Presentation

Freemasonry played a vital role in the social development of New York State. Its Lodges provided a trusted place for newcomers to meet and for friendships and business partnerships to develop, free from political, professional, and sectarian differences. During its explosive growth from 1790 to the end of the 1820s Masonic brethren produced iconic architecture, […]

The fascinating history of three generations of Syracuse’s Lyman Smith Family, the “Smith” in one of the world’s most famous typewriters, the Smith-Corona.  It’s a tale that stretches over numerous family properties, from urban mansions, to hunting camps and including what once was the tallest building west of the Mississippi. Remarks will be accompanied by […]

Join us on August 24th at Skä•noñh-Great Law of Peace Center in Liverpool for a book signing with Keith Burich, PhD., author of Thomas Indian School and the “Irredeemable” Children of New York in cooperation with Syracuse University Press. Burich is a professor of Native American history and the director of the American Indian Center at Canisius College in […]

The Onondaga Environmental Institute, the Onondaga Historical Association and the Ska-nonh – Great Law of Peace Center are pleased to announce a special event with the artists behind the Reviving Place Exhibition on Friday, September 30th at the Ska-nonh Center. Artists Sandra Fioramonti-Sabene, Roland Powless, Kamiiron Pritchard and Kate Woodle will be on hand for […]

Obomsawin will talk about the intersection of art and activism, drawing on her long career as a filmmaker, singer-songwriter and visual artist. Catered lunch to follow. Free admission. More about Obomsawin via The Canadian Encyclopedia Committed to redressing the invisibility of Aboriginal peoples, Alanis Obomsawin's filmmaking style resides in the unique ability to pair Aboriginal […]

Join us on Sunday, October 16th at the Skä•noñh - Great Law of Peace Center as we welcome Town of Geddes Historian Susan Millet. Susan will present photos from the Collections of the Geddes Historical Society and tell the stories of Onondaga Lake's resorts. Solvay-Geddes Historical Society's mission is to collect, preserve, and showcase historical artifacts of the greater […]

The Onondaga Historical Association will host a one man performance of THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN, written and performed by J.D. Newman. The play follows of the creation of THE LAND OF OZ and the memorable characters Dorothy, the Scare Crow, the Tin Man, the Lion, and Toto as originally conceived by author L. Frank […]

This Halloween, treat yourself to a goody bag of tricks, ancient customs, strange happenings, and ghostly tales of Central New York all conjured up in this OHA special presentation. It is a fun way to celebrate all hallows eve for young and old. OHA Members & Children 10-16: $5 General Public: $7.50 To make reservations, call […]

OHA's charming radio host and his knowledgeable guest, a yuletide expert, will share everything you wanted to know about Christmas. This gathering will be an hour filled with fun, songs, and traditions as the audience becomes part of the celebration. It is certain to leave you in the spirit of the season. Cost: OHA Members: $5 General Public: […]

Join us on February 28th at the Manlius Public Library as OHA's Curator of History, Dennis Connors, presents on Syracuse's brewing history. Beer has been made in the Syracuse area as early as the 1790s. This program reviews its local history, ties to various ethnic neighborhoods, struggles with the Temperance Movement and the Depression, and its […]

Join us March 30th at the North Syracuse Public Library as OHA's Curator of History, Dennis Connors, presents on Gustav Stickley and Syracuse's Arts & Crafts Legacy. This program explores the great traditions that developed early in the 20th century that made Syracuse a center for the national Arts & Crafts Movement. The lecture reviews the […]

This presentation by Mel and Mady Rubenstein discusses the book, The Peacetime Draft During the Cold War: Stories from Those Who Served. The book includes stories from Syracuse area men who contributed stories to the book about their time in the service during the extremely dangerous period between the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.  

Saturday, October 21 at 1:00 PM at the Skä•noñh- Great Law of Peace Center  For millennia, waterways in Haudenosaunee territories have been profoundly important.  In the Haudenosaunee cosmology, water is sacred as fundamental to all life.  Therefore, while waterways were used for transportation, as food resources, and as locations for settlement, it was widely agreed […]

Join OHA and the Erie Canal Museum for a free talk about brewing and social life along the Erie Canal followed by a Q&A with both museums' curators, OHA's Robert Searing and the Erie Canal Museum's Ashley Maready, at the Erie Canal. The Q&A is at the Evergreen bbeginning at 6:45. This is the second in […]

A Sustainable World of Equality and Peace, a joint presentation by Freida Jacques & Sally Roesch Wagner. The speakers will explore the impact Haudenosaunee women had on the 19th century women's rights movement. You can make a donation to this event, which will help support future events, exhibits, and programs at the Center, by clicking here. […]

The Skä·noñh Center is excited to host a public dialogue between David Loy and Freida Jacques about Buddhist and Indigenous values and perspectives on the ecological challenges facing us. This event is free and open to the public and will be held Saturday, April 21, from 11am to 12:30pm with a light vegetarian lunch served at 12:30. Partial funding […]

