Holiday Open House & Book Talk

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

OHA is hosting a holiday open house! Enjoy an evening of extended hours, complete with refreshments, musical entertainment, a book talk, storewide sales, and a special free gift from OHA! We will be open until 7pm on December 4th, allowing our guests plenty of time to do their holiday shopping. Everything in the Gift Gallery […]

Book Talk: “To Have A Tomorrow” with author Gene Fisch

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

Onondaga Historical Association is pleased to invite the community to a free public lecture and book signing, featuring Gene Fisch and his new book, To Have A Tomorrow: A True Story. Join us at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7th at the organization’s comprehensive history museum at 321 Montgomery Street in Downtown Syracuse. There, you'll […]

Come In From The Cold Exhibit Opening

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

Warm up from the CNY winter at the opening reception for our new exhibit, Come In From The Cold. The exhibit features selections from OHA's collection of winter fashions through the ages, plus artifacts of winter recreation, and artwork and historic photos depicting the snowscapes of our region. Enjoy refreshments, followed by a Curator Talk […]

Free

2023 OHA Medal Breakfast

The Oncenter Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center 800 S State St, Syracuse, NY, United States

The 2023 Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) Medal will be awarded to Christine B. Lozner, William P. Burrows, and Sedgwick Farm Neighborhood Association to recognize their outstanding and meritorious service to local history, and to the preservation and interpretation of the history of Onondaga County. We will be honoring this year’s Medal recipients on May 25th at […]

Syracuse Forever Historic Ghostwalk

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

Historic Ghostwalks presented by the Onondaga Historical Association are led by guides to locations in neighborhoods, buildings, and cemeteries where actors in costume portray individuals from Onondaga County’s past. The “ghosts” reveal their lives in 12 to 15 minute vignettes, giving personal insight to those who have preceded us. Reservations are $15 for the general […]

$12 – $15

Aviation Historian James Coulthart: Canadian P-51 Mustangs Over Central New York in the Late 1950s

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

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 […]

Walking & Talking Wednesdays: Historical Lunchtime Tours of Downtown Syracuse

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

This summer and fall, spend your mid-week lunch hour with Curator of History Robert Searing, listening to some local history as you get in a midday walk around town. On select Wednesdays, the tours will leave from OHA's downtown museum at 321 Montgomery Street at 12:05 and end in Clinton Square. Tour dates are June […]

$10 – $15

Syracuse: City Life In Watercolors Opening Reception

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

The opening reception for Syracuse: City Life in Watercolors is on June 28th from 5-7. Join us at our Downtown Museum at 321 Montgomery Street as we officially launch our new exhibit, which celebrates urban environments, plein air painting, and daily city life through the eyes and paintbrushes of three local artists. The work featured is by […]

Free

The Jerry Rescue: 172nd Anniversary Celebration

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

Join us on Sunday, October 1st at 2:00 in the OHA Auditorium as we celebrate the citywide act of civil disobedience that spoke to Syracuse's abolitionist spirit. Listing to a retelling of the Jerry Rescue Story, view our display of Jerry Rescue memorabilia, and enjoy a screening of Civil Correspondence. This original video centers around […]

Free

Lincoln on the Civil War

Onondaga Historical Association Museum and Research Center is pleased to offer a new installment of “Lincoln on the Civil War,” a reading and discussion series developed and sponsored by Humanities New York. “With its thematic focus, this reading and discussion program offers an unusual twist on the standard book group format by making time for […]

Free

Congress Beer Relaunch 5th Anniversary

Willow Rock 115 Game Road, Syracuse, NY

Five years ago, OHA partnered with Willow Rock Brewing Company for the relaunch of Congress Beer. This historical lager was a staple of our city's rich brewing history. Updated by modern brewing practices at Willow Rock, Congress is a light-bodied approachable beer. Now, we're celebrating five years of Congress on October 21 - complete with […]

Free

CNY Strange

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

As Halloween approaches, enjoy a screening of our stranger Ghostwalk stories, featuring communication with the other side, a local doctor’s macabre house calls, undertakers of the 1800s, the origin of the Jack O’ Lantern, and more! Screenings at 2pm in OHA's auditorium on October 28 & 29.

