Saturdays, July 10 & 17, and August 14 & 21

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History Center Goes to the Market

Join us at the Oneida County Public Market this summer on select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Union Station's former Railway Express Agency wing. Stop by to chat history, purchase a puzzle, or simply say hello! 

Also Showing on the ​History Center YouTube Channel

Murder & Mayhem in the Mohawk Valley 

The Mohawk Valley is a region steeped in history including fascinating historical murder cases. James Greiner, Herkimer County Historian and contributing author of Murder & Mayhem in Herkimer County, discusses cases with Utica connections in this virtual lunchtime lecture.

View a recording of the presentation on the History Center YouTube channel.

​The Battle of Oriskany & Herkimer's Militia

The story of the Battle of Oriskany on August 6, 1777 has been passed down for generations, but how much do we really know about General Nicholas Herkimer and the Tryon County Militia? As historical records are scanned for digital collections, more original documents are available than ever before, painting a broader picture of the battle and its participants. Alexis Albright, curator of the Oriskany Museum, discusses this important event in our national and local history.

View a recording of the presentation on the History Center YouTube Channel

"The Coney Island of Central NY”- Sylvan Beach in its Heyday 

​Dive into Oneida Lake and Sylvan Beach history with author and local expert, Jack Henke.  Henke will talk about "The Beach" during its heyday, ~1900, sharing fun facts and photos from the past.  Henke is the author of four books about Oneida Lake history including From “The Beach” to Brewerton: Stories of Oneida Lake, and Oneida Lake: “The Only Happiness” Place Names and History.

View a recording of the presentation on the History Center YouTube Channel

In Search of What She Left Behind ​

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View the History Center's first virtual presentation! Barbara Dunadee will present a historic travelogue focused on finding remnants from the past left behind by notable area women. Inspired by her involvement in the two-volume series, Women Belong in History Books, Herkimer and Oneida Counties, 1700 to 1950 edited by Jane Spellman, Barb and her group organized several bus tours through parts of Herkimer and Oneida Counties showing others the rich history of this region. Her talk will feature some of what they have found while searching local highways and byways in an attempt to connect history with modern-day.

View a recording of the presentation on theHistory Center YouTube Channel​

Thursday July 8 at 6:30 pm

THE THIRD MRS. GALWAY

Virtual Book Launch & Signing

Join author Deirdre Sinnott to celebrate the release of her first novel, The Third Ms. Galway which is set in Utica in 1835 against the backdrop of the abolition struggle. Helen, a young bride, finds two people who have escaped enslavement hiding in her shed. Uncertain and unprepared, she wades into the country’s greatest moral dilemma, only to find personal and spiritual challenges in every direction.

Deirdre Sinnott grew up in Utica and graduated from Syracuse University. She speaks nationally about the history of the Underground Railroad in Oneida County.

This virtual event is free and open to all, and coincides with opportunities for in-person books signing in the History Center main gallery on Thursday, July 8 and Friday, July 9 from 12:00-5:00 pm. 

August 24 at 6:00 PM

TUESDAYS ON THE TOWPATH: UTICA RIDE

This year marks the 9th anniversary of the award-winning Tuesdays on the Towpath recreational bike ride series. Where riders experience sites on or around the Erie Canal at an easy pace. The rides are guided and typically include a speaker who will illuminate history, ecology, future plans, and other topics along the route. 

On August 24, 2021, the Oneida County History Center will host a ride in the Utica area. The ride will start at Lock 20 in Marcy and ride east to travel along the 1919 Barge Canal.  Riders will stop along the way to learn about the canal including the location of “The Cut.” Dug on the Mohawk River in 1730, this was the first artificial channel for navigation created in what would become New York State and it symbolizes the beginning of the Canal Age.  This six-mile ride is very flat and will ride out to the Utica Marsh and back.

The ride starts at 6:00 pm, finish by dark, and begins and ends at the same location. All riders who have at least some experience on a bike are welcome. Helmets required. These rides are FREE.  Contacting Patrick Reynolds at preynolds@oneidacountyhistory.org for more information.

Upcoming Programs & Events

The programs below are free and open to all. Advanced registration is required; limited to the first 100 participants
You will receive a link and instruction on how to join the online event after registration is complete.​

​​Oneida County History Center

​Recent Programs

from the Oneida County History Center

August 2-31

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Historical Selfie Scavenger Hunt Is Back!

Grab your camera or smartphone to learn about the people, places, and events that shaped Oneida County and your community. This interactive event invites you to explore local history and document the journey with a selfie at historic sites, monuments, and markers in Oneida County or Utica. All ages are encouraged to participate with prizes for children age 18 and under. The deadline for submissions is August 31 at 4 p.m. Clue sheets and complete instructions will be available at the History Center or can be downloaded here starting August 2nd, 2021.