned by Horace Greeley. Designated a National Historic Landmark. Open daily (except Mondays) June 23rd to Labor Day. September & October: Sundays only. Group tours by appointment.

Courthouse Square Historic District
Rte. 98, Village of Albion
(585) 589-9510 or (585) 589-4174

In the heart of Albion, the county seat, stands the 1858 Greek Revival Style dome County Courthouse and the 1882 County Clerk's Building, surrounded by 34 architecturally significant structures. Seven churches face the square, one of which was built in 1894 by George M. Pullman, who later became a millionaire with the manufacture of railway sleeping cars. National Historic Register site. Group tours by appointment.
The Erie Canal Culvert
Culvert Road, two miles east of Medina
between Routes 31 and 104
(585) 798-4287
The only tunnel allowing motorists to drive under the Erie Canal. This unique feat of engineering was built to avoid a very expensive and time-consuming construction of a bridge and approach roads on both sides of the canal that would have been needed to carry traffic over the waterway. Listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Holley Depot Museum
Murray Holley Historical Society
Holley Fountain Square
(585) 638-6333 or (585) 638-8188

This former New York Central Depot built in 1907 and closed in 1954 now exhibits local artifacts of the Erie Canal and railway eras, and houses and interpretive center for genealogical research. Open Sundays.

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library
620 West Ave.
Medina, NY 14103
(585) 798-3430
www.medinalibrary.org
Public library with computer access for visitors.
Monday - Thursday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Friday & Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM

Medina Historical Society
406 West Ave.
Medina, New York 14103
www.medina-ny.com/historical/

The Medina Historical Society is located in the Chase-Merritt House, a home that dates back to the 1840s. There is a turn-of-the-century parlor, as well as a period dining room and kitchen. The museum is rounded out by rooms such as the Medina Business room, the Military room - with an interesting collection of local military items, and an Antique Tools room. Recently, an excellent collection of Erie Canal photos was put on display thanks to the generosity of GO ART! There is also a small gift shop where items of local interest can be purchased. Open the 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month from June-October, from 1-4 PM. Other times are available by appointment.

Medina Railroad Museum
530 West Avenue
Medina, New York 14103
(585) 798-6106
www.railroadmuseum.net

 

Located in a 300 foot long wooden freight house built in 1905, the center opened April 1997 with exhibits of railroad, fire and law enforcement history. Includes an HO scale model railroad layout, the largest in the eastern U.S. Relax & enjoy a leisurely 34 mi. round trip, 2 hr. ride through the scenic Erie Canal Heritage Corridor aboard comfortable vintage 1947 Budd passenger coaches between Medina & Lockport. Museum TU-SU 11-5. Call for excursion train schedule, May-Dec.

Mount Albion Cemetery
Route 31
Albion, NY
(585) 589-4174

100 acres of hills and dales encompassing 30,000 gravesites. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument Tower contains over 400 names of Orleans County Civil War casualties engraved in marble slabs. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Summer and fall narrated tours.
Historic "Ridge Road"
Route 104
Towns of Murray, Gaines & Ridgeway
U.S. Route 104 sits upon a ridge of sand once forming the shoreline of ancient Lake Iroquois before receding 10,000 years ago. It was first used by the Senecas and Iroquois, and in 1798 a road was traced through the forest near the ridge, transforming the trail into a stage coach turnpike. The Village Inn at Childs is the only surviving stage coach stop. The Ridge is often referred to as "the road of the cobblestone houses," for there are more such buildings along its 25 miles from Rochester than on any highway in America.

Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council
201 East Main St.
Batavia, NY 14020
1-800-774-7372
www.goart.org

GO ART! is a not-for-profit art organization sponsoring performances and events at Orleans County Marine Park, County Fair, Erie Canal ports, museums and more. GO ART galleries are in 2 Orleans County locations:

  • Shirt Factory Café, 115 W. Center St, Medina. M-F 7-9, SA 8-9, SU 8-3. 585-798-2633
  • Albion Visitor's Center, 121 N. Main St., Albion. M-F 9AM - 4PM.

Country Barn Quilt Trail
Routes 272 & 18
Kendall, NY
(585) 659-9131
www.countrybarnquilttrail.com

Enjoy a scenic drive along country roads on the Ontario lake plain where you’ll find over 20 country barns and other farm buildings adorned with handpainted quilt squares.  Each square has a story to tell, with names like Farmer’s Daughter, Carpenter’s Wheel, Circle the Field and Joseph’s Coat.  That story may be heard while on the trail by calling a dedicated cell phone number.  Pick up a map and directory at Partyka Farms, first stop on the Trail.

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