Places to visit in Oswego and Syracuse, NY

This the ‘tween season. Not enough snow for winter fun, not

enough sunny days for hiking and the like but it is perfect for spending an hour or two in a local museum. 

Dedicating an entire day to visiting a museum may be

difficult to schedule but adding an hour to a shopping excursion is easy.  It is a good way to visit the museum that has been on your “must-do” list.  A visit to many local museums can be accomplished in an hour or so. Even if you have visited a museum previously they often change their displays plus many offer special programs especially in the evening. 

Shopping in Oswego? Check out the H. L. White Marine Museum.

It is open year round Monday through Friday from 1 to 5.  Learn about Oswego’s impact on the history of the area. It was a critical player in the French & Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 and the development of the canal system.  Get a glimpse into the lifestyle of the

wealthy of Oswego in the early 20th Century with a visit to the Italianate Richardson Bates House which is open Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 5 pm. Also in Oswego check out the Railroad Museum which is open from noon to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, May through Labor Day.  Often

overlooked in Oswego is the Tyler Art Gallery at the college and the Tyler Art Gallery at Oswego State Downtown. To my way of thinking the most under-promoted place in Oswego is Safe Haven which tells the story of the 900plus European refugees – many

escapees from concentration camps - who were held during WW II. It is the only place of its kind in the United States. Check out the new Children’s Museum – it is on my list. And, of course there is Fort Ontario which is always an interesting place to visit and the lake views are great. 

Heading to Syracuse? There are a lot of great spots to visit. Just

walking around the Everson Art Museum plaza is interesting.  Many people, on sunny days, spend their lunch time by the pool.  The museum was designed by the famed I. M. Pei.  The Everson has a variety of art experiences and is open until 8 pm on Thursdays and until 9 on the first Friday of

each month.  Art lovers will also want to make frequent visits to ArtRage and Point of Contact to view their changing exhibits. The Onondaga Historical Society Museum is free and has permanent displays on the Underground Railroad and Syracuse China and currently featuring Syracuse Jazz.  There is something for everyone in the museum.  Did you

know Erie Boulevard was originally where the Erie Canal ran through Syracuse? The Weight Lock Museum is another one-of-a-kind museum. Learn how the Erie Canal made New York the Empire State. And, don’t forget the MOST where everyone ends up learning something new about science and technology. 

Heading to Fulton? Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 to 3 pm is the often overlooked 1861 John Wells Pratt House Museum. Check out the mid-19th century kitchen and you will have a new appreciation of the conveniences you have today.  There are plenty of other places that make a good one-hour distraction for shopping. Always check to see when they are open and if they have any special programs – especially evening presentations.