NEWSLETTER
June 20-21 marks Path Through History Weekend in New York State, coinciding with Juneteenth and the ongoing commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. It’s the perfect time to immerse yourself in New York State’s rich and vibrant history, from the lush Adirondacks to the sandy shores of Long Island. Below, we’ve highlighted a selection of can’t-miss events and nearby attractions, making for a perfect weekend getaway. From historic farm tours, explorations of Victorian-era love and marriage traditions, and family-friendly festivals, there are over 60 events happening across the state. Be sure to check out the Path Through History events calendar for a full guide to the historical and educational attractions offering something special during the weekend.
Adirondacks
Juneteenth Colors of Freedom Celebration (Lake Placid)
Celebrate Juneteenth under the big tent at John Brown Farm State Historic Site, the home and burial site of the abolitionist known for his raid on Harper's Ferry. Enjoy a day of community, culture, and fun with kids’ activities and games, the presentation of the Juneteenth Community Award, a Praise Dance group performance, and a reading of John Brown’s final speech. The festivities continue with live music from Jamcrackers, a folk trio known for their diverse blues, gospel, and dance tunes. Save room for food because the popular Dogfather food truck will be on-site to serve. (June 21, 12pm-2:30pm, free; Lake Placid)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend in Lake Placid where you can enjoy lakeside and lodge stays, explore Olympic history, and choose your own outdoor adventures from fishing to paddling to mountain biking. You can also head over to Tupper Lake to the world-renowned Wild Center. Wander around wildlife exhibits and elevate your senses on the "Wild Walk," a mesmerizing elevated trail that sweeps you through the treetops, revealing whimsical treasures like a human-sized bird nest and an expansive hammock-like spider web. You’re there at the perfect time to see the brand new featured exhibit, TROLLS: Save the Humans, showcasing six giant troll sculptures made from reclaimed materials that are taking up residence at the 115-acre campus.
Capital-Saratoga
Lost Voices Tour of Mabee Farm (Rotterdam Junction)
Commemorate Juneteenth at Mabee Farm as you embark on a featured Lost Voices tour. The farm, the oldest in the Mohawk Valley, was home to generations of enslaved people like Sam, Bate and Cato whose voices have been lost to history. In this tour, you’ll learn about the lives of those at the farm who were not free to live and pass down their stories, with the intent of better understanding the experiences of hundreds of other enslaved people in Schenectady’s history. (June 20, 11am, 1:30pm, 3pm, $10; Rotterdam Junction)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend in Schenectady! Kids can enjoy hands-on fun and reach for the stars at a planetarium show at MiSci, visit the Central Park Rose Garden for the area’s best blooms, and get an interactive introduction to the world of opera along with free tea from Saratoga Tea & Honey during a special performance that’s free for children at the historic Proctors Theatre (Saturday at 11am). You can also zoom over to NYzipline to embark on an aerial adventure featuring a 10-zipline canopy tour over a 500-foot gorge, crush six levels of wild high-ropes obstacles, and take the ultimate 40-foot Leap of Faith bungee jump.
Catskills
Tour the Grounds of Bethel Woods (Bethel)
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts by roaming its historic grounds by golf cart on two expert-guided tours. Discover the enduring legacy of Bethel Woods on the “Behind the Scenes Tour”, where you'll get an insider’s view of what it takes to produce a show and enjoy the rare opportunity to step onto the Pavilion stage where music legends have performed. You might even get a glimpse at the artists’ dressing rooms! “The Historic Site Tour” transports you back to 1969 to experience the Woodstock Music & Art Fair, including the iconic festival field where 450,000 people jammed out. You’ll be treated to views of festival locations like the Bindy Bazaar, the Free Kitchen, the Art Fence, and The Playground. Along the way, you’ll see never before seen photos of Woodstock and stand in the exact location they were taken. (June 20-21, various times, $20; Bethel)
Make it a getaway: Stay and play at a top-rated family resort, Villa Roma Resort. Dine amid hand-painted murals, soaring chandeliers, and life-size marble statues. Enjoy a wide range of recreational activities including swimming in the indoor and outdoor pools, pickleball tournaments, horse and turtles races, sand volleyball, tennis, racquetball, and bowling, or play the championship golf course with Catskill mountain views. Unwind in the spa, mingle at the piano bar, or chill in the ice-cream parlor.
