Onondaga Historical Association

Hotel Syracuse Tour
2025-08-18 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | NY
In cooperation with the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, we conduct historic tours and presentations at the “Hotel Syracuse” on the third Monday of every other month at 11am. Each event will last approximately an hour and a half and will hold 15 people.
Tours begin at the front desk of the hotel, where your tour guide will meet you. Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start of your tour. Reservations are required and must be made by the Thursday before at 3 pm. Absolutely no walk-ins will be permitted. More tour details here.
Members: Be sure to use the tour code to enjoy $5 off of your tour price! You can email ohamuseum@cnyhistory.org to obtain your code. To schedule a group tour (between 10-20 people) on another day, contact Scott Peal (428-1864 x 317) at least two weeks in advance.

Purchase Tickets

Walking & Talking Wednesdays Tour- The Heart of Syracuse
2025-08-20 12:00 - 13:00 | NY
This spring and summer, spend your mid-week lunch hour with Curator of History Robert Searing, listening to some local history as you get in a midday walk around town. Tours leave at 12:00 pm from 321 Montgomery Street and last for 45-60 minutes.
Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for OHA Members. Reserve your spot here!
Tours leave at 12:00 pm from 321 Montgomery Street and last for 45-60 minutes. Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for OHA Members.

This Tour: The Heart of Syracuse
Take a stroll down memory lane of the past downtown businesses, the railroad that traveled through the downtown streets, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures. Additional dates offered: April 23, May 21, June 18, and July 23

This year, we are offering two different tours, Footsteps in Freedom and newest addition, The Heart of Syracuse. Footsteps in Freedom covers a wide array of topics, including abolition, architecture, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures. Take a stroll down memory lane of the past downtown businesses, the railroad that traveled through the downtown streets, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures on the new Heart of Syracuse tour.
Please arrive and check in at OHA’s front desk 10 minutes prior to the start of your tour. Members: Be sure to use the tour code to enjoy $5 off of your tour price. You can email ohamuseum@cnyhistory.org to obtain your code. Each tour group is capped at 15 guests, so book your spot soon!

Purchase Tickets

Walking & Talking Wednesdays Tour- Footsteps in Freedom
2025-09-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-13 12:00 - 13:00 | NY
This summer and fall, spend your mid-week lunch hour with Curator of History Robert Searing, listening to some local history as you get in a midday walk around town. Tours leave at 12:00 pm from 321 Montgomery Street and last for 45-60 minutes.
Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for OHA Members. Reserve your spot here!
Tours leave at 12:00 pm from 321 Montgomery Street and last for 45-60 minutes. Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for OHA Members.

This Tour: Footsteps in Freedom
The covers a wide array of topics including abolition, architecture, and the role of the Erie Canal.

This year, we are offering two different tours, Footsteps in Freedom and newest addition, The Heart of Syracuse. Footsteps in Freedom covers a wide array of topics, including abolition, architecture, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures. Take a stroll down memory lane of the past downtown businesses, the railroad that traveled through the downtown streets, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures on the new Heart of Syracuse tour.
Please arrive and check in at OHA’s front desk 10 minutes prior to the start of your tour. Members: Be sure to use the tour code to enjoy $5 off of your tour price. You can email ohamuseum@cnyhistory.org to obtain your code. Each tour group is capped at 15 guests, so book your spot soon!

Purchase Tickets

Walking & Talking Wednesdays Tour- The Heart of Syracuse
2025-09-24 12:00 - 13:00 | NY
This summer and fall, spend your mid-week lunch hour with Curator of History Robert Searing, listening to some local history as you get in a midday walk around town. Tours leave at 12:00 pm from 321 Montgomery Street and last for 45-60 minutes.
Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for OHA Members. Reserve your spot here!
Tours leave at 12:00 pm from 321 Montgomery Street and last for 45-60 minutes. Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for OHA Members.

This Tour: The Heart of Syracuse
Take a stroll down memory lane of the past downtown businesses, the railroad that traveled through the downtown streets, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures.

This year, we are offering two different tours, Footsteps in Freedom and newest addition, The Heart of Syracuse. Footsteps in Freedom covers a wide array of topics, including abolition, architecture, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures. Take a stroll down memory lane of the past downtown businesses, the railroad that traveled through the downtown streets, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures on the new Heart of Syracuse tour.
Please arrive and check in at OHA’s front desk 10 minutes prior to the start of your tour. Members: Be sure to use the tour code to enjoy $5 off of your tour price. You can email ohamuseum@cnyhistory.org to obtain your code. Each tour group is capped at 15 guests, so book your spot soon!

