The Beat

Howes Cave, NY--The Iroquois Indian Museum announces the outdoor exhibition “Tonto, Tepees, and Totem Poles: Considering Native American Stereotypes in the 21st Century,” which will be displayed in July and August in the open-air pavilion on the museum’s grounds in Howes Cave. The museum also announces a summer series of Facebook Live mini-lessons and demonstrations by Iroquois educators and artists, as well as a virtual raffle. 

In response to COVID-19 and in the interest of public health

Howes Cave, N.Y. – We hope you are all staying healthy during this difficult time. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly changed our world in ways we could never imagine! Due to concerns for the safety of our visitors, artists, performers, and staff we have made the very difficult decision to cancel all special events for 2020. This includes social dance Saturdays, artist demonstrations, and the annual Iroquois Festival on Labor Day weekend. The Museum itself will remain closed until we feel confident that we can navigate the necessary health protocols. Our Nature Trails are always open.

Scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 At 12:30 Pm

Utica, N.Y. – 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.

This free online presentation takes place on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 from 12:30- 1:30 pm. To view the stream or for more information, please visit the event Facebook Page The Coney Island of Central NY or visit the Oneida County History Center website.

Utica, N.Y. – The Oneida County History Center seeks nominations for the 2020 Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends Awards. This campaign strives to honor outstanding members of our community, past and present, for their service as leaders, pioneers, and advocates, and for their efforts in furthering the region's industries, culture, and educational opportunities. Inductees are honored at an annual awards banquet held each fall and through a permanent display in the History Center’s gallery.

Oneida County Tourism Uses 37^th NTTW (May 3-9) to Look Ahead to Recovery

Utica, NY (April 29, 2020) — National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the annual celebration of the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight resilience and hope in the face of the coronavirus pandemic with this year’s theme: the Spirit of Travel.

Since in-person events that have been staples of NTTW in the past are not an option this year, Oneida County Tourism has created a campaign to engage the local community with a focus on their tourism pillars: Family Fun, Arts & Culture, Outdoor Recreation, History and Food & Beverage. The campaign will feature daily videos on social media that showcase Zoom interviews between a local attraction and DJs from Townsquare Media. The campaign will kick off on Friday, May 1 with Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute's virtual First Friday Happy Hour. Beginning on Monday, May 4, Oneida County Tourism will share videos across their social media platforms, specifically on Facebook at Visit Oneida County, NY.

To Support Local Restaurants and Frontline Workers

Utica, NY (April 22, 2020) - Feed Our Frontline Families is an initiative founded by three partners: F.X. Matt Brewery, the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce and The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. The goal of this initiative is to inject cash flow into area restaurants, helping them to stay in business and keep staff employed, all while ensuring frontline workers get what they need.

Utica, N.Y. – We are all living through a historic moment in time and the Oneida County History Center wants to preserve your story. The public is invited to submit their quarantine and COVID-19 stories. These narratives will become part of the History Center’s collections and will be available for future researchers to learn how our community was impacted by this global pandemic. Written, audio, and visual submissions are encouraged.

Scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2020 At 1:00 PM

Utica, N.Y. – John Carmody and Wayne Schaller, president and vice president of the Fort Bull Research Group, will discuss the importance of the Great Oneida Carrying Place including site's geographic location, the fortification of the Carry by the British during the French and Indian War, the French attack on the Carry on March 27, 1756, and the role that the Fort Bull Research Group played in the maintenance of the remains of Fort Wood Creek. These remains date from 1756 and are the oldest structural remains in what is now Rome, N.Y. …

“Celebrating Suffrage”— February 29 through April 29

Utica, NY – Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the ratification of the 19^th amendment granting women the right to vote with the exhibition, “Celebrating Suffrage,” featuring more than 200 years of art made by women and honoring women’s innovative creative pursuits before and after they were officially recognized as full citizens of the United States. “Celebrating Suffrage,” on view February 29 through April 19, explores art as a vehicle for women, as individuals or in groups, to reflect, reform, or challenge social beliefs and political practices of their era.

Scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 1:00 PM

Utica, N.Y. – Although often overlooked because of the national shadow cast by Secretary of State William Henry Seward, the women of the Seward family contributed greatly to the spirit of reform that swept through mid-19th century New York State. Through the efforts of Mrs. Frances Seward in particular, women in New York gained property rights and took several important steps towards suffrage. Join Seward House Museum Director of Education Jeffrey Ludwig to learn about this largely unknown legacy and story. This program takes place in the Oneida History Center's main gallery on Saturday, March 7, 2020 starting at 1:00 PM.