Free

Holiday Open House

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

Join us on Thursday, December 7th from 5pm-8pm for the grand opening of our Holiday exhibit, A Peak at Yuletides Past, exploring Victorian Christmas traditions. Spend the evening enjoying our historical and festive offerings, including: -New Exhibits: Through the Magic Lantern: Illuminated Images of Onondaga County and Fernando Carter: The Man & His Artwork -Last […]

Free

Lincoln on the Civil War

Onondaga Historical Association Museum and Research Center is pleased to offer another installment of “Lincoln on the Civil War,” a reading and discussion series developed and sponsored by a grant from Humanities New York. “With its thematic focus, this reading and discussion program offers an unusual twist on the standard book group format by making […]

Exhibits Opening: Look at What We Got and Suit Up

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse

It's a double feature on Wednesday, March 27, as we officially open our two newest exhibits! Suit Up: A Look at Syracuse Sporting Uniforms Through the Years is sure to be a hit with all our local sports fans. Utilizing OHA's extensive collection and the generosity of several local teams and collectors, this exhibition contains […]

Free

Suffragists & Abolitionists: A Look at Some of Central New York’s Reformers & Their Historic Homes

Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

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 […]

Free With Museum Admission

Guest Lecture: Seward House’s Dr. Jeff Ludwig

Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

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 […]

Free With Museum Admission

Book Talk: Author Lee Ellen Hickey on “Girl in the Glass Coffin”

Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

Join Oswego-based author Lee Ellen Hickey as she discusses her new book, "Girl in the Glass Coffin: The Tonkin Affairs." This new release is based on the true story of young Virginia Tonkin, known by local legend in Oswego as “the girl in the glass coffin,” whose dead body was kept in her family’s home […]

Free With Museum Admission

OHA Medal Breakfast

Marriott Syracuse Downtown 100 E Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

It takes the legacy of many hands to build a community. Since 1945, the Onondaga Historical Association Medal Award has recognized distinguished contributions to the cause of preserving and interpreting Onondaga County history. The OHA Medal is the highest honor that we can bestow upon an individual or organization for contributions made to the cause of preserving and […]

Book Talk: Roxanne Bocyck Discussing “Catherine’s Dream”

Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

On June 2nd, OHA is pleased to host author Roxanne Bocyck as she discusses her book, Catherine’s Dream. This historical fiction novel is inspired by true events about a young woman, the author's grandmother, who came to America in 1921 from Poland under an arranged marriage. The novel has been touted as a "well-researched" tale, […]

Free With Museum Admission

A Grain of Salt

Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

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 […]

$5

Strathmore Spirits Historic Ghostwalk

125 Ruskin Avenue 125 Ruskin Avenue, Syracuse, NY

Enjoy the latest edition of OHA's Historic Ghostwalks! Stroll the lovely Strathmore neighborhood and encounter stories of people and places from our past that may be new to you. Check-in will be at at 125 Ruskin Avenue, with street parking available. Tickets available now! Historic Ghostwalks presented by the Onondaga Historical Association are led by guides to […]

$15 – $20

Book Talk: Michael Miller Discusses “High Bridge”

Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

On July 14th, join OHA as we welcome author Michael Miller for a talk on his recently published book, High Bridge. About High Bridge: Upstate New York in the mid-19th century is a cauldron bubbling with the lure of fast fortunes, religious zealotry, and battles for civil liberties. This fervor centers on the Erie Canal, […]

OHA Away: Tailspins

Nottingham Senior Retirement Community 1301 Nottingham Road, Jamesville, NY, United States

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

Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY, United States

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. […]