Purchase Tickets

Ladies, Historically Speaking Ghostwalk
2025-09-27 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-04 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-05 14:00 - 16:00 | NY
Join the Onondaga Historical Association for a captivating afternoon stroll through the beautiful Sedgwick Farm neighborhood, one of Syracuse’s most picturesque historic districts.
Along the route, costumed performers will bring to life the voices of women from Syracuse’s past—sharing their personal stories, struggles, and secrets in their own words. Each tale reveals a new layer of local history, woven into the very fabric of the streets you’ll explore.
Don’t miss this unique blend of theater, history, and storytelling in one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods.
Event Dates:
September 27 & 28
October 4 & 5
Tours begin at 2:00 PM.

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Reflections on Erie's Waters Symposium
2025-10-05 11:00 - 17:00 | Skä•noñh-Great Law of Peace Center, 6680 Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool, NY, 13088, United States
The Onondaga Historical Association is proud to participate in a special symposium presented as part of the Erie Canal Museum’s Sloan Lecture Series and in commemoration of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial. Held at the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center, this event brings together scholars, authors, and Indigenous leaders to examine the enduring impact of the Erie Canal on the Haudenosaunee and their ancestral lands.
Through three thought-provoking talks, the symposium will explore the environmental, cultural, and political consequences of the canal’s construction—highlighting stories of dispossession, resilience, and historical erasure that are too often left untold.

Symposium Schedule:

Sunday, October 5@ 11:00 AM – “Sacred Waters: The Trauma of the Erie Canal”

Jake Haiwhagai’i Edwards and Dr. Philip P. Arnold discuss the impact of the Erie Canal on the Haudenosaunee. For millennia, waterways in Haudenosaunee territories have been profoundly important. In the Haudenosaunee cosmology, water is sacred as fundamental to all life. Therefore, while waterways were used for transportation, as food resources, and as locations for settlement, it was widely agreed among Indigenous peoples that they also be protected. The Erie Canal disrupted the natural flow of water, essentially damming watersheds so as to flow in an east-west direction. As Laurence Hauptman has discussed in Conspiracy of Interests: Iroquois Dispossession and the Rise of New York State, the creation of the Erie Canal corresponded with the dispossession of the Haudenosaunee. Transformation of the landscape throughout the 19th century had profound environmental effects and traumatic consequences on Haudenosaunee relationships to their lands.

Sunday, October 5@ 1:00 PM – “Clearing Iroquoia: New York’s Land Grab in the 1779 Campaigns of the American Revolution.”

Join authors Travis M. Bowman—the head of museum collections for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Bureau of Historic Sites–and Matthew A. Zembo—associate professor of history and military history at Hudson Valley Community College and instructor of American history at Bard Early College—for a talk about their new book, Clearing Iroquoia: New York’s Land Grab in the 1779 Campaigns of the American Revolution.
In 1778, George Washington, Philip Schuyler, army officers, and New York officials began planning invasions against Iroquoia, the homeland of the Haudenosaunee and several other allied Indigenous nations. Bowman and Zembo’s Clearing Iroquoia offers a fresh perspective on the Clinton-Sullivan campaign and hard truths about of the dispossession of the Haudenosaunee homeland and American colonialism.

Sunday, October 5@ 3:00 PM – “The Oneidas, the Best Land, and the Erie Canal”

“Our children’s hearts are sick,” mourned Skenandoah when he learned that New York State in 1815 had purchased almost 1200 acres of Oneida land. This tract was the last piece of Oneida land the state needed to acquire before it built the Erie Canal through the center of the state. I grew up on this tract on our family farm, which my grandfather once referred to as the best land in Madison County. When I was in high school in the 1970s, the Oneidas asserted that New York State had purchased their land in violation of federal law and the courts agreed. Through the years of litigation, confusion, prejudice, and revival that followed, I carried questions about what had happened on the best land and why didn’t I know anything about it. The answers include the Erie Canal and the silencing and erasing of Native voices and presence that accompanied the transformation it wrought on the ancestral land of the Oneidas in central New York.
Susan A. Brewer is the author of The Best Land: Four Hundred Years of Love and Betrayal on Oneida Territory and other books. After 25 years as a professor of American history at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, she retired from teaching and is now an independent scholar who makes her home in the Adirondacks.