Chautauqua-Allegheny
Historic Tour: Jamestown’s Hidden Alleys (Jamestown)
Tucked away from view behind respectable facades, alleys were indispensable elements in American cities during the last half of the nineteenth century. The “impolite” realities of the industrial movement were hidden from Victorian society. Jamestown had five alleys, and on this historic tour, presented by the Fenton History Center, you’ll learn the intriguing stories of the hidden alleys. (June 20, 10am, $12 admission, $8 for members; Jamestown)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend in Jamestown, where you can visit the first center entirely dedicated to the art of comedy, the National Comedy Center. You'll start your experience at a kiosk that asks questions to gauge your sense of humor. From there, your personalized journey begins, and you are guided toward content tailored to your precise style of humor. This cutting-edge technology helps visitors make the most of the more than 50 immersive exhibits. Keep the laughs going at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and get in touch with nature at the Audubon Community Nature Center, where admission is free on Sundays.
Central New York
Eden Cultivated (Oneida)
Take part in a brand-new tour experience at the Oneida Community Mansion House, as the 13 acres surrounding the house burst with color, beauty, and layered history. On the debut “New Garden of Eden Tour,” you will explore the landscape and uncover how these historic grounds have evolved over time, from a rugged communal farm to an elegant pleasure garden and exclusive private club. Along the journey, you’ll admire seasonal blooms and "champion trees" that serve as a living, natural complement to the grand architecture of the Mansion House. (June 20, 2:30pm-4pm, $30 admission, $25 for members and students; Oneida)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, named Best Overall Gaming Resort in New York for 2025 by Casino Player Magazine. Explore all the amazing amenities including a Las Vegas-style gaming floor with 2,000 slots and 80 table games, two luxurious spas, five golf courses, several nightlife venues, 20 dining options, a state-of-the-art sports betting lounge, and more. Wind down in one of Turning Stone’s luxurious five hotels. Unleash your wild side and connect with animals from all over the world at the Utica Zoo, just 30 minutes away. Book your encounter with endangered red pandas, African painted dogs, mountain zebras, bactrian camels, Nigerian goats, and so many more! Enjoy a leisurely stroll on the zoo’s nature trails.
Finger Lakes
Love like a Victorian (Cortland)
Did you know that many modern ideals about love and marriage began to take shape during the late Victorian Era? Discover how these changing attitudes influenced courtship and marriage on a special tour of the 1890 House Museum, exploring how the sons of inventor and industrialist Chester F. Wickwire might have searched for love at the turn of the new century. While societal expectations still influenced how young adults met and courted, this era marked a shift away from marriages based on family connections, social and economic status toward ideals centered on love, emotional fulfillment, and companionship. Even so, strict rules remained around proper courtship. Inspired by the popularity of period dramas like Bridgerton and The Gilded Age, this tour examines the fascination with Victorian romance, symbolism, and flowery language. Learn which Victorian ideas about love and marriage have stood the test of time and which have evolved to resemble modern relationships. (June 20-21, 11am-4pm, $15/adults, $12/seniors, $10/students and military, $5/children; Cortland)
Make it a getaway: Have some all-in-one fun at Greek Peak Mountain Resort! Hope Lake Lodge has spacious suites, a waterfall-themed spa, and panoramic views. On-site restaurants with delicious options include a pub serving up wood-fired pizza, local wine and beer, and lively music. Take a dip in the massive indoor water park where the temperature’s a perfect 84° every day of the year. The adventure center features mountain coaster rides, zipline tours, aerial challenges, bungee-trampolines, and also on-site is a mountain bike park.
Greater Niagara
Richardson Olmsted Campus Interior Tour (Buffalo)
Led by expert docents, this interior tour of the Richardson Olmsted Campus offers rare access to spaces that have remained largely untouched since the 1970s. Experience the site’s original architecture alongside the healing landscape designed to serve as a therapeutic environment. While on the tour, you’ll learn about the philosophies of mental health advocate Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride and how his ideas influenced architect Henry Hobson Richardson and landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who applied those principles throughout the grounds. The tour concludes at the Richardson Hotel (a national landmark) for a moment of reflection. Closed-toe shoes are required for this tour. (June 20-21, 10am-11:30am, $30; Buffalo)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend in Buffalo exploring the Queen City through a versatile mix of walking tours. Marvel at more architectural gems including the Martin House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most notable creations. Spice up your trip on the Buffalo Wing Trail, take in the sights and sites at Canalside, and head on over to Niagara Falls to witness one of New York State’s most majestic natural wonders.
