NEWSLETTER
With new stories, exhibits, and experiences
Mumford, NY (April 23, 2025) – Genesee Country Village & Museum begins the 2025 high season on Thursday, May 1, followed by a jam-packed season of fairs and festivals, daily programming, and exciting new exhibits. The largest living history museum in New York, GCV&M encompasses over 600 acres and includes 68 buildings in the Historic Village, an extensive collection of sporting art and historic clothing in the John L. Wehle Gallery, and over five miles of trails and habitats at the newly renovated Nature Center. Visitors of all ages will find something of interest all year long. Click here to explore a full year of historical happenings: www.gcv.org/events/.
Historical happenings every day
There’s something for everyone in every season at Genesee Country Village & Museum. Every day at least 15 buildings in the Historic Village are staffed with costumed interpreters who talk with visitors about the history of the building, who lived and worked in it, and life in the 19th-century in Western New York, plus an additional 20 buildings are open for self-guided tours.
GCV&M continues to expand the stories it shares through the “Seeking Freedom” initiative, which highlights the complex history of enslavement and freedom in New York in the 19th-century. Visitors to the Museum will learn about the powerful stories of enslaved individuals, freedom-seekers, Black and white abolitionists, and even enslavers, highlighting a history that has shaped our society in ways we cannot ignore. This year, the Rochester House, the first home of Nathaniel Rochester in Dansville, will be staffed every day and now features an exhibit describing the history of slavery and abolition in the Genesee Valley. The Quaker Meeting House will also be staffed for the first time, and every Saturday and Sunday, visitors can join the “Toward Freedom & Fairness” walking tour through the Historic Village to learn more about real individuals who enslaved, were enslaved, and who fought for freedom in New York, taken from primary source accounts.
To learn more about what’s happening each day, visit https://www.gcv.org/this-week-at-gcvm/
New for 2025: Color Me Calico: A Taste for Prints & Parties in the John L. Wehle Gallery
Opening May 1, Color Me Calico: A Taste for Prints & Parties, is a new exhibit in the John L. Wehle Gallery that explores printed cotton textiles of 19th-century America. From the simplicity of plain muslins to the intricate patterns of chintz and calicos, this exhibit explores America’s ever-growing taste for colorful printed cottons. Garments and textiles exhibited will highlight the technological advances that facilitated the production of colorful designs on cotton by the mile, helping to establish cotton calico as the fabric of common people in the 19th-century. Curatorial programs and guest speakers throughout the 2025 season will further enrich the exhibit.
To celebrate the opening of Color Me Calico, GCV&M will host its first Calico Ball on Saturday, May 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This enchanting evening of 19th-century revelry will feature live music, period and contra dancing with expert caller Margaret Mathews, and delightful hors d’oeuvres and libations. Tickets are available at www.gcv.org/event/19th-century-calico-ball/.
New in the Nature Center
At the Genesee Country Nature Center (open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on weekends), visitors can explore natural history, maple sugaring, and flora and fauna of the Genesee Valley Region. Stop by to rest, birdwatch, visit our resident turtles, or talk with a naturalist before heading out on five miles of Nature Trails. Nature Trails are open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily with General Admission and trail heads radiate out from the Nature Center.
Fairs & Festivals in 2025
GCV&M is rolling out a full season of special events in 2025. Collectors of vintage wares can browse and purchase quality antiques (plus handcrafted local goods with connections to 19th-century trades) at the Antiques & Artisans Show (May 3, exclusive Preview Party on May 2). Moms can enjoy all the Museum has to offer for FREE on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11), plus add on a delicious Mother’s Day Brunch for an additional fee. Visitors can join us as we step beyond battles and behind front lines to explore the impact of the Civil War on life in 19th-century Western New York during Muster at Mumford: Civil War In The Genesee Valley (May 23 - 25). Craft beer lovers can savor tastings and see an 1803 brewery in action during History on Tap (June 13). Bring Dad to GCV&M for FREE on Father's Day (June 15). Enjoy two days of programming honoring Juneteenth, considered the oldest celebration of the end of enslavement in the United States and an official state holiday here in New York during Juneteenth Days (June 18 & 19 – kids FREE on Thursday, June 19). The sounds of bagpipes will fill the air at the annual Celtic Faire (June 21 & 22), and so much more. Details for all upcoming special events and tickets can be found at https://www.gcv.org/events/.
Planning a visit
Genesee Country Village & Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. from May 1 through August 31, with reduced days of operation from September to December. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance and save. Regular daily admission is discounted in May and June.
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Photo; Genesee Country Village & Museum opens for the 2025 high season on Thursday, May 1 – plan your visit today!