The symposium is free to attend but registration is encouraged.

Register Here

Our Glorious Workplaces: Bicentennial Gala
2025-10-17 17:30 - 22:00 | NY
Join the Onondaga Historical Association and the Erie Canal Museum on Friday, October 17, 2025, for Our Glorious Workplaces: Bicentennial Gala in historic Clinton Square. This special event commemorates the bicentennial of the Erie Canal and the incorporation of the Village of Syracuse, with proceeds benefiting both institutions.
Enjoy a gourmet farm-to-table plated dinner and an engaging program featuring local author Marilyn Higgins, along with OHA and ECM staff, exploring the Erie Canal’s impact on Central New York!
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are now available. Reach out to OHA Director of Development Lorna Oppedisano at lorna.oppedisano@cnyhistory.org for more details.
Due to high demand, online ticket sales for our Bicentennial Gala have been temporarily paused, and we are close to reaching full capacity. We’re incredibly grateful for the enthusiastic response and look forward to a truly unforgettable celebration!
If you are interested in purchasing tickets or a sponsorship, please contact Lorna Oppedisano at lorna.oppedisano@cnyhistory.org or call 315-428-1864 x315 to inquire about current availability.

Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

The Marsellus Family

Dessert Sponsor

Cocktail Sponsors
Community Bank
OneGroup Retirement Advisors
Photobooth Sponsor
King + King Architects
Transportation Sponsor
Visit Syracuse
Silver Sponsors
Bond, Schoeneck & King
Cathedral Candle Company
EDR
Franklin Properties
The Gifford Foundation
Holmes, King, Kallquist & Associates Architects
NBT Bank
Sutton Real Estate
Bronze Sponsors
Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., Inc.
The John Ben Snow Foundation
Marriott Syracuse Downtown
Linda Lebedovych
St. Joseph’s Health Foundation
Syracuse University
UBS
Supporting Partners
Stickley Furniture
Syracuse Garden Club
Upstate Printing
Vinomania
Visual Technologies
Event Photography

Historic Hotel Syracuse Tour
2025-10-20 11:00 - 12:30 | NY
Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), in cooperation with the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, conducts historic tours and presentations at the “Hotel Syracuse” on the third Monday of every other month at 11am, or by appointment. Each event will last approximately an hour and a half and will hold 15 people. Tours begin at the front desk of the hotel, where your tour guide will meet you. Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start of your tour.
Reservations are required and must be made by the Thursday before at 3 pm. Absolutely no walk-ins will be permitted. Cancellations must be done one week before the schedule tour in order to get a refund. The price per person is $20, or $15 if you are a member of OHA.
Reserve your spot for our next tour now!
Please call 315-428-1864 x 312 with any questions.
Event Parking at Marriott Syracuse Downtown: Parking garage at Harrison Street and Harrison Place Valet or Self Parking available.
To schedule a group tour (between 10-20 people) on another day, contact Scott Peal (428-1864 x 317) at least two weeks in advance.

Tour Stops:

The Hotel Lobby
Persian Terrace
Grand Ballroom
Bridal Suite
Groom Suite
Presidential Suite

Note: Any one, or more, of these stops may not be available on specific dates due to scheduling conflicts with events at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

Purchase Tickets

Author Event and Book Signing with Dennis Connors: "The Gilded Age on Syracuse’s James Street"
2025-10-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Onondaga Free Library, 4840 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, 13215, United States
Join former Onondaga Historical Association Curator of History, Dennis Connors, for a presentation on his latest book, The Gilded Age on Syracuse’s James Street at the Onondaga Free Library on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Using photographs and archival materials from OHA’s collection, Connors will delve into the history of the grand mansions that once lined James Street and the influential residents who shaped Syracuse’s political, cultural, and industrial life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Don’t miss this chance to explore a lost era of local history and hear firsthand from one of Syracuse’s leading historians.
The Gilded Age book will be available for sale for $79.95.
SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF OFL.
Registration Required

Macabre: A Hauntingly Historical Presentation
2025-10-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool, 13088
Date: Thursday, October 30Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PMLocation: Carman Community Room, Liverpool Public Library, Liverpool, NY
Cost: Free
Halloween season, experience a bubbling cauldron of local spooky traditions and tales brought to life before your very eyes! Explore the weird and wonderful stories that haunt the history of the Salt City in this interactive performance presented by the Onondaga Historical Association.
An OHA Away program hosted by the Liverpool Public Library. Perfect for fans of local lore, ghost stories, and eerie entertainment!