A nearly century-old tragedy is motivating OCC students to make a difference in their community. “We want to preserve and memorialize what happened,” said Tara Carr (West Genesee HS, 2017). “We want to make sure Split Rock will never be forgotten.” Carr is one of eleven students enrolled in “The Split Rock Disaster,” an Honors […]

Come learn lessons from the Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON) and citizens of the Onondaga Nation, who have worked together as allies for more than 25 years on issues such as the rights of Indigenous Peoples, environmental responsibility, peace, land rights, cultural respect and mutual friendship. Over time and while learning from our successes […]

On June 13th at the Skä•noñh - Great Law of Peace Center, join us as we welcome distinguished professor of history at SUNY Geneseo, Dr. Michale Oberg, to discuss the common misconceptions about the the Carlisle Indian Industrial School; why Onondaga young people attended the school; their experiences; and their feelings about the school after they […]

June 16th - 4:00 - 5:30 at the Skä•noñh Center: Join us for a talk by Tadodaho Sid Hill, Betty Lyons, and Sid Hill, Jr. on the hatching of the 17-year cicada and its significance in feeding the Onondaga Nation after the attack by General George Washington in 1779.

Join us on June 20th as OHA Executive Director, Gregg Tripoli, discusses the story of Mary Elizabeth Evans Sharpe. Mary Elizabeth Evans was born in Syracuse, NY on October 23rd, 1884.  At the age of 15, she became the youngest businesswoman in the United States. In 1905, her father’s and grandfather’s sudden deaths left the […]

Join us on July 18th as OHA Curator of History, Robert Searing, discusses Syracuse's rich brewing history. Beer has been made in the Syracuse area as early as the 1790s. This program reviews its local history, ties to various ethnic neighborhoods, struggles with the Temperance Movement and the Depression, and its revival in the late 20th […]

The year is 1957, and as a member of the audience, you are a new employee of Onondaga Pottery. President Richard Pass and his assistant have come to welcome you and share a bit of the prestigious Syracuse China legacy; from teacups to landmines, and to test your pottery skills! Call 315-428-1864 x312 to make […]

Details: Taking on the Doctrine of Discovery: What are our Next Steps? Date: August 18-19, 2018, Time:  9:00am-5:00pm on Saturday (with a banquet 6:00pm-9:00pm) and 9:00am-1:00pm on Sunday Place: Skä·noñh—Great Law of Peace Center, Liverpool NY in Onondaga Nation Territory Tickets: $100 per person Speakers: Coming Soon (visit IVI's website for updated information) Sponsors: Indigenous Values Initiative, American Indian Law Alliance Summary: We are excited […]

Join us on August 22nd as OHA Executive Director, Gregg Tripoli, discusses the local connection to the film industry. From the early movie making machines to the men behind MGM, Syracuse plays a starring role in the history of Hollywood.  This presentation covers some amazing connections between Syracuse and the creation of the motion picture […]

Join us on September 19th as OHA Curator of History, Robert Searing, discusses Syracuse's aviation history. From airbases turned airports to those who risked their lives testing planes during World War II, this lecture covers Syracuse's rich history of aviation throughout the 20th century. This event is free and open to the public. Bring your […]

Join us at the Skä·noñh-Great Law of Peace Center in Liverpool, NY for a lecture titled, Heart of the Country: Natural History of Onondaga Lake, by Catherine L. Landis. The lecture will discuss what Onondaga Lake was like before becoming one of the most degraded lakes in the nation. Catherine will also discuss the early […]

Celebrate a spooky Halloween with the Onondaga Historical Association’s retelling of Washington Irving’s famous Sleepy Hollow story, but with a CNY twist. Our tale is set in Central New York at the time of our “new” Erie Canal. Join new schoolmaster Icabod Stork, as he experiences love and lore of the mysterious Erie Canal. Event […]

Dan Longboat will be a guest speaker at the Center on Thursday, November 29th, 2018 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Longboat belongs to the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation and is a citizen of the Haudenosaunee, originally from Ohsweken the Six Nations community on the Grand River Territory. An Associate Professor in the Chanie Wenjack School […]

Joe Wawatie, the grandson of the subject of our newest temporary exhibit - Kokom Lena of the First Nation Algonquin - will speak at the Center on Saturday, March 2nd beginning at 2 pm. He and his brother, Jacob (featured in the exhibit), spent a lot of time in the bush. Wawatie will start with […]

Beer has been made in the Syracuse area as early as the 1790s. This program reviews its local history, ties to various ethnic neighborhoods, struggles with the Temperance Movement and the Depression, and its revival in the late 20th century with both local brewpubs and national industrial giants. Catch Curator of History, Bob Searing, at the Skaneateles […]

For Women's History Month, we're excited to welcome Ehris Urban and Velya Jancz-Urban, who make up The Grounded Goodwife,  for "The Not-So-Golden Life of the Gilded Age Wife." Laugh, grimace, and honor our foremothers’ journeys while learning about the little-known issues faced by women during America’s Gilded Age. "Although Gilded Age women in the upper and lower classes had […]

