History, Natural History & the Arts
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the grand opening of the Central-Finger Lakes segment of the New York State Birding Trail to highlight the state’s world-class and wide-ranging birding opportunities.
The Central-Finger Lakes segment includes 54 locations throughout 15 counties, providing a variety of quality birding experiences for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy. [Read more…] about Central-Finger Lakes Segment of Statewide Birding Trail Opens
Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area is New York State’s largest Wildlife Management Area (WMA) at 11,237 acres and lies within two counties — Schuyler and Tompkins.
A diversity of habitats, including streams and ponds, small fields, and some regenerating hardwood forests, can also be found across the property. [Read more…] about Featured Natural Area: Connecticut Hill Wildlife Area
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) have announced the acquisition of a conservation easement on 126 acres in the town of Caroline in the Six Mile Creek Watershed as part of New York State’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program. [Read more…] about 126-Acre Tompkins Co Conservation Easement Announced
Tompkins County Historian (and occasional contributor to the New York Almanack) Carol Kammen has been awarded the 2020 Lehman Prize for Distinguished Service in New York History.
She is being recognized for her career writing, promoting, and contributing to local community history. [Read more…] about Carol Kammen Awarded 2020 Prize for Service in NY History
This week on The Historians podcast, Carol Kammen from Ithaca talks about her experiences as Tompkins County historian. Kammen is well-known in the New York State history community and also has done work on the history of Cornell University. This interview is the 200th episode of “The Historians” podcast.
Listen to the podcast here. [Read more…] about Carol Kammen On The Historians Podcast
On January 3, 2017, in recognition of the centennial of the passage of the suffrage act in New York in the year 1917, the Tompkins County Legislature passed a proclamation declaring 2017 the Year of the Woman in Tompkins County.
The proclamation recognizes the long struggle for a woman to be able to take her place in in the world outside her home. [Read more…] about Tompkins Co Legislature Recognizes Suffrage Centennial
The Tompkins County Civil War Commission has dedicated a memorial to Civil War Nurses. Located on the Tompkins Cortland Community College campus, off of Route 13 in Dryden, New York, the memorial honors the sacrifice and bravery of those women who went to war: from the very first nurse, Susan Hall from the Town of Ulysses, who served through out the war, to those who served in camp and hospital at a time when it was believed that “war was no place for a woman.” The sculptures were created by artist Rob Licht. [Read more…] about Memorial to Civil War Nurses Dedicated
Aerial photos can be helpful research tools for historians. Google Earth, which provides access to a vast collection of aerial photography stretching back 20 years, is just a sampling of the many aerial photos that have been made since French balloonist Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, known as “Nadar,” took a photo over Paris, France in 1858.
Much of New York Sate was photographed with the camera pointing straight down, an oblique presentation that is less useful to some historians. An effort to capture all of New York in an orthophotographic perspective (corrected to a uniform scale) started in 1936 with a contract to C.S. Robinson of Ithaca, NY. These images are particularly valuable resources for historians of all stripes. [Read more…] about Aerial Photos: New York Rural History From Above
The only mausoleum in Green Hills Cemetery in Dryden Village, Tompkins County, the resting place of the first governor of the state of North Dakota John Miller, has been restored and marked.
In 1989, during the centennial of North Dakota’s statehood, the Cemetery applied to the North Dakota Centennial Commission for funds (about $1,000) to restore the mausoleum. The Cemetery received a certificate with a gold seal from the Commission recognizing the project, but no money. The work was not done. [Read more…] about Grave of 1st North Dakota Gov Marked in NY
In late August, the Sons of Veterans Commemoration of Civil War veteran George Ehle was held at the Trumansburg Cemetery (Tompkins County). It was attended by a number of the Sons of Union Veterans, a Boy Scout Troop, at least a half dozen descendants of Ehle, and a few spectators. Tompkins County Civil War Commissioners in attendance were Danny Wheeler, Ray Wheaton, Ralph Jones. George Boyer, Marcia Lynch and Michael Lane, co-chair of the Commission. Danny Wheeler led the program and Michael Lane spoke briefly for the Commission. [Read more…] about Tompkins County Events Mark The Civil War