Finding A Way Forward: The Conflict and Commemoration of America250
2025-11-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Sky Armory, 315 S. Clinton Street, Syracuse, NY, 13202, United States
Join the Onondaga Historical Association on Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 PM in the Wells Meeting Space at the Sky Armory, Syracuse, NY for an engaging discussion on the commemoration of America250 in polarizing times.
In 2026, America250 marks the Semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Activities will be filled with reflections on the conflicts and formative events that shaped the United States and American democracy, and who we recognize as our heroes. How will communities navigate the diverging narratives of our history as we prepare for this milestone year? History, education, and public art have become flashpoints for national and local conflict. How will the story of America be interpreted and discussed in commemorative programs, events and public spaces?
Tim Phillips, founder of the global nonprofit Beyond Conflict, and Monique VanLandingham, Senior Advisor at the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation, will share insights from their international work in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. They will discuss how these approaches can help communities address the complex challenges of commemoration and collective memory as America250 draws near.

Event Details:

Date and Time: Wednesday, November 12 | 7:30 PM
Location: Sky Armory’s Wells Meeting Space, 351 S. Clinton Street, Syracuse, NY (Signage will direct attendees to the entranceway. The lecture will be held in the Wells Meeting Space on the second floor, which can be accessed by stairs or elevator.)
Refreshments: Light refreshments will be served. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Parking: Street parking is available, and nearby garage and lot parking can be found throughout Armory Square. For maps and details, visit downtownsyracuse.com/get-around-park/parking

RSVP Information: Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

Please RSVP to Kerry Huyck, OHA Executive Assistant, at kerry.huyck@cnyhistory.org

Strides Toward Democracy Film Series: "Let 'Em Know You're There"
2026-02-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Manlius Cinema, 135 E Seneca Street, Manlius , NY, 13104, United States
Made in partnership with the Onondaga Historical Association, “Let ‘Em Know You’re There” is a short documentary about Jim Tucker, a former NBA player who has held the record for fastest triple-double for the past 60 years. Featuring animation that depicts a vibrant, unforgettable evening in Madison Square Garden in the 1950s, the film uses Jim’s record as a lens into a remarkable life outside of basketball.
Part of our “Strides Toward Democracy” Film Series in collaboration with Manlius Cinema. These screenings will feature a discussion with filmmaker Field Humphrey and Sean Kirst, Columnist for the Central Current and Journalist in Residence at LeMoyne College.
Date: February 9, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Manlius Cinema (135 E. Seneca St., Manlius, NY 13104)
Purchase Tickets

Strides Toward Democracy Film Series: "Let 'Em Know You're There"
2026-02-10 18:45 - 19:45 | Manlius Cinema, 135 E Seneca Street, Manlius , NY, 13104, United States
Made in partnership with the Onondaga Historical Association, “Let ‘Em Know You’re There” is a short documentary about Jim Tucker, a former NBA player who has held the record for fastest triple-double for the past 60 years. Featuring animation that depicts a vibrant, unforgettable evening in Madison Square Garden in the 1950s, the film uses Jim’s record as a lens into a remarkable life outside of basketball.
Part of our “Strides Toward Democracy” Film Series in collaboration with Manlius Cinema. These screenings will feature a discussion with filmmaker Field Humphrey and Sean Kirst, Columnist for the Central Current and Journalist in Residence at LeMoyne College.
Date: February 10, 2026
Time: 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm
Location: Manlius Cinema (135 E. Seneca St., Manlius, NY 13104)
Purchase Tickets