This program explores the great traditions that developed early in the 20th century that made Syracuse a center for the national Arts & Crafts Movement. The lecture reviews the story of Gustav Stickley, but also touches on the contributions of local architect Ward Wellington Ward, stained glass craftsman Henry Keck and the artists at Syracuse China. […]

Syracuse’s water supply was not always drawn from the crystal clear depth of Skaneateles Lake. Before that 1890s project, the community struggled with a variety of sources. Probe the story of Syracuse’s various attempts to develop a safe and dependable water system and how that was important to the health, safety and economy of an American city. […]

In 2015, the Skä·noñh Center established a native plant garden within the confines of the French stockade. The goal of the garden is to showcase plants of ecological, cultural, and historical value to Onondaga Lake and surrounding areas. Plants in the garden were grown from wild-collected native seed or occurred naturally ("volunteers"). The suite of […]

Who Really Invented the Air-cooled Engine? Syracuse’s own John Wilkinson did of course. Or did he? Return to the turbulent year of 1917 amid OHA's exhibits "From Gilded to Gustav: The Victorian and Arts and Crafts Eras in Onondaga County," "Strolling Down Salina Street," "The Heart of New York," which includes OHA's 1902 Franklin Automobile, […]

This program, with OHA Curator of History Robert Searing, explores the great traditions that developed early in the 20th century that made Syracuse a center for the national Arts & Crafts Movement. The lecture reviews the story of Gustav Stickley, but also touches on the contributions of local architect Ward Wellington Ward, stained glass craftsman […]

On Wednesday, August 21st at noon, join us at the Onondaga Historical Museum Auditorium at 321 Montgomery Street in downtown Syracuse for a presentation titled "Ideal Women: Gender, Domesticity, and Beauty in the Gilded Age" by Mary Ann Calo, author and Batza Professor of Art and Art History, Emerita, Colgate University. This is part of […]

In conjunction with the exhibition Bundles of Wood, the Onondaga Historical Association is proud to host a lunchtime lecture with acclaimed photographer Nicola Lo Calzo. Lo Calzo will discuss his research, artistic practice and photographing the rich local history of the Underground Railroad (UGRR) during his residency at Light Work in 2017. This event is […]

Upstate New York once supported a thriving billiard and pool table industry, and Syracuse was home to four table manufacturers. This presentation will tell the story of the Syracuse Billiard Table Makers, and give a unique perspective on how furniture styles changed "from Gilded to Gustav". Wherever men gathered in the days before radio and television, there was sure […]

From 7 pm to 8:30 pm Hartman will discuss the creation and consequences of Native American Boarding Schools and Adoption Eras and their social, psychological, legal, and personal consequences. The purpose is to educate people on a subject that few Americans are aware of. This event is free and open to the public with a […]

Enjoy an evening with Jack Manno and the Earth Blessing Chorus.  This event celebrates Jack’s new book: The Earth and other Blessings.  Jack is a member of the executive committee of the Skä·noñh-Great Law of Peace Center and the Neighbors of Onondaga Nation (NOON). He is Emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies at SUNY College of Environmental Science […]

On Sunday, June 11th from 11am-noon,  OHA will be hosting local aviation historian James Coulthart at our downtown museum at 321 Montgomery Street. He will be presenting his talk,  Canadian P-51 Mustangs Over Central New York in the Late 1950s, the story of how 70+ WW2-era high-performance fighter planes, whose destinations were supposed to be conflict “hot […]

Join us in the downtown museum's auditorium for an in-depth illustrated talk by Beth Crawford of "some well-behaved" 19th century social reformers and their historic houses, featuring Central New York's most prominent suffragists and abolitionists: Harriet May Mills in Syracuse, Isabel Howland in Sherwood, Harriet Tubman in Auburn, Matilda Joslyn Gage in Fayetteville, and the […]

As we prepare for the 2024 election season, Seward House Museum Director of Education Dr. Jeff Ludwig explores the politics behind William Seward's three campaigns for New York Governor in the late 1830s and early 1840s. These early beginnings of Seward's career as a reformer with a radical reputation are deeply connected to Syracuse and […]

A Grain of Salt is a talk by OHA Curator Bob Searing, exploring the history of the Salt City, from the Great Law of Peace to the Erie Canal to the foundation of Syracuse University and the rise of the city's industrial might in the 20th century as one of the 30 largest cities in […]

OHA Away is putting on a touring presentation, Tailspins! Fur trader Ephraim Webster will make an appearance to share legends and stories of early New York State for all ages. This historic performance will take place at the Nottingham Senior Retirement Community, 1301 Nottingham Road, Jamesville, NY 13078, in the main Community Room. All are welcome […]

A Grain of Salt is a talk by OHA Curator Bob Searing, exploring the history of the Salt City, from the Great Law of Peace to the Erie Canal to the foundation of Syracuse University and the rise of the city’s industrial might in the 20th century as one of the 30 largest cities in America. […]