The Beat

New events added, more Olympic athletes, more winter fun!

Lake Placid, N.Y. --- In less than 30 days, Lake Placid celebrates the 40^th anniversary of the Olympic Winter Games that brought this nation together like never before. 

From Feb. 13-23, 2020, this two-time Olympic village, nestled in the Adirondack High Peaks, will roll out the welcome mat and offer up a full slate of activities to revel in its unmatched Olympic legacy – past, present and future. The 10-day event celebrates the Games that have long been remembered for the heroics of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team’s improbable win over the Russians, known as the “Miracle on Ice,” speed skater Eric Heiden’s five gold medals, in world or Olympic record time; the Opening Ceremony and the United States figure skating team, dubbed the “Dream Team.”…

Schenectady, N.Y. – Bright, bold colors. Quaint and genuine. Beautiful in an unrefined way. These are just a few characteristics of the Schenectady County Historical Society's (SCHS) folk-art collection.

American folk art was born in the pre-industrial era and consists of diverse objects created by regular people as a means of expression. This creative impulse, and our universal search for beauty, are at the core of SCHS' latest exhibition, Handcrafted: The Folk and Their Art.

First program presented January 12^th
Documenting, Preserving, and Making Accessible Ticonderoga’s Collections

Ticonderoga, NY – Fort Ticonderoga’s popular wintertime Fort Fever Series returns in 2020 and features programs led by Fort Ticonderoga museum staff who will share their latest research and cutting-edge discoveries.

The first program is presented on January 12, 2020 with Documenting, Preserving, and Making Accessible Ticonderoga’s Collections. Join Fort Ticonderoga Director of Collections Miranda Peters as she highlights the incredible work being undertaken by museum staff to document, preserve, and make accessible Ticonderoga’s world class museum collections.

A variety of traditional indoor and outdoor cultural activities make a full day on Feb. 22

Victor, NY—For its 17th annual Native American Winter Games, Friends of Ganondagan will again offer numerous activities that harken back to 17th-century winters when Ganondagan was an active Seneca town, and winter was a busy time both indoors and out.

On Saturday, February 22 from 10 am-4 pm, the public will experience family-friendly Haudenosaunee experiences through a variety of traditional Seneca winter activities. These include the competitive game of snowsnake, racing small wooden snowboats (akin to Pinewood Derby), meeting sled dogs and watching a dog sled demonstration, and learning how to use snowshoes.

“America’s Elite in the Downton Abbey Era”

Sunday, January 19, 2020, 1:00 PM

Staatsburg, N.Y. (12/30/19) — On Sunday, January 19, fans of the popular PBS television series can attend a special tour at Staatsburgh, a real-life American version of Downton Abbey.  The tour, entitled “America’s Elite in the Downton Abbey Era,” compares the fictional Downton Abbey to Staatsburgh, a 79-room Gilded Age mansion on the Hudson River.  Admission for “America’s Elite in the Downton Abbey Era” is $10; $8 for seniors and students; and free for children age 12 and younger.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling (845) 889-8851.

Support from Thomas Tischer, ESL Federal Credit Union, and New York State Council on the Arts made project possible

Rochester, N.Y., January 6, 2020—The George Eastman Museum broke ground today on the Thomas Tischer Visitor Center, including construction of the ESL Federal Credit Union Pavilion, which will serve as the museum’s new main entrance, located next to the Dryden Theatre. Through the new entrance, visitors will be served by a new admissions desk, gathering places, a renovated education and meeting hall, a more mission-focused shop, and a relocated café that includes seating in the historic Palm House. The project is expected to be completed by July 2020.

Special exhibit featuring tools from Fort Ticonderoga’s archeological collection

Ticonderoga, NY – Experience Fort Ticonderoga in the beauty of winter during the next Winter Quarters living history event Preparing for the Coming Campaign on Saturday, January 18, 2020.  The event will bring to life the story of American soldiers at Ticonderoga in the year 1777 as they prepare for a British attack.

A featured one-day display will highlight tools recovered from the historic landscape. These tools were used by soldiers to cut, chisel, file, crack, break, and dig to create the fortifications that defined the warfare of the 18th century. Fort Ticonderoga holds one of the largest collections of its kind in North America. …

Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 1:00 Pm

Utica, N.Y. – Join Dr. Norm Dann at the Oneida County History Center to explore the remarkable history of the Underground Railroad in Central New York. You’ll learn about the operation and function of the Underground Railroad, plus intriguing details about the station in Peterboro that was operated by the Gerrit Smith family. This program takes place in the History Center's main gallery on Saturday, January 18, 2020 starting at 1:00 PM.

Scheduled for Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 1:00 PM

Utica, N.Y. – Winner of the Kraft Hockeyville USA contest in 2018, the spirit and passion for hockey is strong in the village of Clinton. This enthusiasm is rooted in the community’s rich hockey history that began over 100 years ago. Join Historian Dick Williams at the Oneida County History Center for brief overview of the sport’s history in the Clinton area.  His PowerPoint will trace the development of hockey as a major part of Clinton between October and April each year over the past century.

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (12/16/19) — Staatsburgh State Historic Site will once again present its winter “Gilded Age Tea & Talk” programs in the mansion’s elegant formal dining room on weekend dates in the winter months of 2020.  The programs feature scones, tea sandwiches, sweets and the site’s Staatsburgh Blend tea, a custom blend created for the site by renowned tea purveyors, Harney & Sons.