Strides Toward Democracy Film Series: "Without A Whisper - Konnón:Kwe"
2026-03-01 13:30 - 14:30 | Manlius Cinema, 135 E Seneca Street, Manlius , NY, 13104, United States
Without A Whisper – Konnón:Kwe uncovers the hidden history of the profound influence Indigenous women had on the beginnings of the women’s rights movement in the United States. Before the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848, European colonial women lacked even the most basic rights, while Haudenosaunee women had a potent political and spiritual voice and authority in all aspects of their lives. The contact that the early suffragists had with Haudenosaunee women in New York state shaped their thinking and had a vital impact on their struggle for equality that is taken for granted today. The film follows Mohawk Bear Clan Mother Louise Herne and Professor Sally Roesch Wagner as they seek to correct the historical narrative about the origins of women’s rights in the United States.
Part of our “Strides Toward Democracy” Film Series in collaboration with Manlius Cinema.
Date: March 1, 2026
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Manlius Cinema (135 E. Seneca St., Manlius, NY 13104)
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The Deer Hide Agreement: Diplomacy, Responsibility, and Renewal
2026-04-10 17:30 - 20:30 | Skä•noñh-Great Law of Peace Center, 6680 Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool, NY, 13088, United States
Join us at the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center for a community conversation grounded in the Deer Hide Agreement—an enduring symbol of Haudenosaunee diplomacy and responsibility. This program is part of Speaking of Revolution, a statewide series developed by Humanities New York as part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a national initiative marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Across New York, Speaking of Revolution invites communities to reflect on “revolution” not only as a historical event, but as an ongoing process of rupture, return, and renewal—moments of breaking, remembering, and rebuilding that continue to shape civic and cultural life. At Skä•noñh, this exploration takes shape through the Deer Hide Agreement and the relationships it carries forward.
At the center of the evening is the deer hide itself: a material expression of agreement, memory, and obligation. Created in the mid-20th century and still present on Onondaga land today, the deer hide reflects a set of relationships—between nations, between people and land, and across generations—that are not fixed in the past but continue to call for care and renewal. As both object and teaching, it offers a powerful way to consider what diplomacy requires, what responsibility endures, and how agreements live on.
The evening will begin with a brief reflection from Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation, whose leadership and teaching have helped carry Haudenosaunee traditions and principles across generations. From there, participants will be invited into a facilitated conversation, reflecting together on the deer hide and the ideas it holds.
There is no panel, no lecture, and no expectation of expertise—only an invitation to listen, reflect, and think together. Through shared inquiry, the conversation will explore how the principles embodied in the Deer Hide Agreement—diplomacy, responsibility, and renewal—continue to shape our understanding of community and civic life today.
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Presented in partnership with Humanities New York, the state’s advocate for the public humanities. Since 1975, it has supported cultural organizations across all 62 counties. Today, HNY leads statewide programs that bring people together to reflect, question, and connect—using history, literature, and culture to strengthen civic life.
5:30 p.m. – Reception with Indigenous Foods
6:30 p.m. – Conversation begins

The program will be held at Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center at 6680 Onondaga Lake Pkwy.
Registration is required and limited.
Please register by contacting the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center at (315) 453-6767
This program is cosponsored by Liverpool Public Library, Onondaga Historical Association, the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center, and Humanities New York.

The American Game: A Conversation with S.L. Price
2026-04-11 12:30 - 14:00 | Skä•noñh-Great Law of Peace Center, 6680 Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool, NY, 13088, United States
Join us at the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center on Saturday, April 11, 2026, for a book talk with S. L. Price, author of The American Game: History and Hope in the Country of Lacrosse.
In this talk, Price explores lacrosse from its sacred beginnings with the Haudenosaunee people to its modern collegiate and professional forms, examining how this uniquely North American sport reflects culture, history, and identity.
Event DetailsWhen: Saturday, April 11 | 12:30 PMWhere: Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center (6680 Onondaga Lake Pkwy, Liverpool, NY 13088)
Light refreshments will be served.
This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP: ohamuseum@cnyhistory.org
This talk is the perfect lead-in to the Syracuse vs. Virginia men’s lacrosse game at 4:00 PM at the JMA Wireless Dome.
About S.L. PriceS. L. Price was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated from 1994 to 2019. His work has also appeared in Vanity Fair, The New York Times, TIME, and The Oxford American. Over the course of his career, he has covered ten Olympic Games, two World Cups, and more than four dozen Grand Slam tennis championships, and has interviewed Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Price is the author of five books, including Playing Through the Whistle and Heart of the Game, and his work has appeared nine times in The Best American Sports Writing anthology.