Hudson Valley
Yonkers Black History Walking Tour (Yonkers)
Immerse yourself in 400 years of African and African-descended history in downtown Yonkers during a 2.5-mile urban hike, beginning and ending at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site. The tour visits historic churches including St. John's Getty Square and Messiah Baptist Church, the waterfront’s Enslaved African Rain Garden, the sites of early Black landowners in Yonkers, and discusses Yonkers’ connections to the American Revolution, Underground Railroad, Civil Rights, redlining, and school segregation. Hear stories about famous Yonkers residents, Yonkers firsts, schools, fraternal organizations, music, and more! Admission to the museum is included with your ticket. (June 21, 1pm, $10; Yonkers)
Make it a getaway: Stay overnight at the Hyatt Place or Residence Inn to explore more of what the waterfront city of Yonkers has to offer. Wander through 43 acres of garden elegance along the Hudson River at Untermyer Park & Gardens. On Saturday you can catch the popular and bold Tom Gold Dance performance, returning to the Amphitheater for its sixth year in a row. On Sunday you can take a seasonal highlights garden tour and discover the monumental architecture and elements of garden design in use while viewing the seasonal plants in bloom. The family will also love jumping into a world of creativity and color at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center.
Long Island
Spy Through Parks (West Hempstead)
Many pivotal moments of the American Revolution unfolded on Long Island, and the “Spy Through Parks” program highlights the spies of the region who helped George Washington secure victory in the war. In 1778, General Washington asked Benjamin Tallmadge to organize a covert spy network to gather intelligence on British military plans in and around New York City. Tallmadge recruited notable and trusted childhood friends forming what became known as the Culper Spy Ring. They developed a system of codes, code names, and numbers to keep their identities a secret.
Step into the role of a Revolutionary-era code breaker as you uncover how the Culper Spy Ring operated, and put your detective skills to the test by solving coded clues during an interactive scavenger hunt and scenic hike through Hempstead Lake State Park. (June 20, 11am-12:30pm, $4; West Hempstead)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend in Garden City where you can soar over to the Cradle of Aviation to immerse yourself in over 100 years of aerospace! Travel to places beyond your wildest dreams in the museum's domed IMAX theater, featuring a Mesmerica 360 Planetarium Show that weekend along with a Women in STEM Scavenger Hunt. The museum also has eight chronologically-arranged galleries and more than 30 hands-on exhibits. Located in Nassau County’s Museum Row, you can also explore the Long Island Children’s Museum and Nassau County Firefighters Museum, and tack on shopping at Roosevelt Field and step back to the Gilded Age at Old Westbury Gardens.
NYC
Guided Tour of Manhattan's Last Farmhouse (Manhattan)
Delve into the rich history of Inwood during a guided tour where you’ll hear the stories of those who have shaped Northern Manhattan. Led by expert docents, tours draw from the museum’s permanent collections to highlight the lives and experiences of the Lenape, Revolutionary War soldiers, the Dyckman family, free and enslaved African people, and present-day Uptown residents. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore the museum’s historic Hessian military hut, community altar, newest contemporary art exhibition, and a collections exhibition focused on Revolutionary War history in Inwood. (June 20, 12pm-1pm, free; Manhattan)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend in Manhattan, making your homebase in Midtown to unlock access to New York City’s most epic experiences. Take in skyline views from SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, admire the architecture of Grand Central Terminal, catch a Broadway show, and more. Stick to the America 250 theme and embark on the NYC Revolutionary Trail: Echoes of Revolution, a riveting 16-stop walking tour from The Battery to Federal Hall that lets you relive historical moments from the founding of the United States at the exact sites where they happened using augmented reality and multimedia.
Thousand Islands-Seaway
Ogdensburg in the American Revolution (Ogdensburg)
Celebrate New York’s vibrant heritage with a brand-new scavenger hunt created to complement the Ogdensburg in the American Revolution traveling exhibit at the Ogdensburg History Museum. Perfect for history buffs of all ages, this interactive experience invites you to dive into the region’s revolutionary roots. As an added bonus, the first 10 visitors each day will receive a coupon for free future admission! While you’re there, explore the museum’s other permanent and rotating exhibits, including the Horwood stained glass and Hart pottery. (June 20-21, 1pm-3pm, free; Ogdensburg)
Make it a getaway: Spend the weekend in Ogdensburg, where you can experience North Country charm and wake up to St. Lawrence River views. Explore the works of the greatest artist of the Old West at the Frederic Remington Art Museum, embark on a whitewater rafting adventure, and take a boat ride out to Dark Island with Uncle Sam Boat Tours to explore the beauty and mystery of Singer Castle. The Scottish-inspired castle showcases 28 opulent rooms filled with rich history, intricate architecture, and hidden passageways in nearly every room and outbuilding.