Historic Hotel Syracuse Tour
2026-04-20 11:00 - 12:30 | Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 E Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY, 13202, United States
Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), in cooperation with the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, conducts historic tours and presentations at the “Hotel Syracuse” on the third Monday of every other month at 11am, or by appointment. Each event will last approximately an hour and a half and will hold 15 people. Tours begin at the front desk of the hotel, where your tour guide will meet you. Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start of your tour.
Reservations are required and must be made by the Thursday before at 3 pm. Absolutely no walk-ins will be permitted. Cancellations must be done one week before the schedule tour in order to get a refund. The price per person is $20, or $15 if you are a member of OHA.
Reserve your spot for our next tour now!
Please call 315-428-1864 x 312 with any questions.
Event Parking at Marriott Syracuse Downtown: Parking garage at Harrison Street and Harrison Place. Valet or Self Parking available.
To schedule a group tour (between 10-20 people) on another day, contact Scott Peal (428-1864 x 317) at least two weeks in advance.

Tour Stops:

The Hotel Lobby
Persian Terrace
Grand Ballroom
Bridal Suite
Groom Suite
Presidential Suite

Note: Any one, or more, of these stops may not be available on specific dates due to scheduling conflicts with events at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

Purchase Tickets

Strides Toward Democracy Film Series: "Beneath the Surface: The Storied History of Onondaga Lake"
2026-04-21 18:45 - 20:30 | Manlius Cinema, 135 E Seneca Street, Manlius , NY, 13104, United States
“Beneath the Surface: The Storied History of Onondaga Lake” covers the amazing history of the lake and the remarkable impact it has had on our American Way of Life over the past six centuries. From the birthplace of the Great Law of Peace and the great Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the first representative democracy in the west, to the production of the country’s largest supply of some of its most important commodities and innovative products, to the Resort Era and the WPA project that built Onondaga Lake Park, to the most polluted lake in America, to one of the largest Superfund Clean-up sites in history, to a tourist attraction and the center of economic, cultural, recreational, educational, and natural development in our community.
This screening features a discussion with filmmaker Mark Eischen.
Part of our “Strides Toward Democracy” Film Series in collaboration with Manlius Cinema.
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 6:45 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Manlius Cinema (135 E. Seneca St., Manlius, NY 13104)
Purchase Tickets

NY State and the Early Stages of the American Revolution
2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool, 13088
This talk will explain what the General Association document is, why it mattered, and how it fits into the early stages of the American Revolution—when, in 1775, the conflict was still essentially a civil war among British subjects. We’ll look at why the document was created and how it relates to the larger story of how the war unfolded. The lecture will also introduce some of the most notable people who signed it and share the remarkable story of how the document was found in the Onondaga Historical Archives, even though it was long believed to have been lost in the 1911 state archives fire.
This program is presented by Robert Searing, Curator of History Onondaga Historical Association at the Liverpool Public Library.
This program is free and open to the public.

Strides Toward Democracy Film Series: “Beneath the Surface: The Storied History of Onondaga Lake”
2026-04-25 12:30 - 14:30 | Manlius Cinema, 135 E Seneca Street, Manlius , NY, 13104, United States
“Beneath the Surface: The Storied History of Onondaga Lake” covers the amazing history of the lake and the remarkable impact it has had on our American Way of Life over the past six centuries. From the birthplace of the Great Law of Peace and the great Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the first representative democracy in the west, to the production of the country’s largest supply of some of its most important commodities and innovative products, to the Resort Era and the WPA project that built Onondaga Lake Park, to the most polluted lake in America, to one of the largest Superfund Clean-up sites in history, to a tourist attraction and the center of economic, cultural, recreational, educational, and natural development in our community.
This screening features a discussion with filmmaker Mark Eischen.
Part of our “Strides Toward Democracy” Film Series in collaboration with Manlius Cinema.
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Manlius Cinema (135 E. Seneca St., Manlius, NY 13104)
Purchase Tickets

The Gilded Age on Syracuse's James Street
2026-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY, 13214, United States
Join former Onondaga Historical Association Curator of History, Dennis Connors at the Jewish Community Center of Syracuse for a presentation on his latest book, “The Gilded Age on Syracuse’s James Street.”

Using photographs and archival materials from OHA’s collection, Connors will delve into the history of the grand mansions that once lined James Street and the influential residents who shaped Syracuse during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Don’t miss this chance to explore a lost era of local history and hear firsthand from one of Syracuse’s leading historians.

During his time at the OHA, Dennis held several positions, including Curator of History and Executive Director. He is the author of a number of books, illustrating the stories of Onondaga County.

All are welcome and this event is open to the public. Reservations can be made at jccsyr.org/cp-registration or over the phone 315-445-2360.

Walking & Talking Wednesdays Tour- The Heart of Syracuse
2026-04-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-27 12:00 - 13:00 | NY
This summer and fall, spend your mid-week lunch hour with Curator of History Robert Searing, listening to some local history as you get in a midday walk around town. Tours leave at 12:00 pm from 321 Montgomery Street and last for 45-60 minutes.
Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for OHA Members. Reserve your spot here!

This Tour: The Heart of Syracuse
Take a stroll down memory lane of the past downtown businesses, the railroad that traveled through the downtown streets, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures.

This year, we are offering two different tours, Footsteps in Freedom and newest addition, The Heart of Syracuse. Footsteps in Freedom covers a wide array of topics, including abolition, architecture, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures. Take a stroll down memory lane of the past downtown businesses, the railroad that traveled through the downtown streets, and some of the city’s lost historical treasures on the new Heart of Syracuse tour.
Please arrive and check in at OHA’s front desk 10 minutes prior to the start of your tour. Members: Be sure to use the tour code to enjoy $5 off of your tour price. You can email ohamuseum@cnyhistory.org to obtain your code. Each tour group is capped at 15 guests, so book your spot soon!

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Strides Toward Democracy Film Series: "Camp Syracuse"
2026-05-17 13:30 - 14:30 | Manlius Cinema, 135 E Seneca Street, Manlius , NY, 13104, United States
Join us for Camp Syracuse, a special screening and lecture event presented as part of the Onondaga Historical Association’s Strides Toward Democracy film and discussion series, presented in partnership with Manlius Cinema.
The film, shown alongside a lecture by OHA Curator of History Robert Searing, explores how Syracuse’s New York State Fairgrounds became a major training site for more than 40,000 soldiers in 1917 as they prepared for World War I. Together, the presentation brings this pivotal local history to life through both archival film and expert insight.

Date: May 17, 2026
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Manlius Cinema (135 E. Seneca St., Manlius, NY 13104)
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2026 Medal Breakfast
2026-05-21 08:00 - 10:00 | Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 E Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY, 13202, United States
It takes the legacy of many hands to build a community. Since 1945, the Onondaga Historical Association Medal Award has recognized distinguished contributions to the cause of preserving and interpreting Onondaga County history.
The OHA Medal is the highest honor we can bestow upon an individual or organization for contributions made to the cause of preserving and interpreting our heritage. Since OHA is the only general comprehensive history organization in this community, one might also consider this medal the highest tribute that can be awarded on behalf of the entire Onondaga County community to those who ensure history remains a vital part of our future.
The annual OHA Medal Breakfast will be on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
This year’s OHA Medal honorees are:
Tim Fox: A respected voice in local broadcast media, Tim Fox has informed and connected Central New Yorkers, covering major events and co-creating beloved community-focused programming including Bridge Street and Tell Me Something Good.
Thomas Hunter: For more than three decades, Thomas Hunter has served as a steward of Onondaga County’s history at OHA, ensuring its preservation and inspiring generations to understand and use the past as a guide for the future.
InterFaith Works of Central New York: Marking 50 years of service, InterFaith Works has strengthened Central New York by promoting interfaith dialogue, advancing racial and religious equity, and affirming the dignity of all people.
For questions, contact OHA Director of Development Lorna Oppedisano at lorna.oppedisano@cnyhistory.org.

Thank you to this year’s sponsors for making this event possible!

Historian Sponsors

Franklin Properties

Patron Sponsors

Friend Sponsors

Voices from the Valley Ghostwalk
2026-06-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Heath Park, 5559 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY, 13205, United States
Step beyond the present and into the past with Voices From the Valley, our historic Ghostwalk experience. From its early days as The Hollow to present-day Nedrow, The Valley is rich with stories waiting to be rediscovered. Walk, listen, and experience the voices that shaped this place.
Dates: June 5, 6, 12, and 13
Tour Start Location: Heath Park, 5559 South Salina Street
Parking: Available along Richfield Avenue
Check-In: At the Heath Park entrance on Richfield Avenue. Cold water will be available.
Restrooms: The nearest public restrooms are located at Green Hills Farms, 5933 South Salina Street
Tickets are $20, or $15 for OHA members, and must be purchased in advance at shop.cnyhistory.org/events. No walk-ins will be permitted.

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