ESD Encourages Travel During Second Path Through History Weekend of 2017

Hundreds of Events Scheduled Over Columbus Day Weekend to Showcase the People and Places that Shaped History

Program Highlights Heritage Tourism Across New York State

Empire State Development (ESD) today reminded New Yorkers about this weekend’s Path Through History Weekend events and encouraged residents and visitors to explore the state’s many heritage travel destinations and historical attractions. Nearly 390 events are planned to celebrate New York State’s rich history and diversity during this weekend, complementing the fall foliage, harvest festivals and autumn orchard activities happening statewide.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "Our Path Through History program is utilizing the holiday weekend to promote events that highlight the state’s rich heritage and celebrate the people and historic places who made New York the Empire State."

Introduced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2012, the Path Through History initiative uses 13 themes to organize more than 700 heritage sites across the state. The Path Through History website includes maps, a user-friendly list of historical sites organized theme and region, and an itinerary builder to help plan your trip.

This year, New York State expanded the program to feature two Path Through History Weekend offerings. The first coincided with Father’s Day and featured more than 380 events across the state. Some highlights of the October 7-9 Path Through History Weekend from New York’s eleven vacation regions include:



The Adirondacks

Visit the Old Plattsburgh Military Reservation and walk the historic Oval. The approximately one-mile guided tour includes a history of the buildings surrounding the Oval, including photos of the buildings through the years. Tours are offered twice a day through the weekend, and will be virtually presented inside the museum in the event of rain.



Capital Region-Saratoga

For tales that mix history with the macabre, the Capitol Hauntings Tour explores the legends, folklore, and “ghost stories” connected to the historic New York State Capitol building. Guides share stories about Samuel Abbott, the night watchman who died in the Capitol fire of 1911 and still makes his rounds today. Find out where the Assembly Chamber’s “lost” murals are located and what happened to the tormented artist who created them. Walking among the gargoyle-like carvings and strange carved faces, visitors will discover the location of the Capitol’s “secret demon” and evidence of a curse the demon may hold on the Capitol will be revealed.

The Catskills

At Faces and Phases, hosted by the Historical Society of Woodstock, artist Barbara Graff illustrates the phases of a woman's life in an historical context. This display of life-sized mannequins and oil paintings represents women in all stages of aging, arranged within a mysterious world of dark forests, twisted tree roots, forgotten slippers and the changing night sky.



Central New York

Stone Fort Days at The Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie features a Revolutionary War encampment and battle demonstrations, commemorating the events of August 1777 in and around the Schoharie Valley. This includes the Battle of the Flockey, the first documented cavalry charge by the U.S. Army.



Chautauqua-Allegheny

The Ellicottville Fall Festival is village’s oldest and largest festival, celebrated when the foliage of the surrounding hills is ablaze with color. Each year, tens of thousands of festival goers enjoy a weekend of heritage, history, unique foods, fine art, carnival rides and live entertainment.



Finger Lakes

The 38th Annual Newark Valley Apple Festival celebrates fall with music, dancing, local food, historic house tours and costumed demonstrators and re-enactors. This year’s festival will honor the centennial of women’s suffrage with a Suffrage Parade on both days. Honored guests Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton will be in attendance to enjoy the festivities and mingle with guests. At 3 p.m. each day, a Suffrage Rally that took place in Owego in 1915 will be reenacted.

Greater Niagara

At the Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride, start with a walk along the banks of the Erie Canal and view the Flight of 5 locks. After, enter an engineering marvel of the Industrial Revolution: a 1700+ foot water power tunnel. You'll see artifacts left by miners, natural cave formations in their early stages, and boat along still waters lit only by sporadically placed lights.

Hudson Valley

100 years ago, women achieved the right to vote in New York State. While many championed this effort, some communities were opposed. On October 7 and 8 from 2 to 4 p.m., the Warwick Historical Society presents “Warwick Voted No!” This exhibit celebrates the centennial with period-specific clothing and an exhibit on Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck, a Warwick native and early leader in the dress reform movement.

Long Island

Born and raised in Setauket, Abraham Woodhull (a.k.a. Samuel Culper) was the spy recruited by Major Benjamin Tallmadge, George Washington’s spy chief. The Culper Spy ring operated on Long Island between 1778 and 1783 and provided much of the intelligence sent to George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Embark on the Abraham Woodhull Walking Tour and learn about one of the early America’s great patriots. On the tour, you’ll explore the nature sanctuary that was once Woodhull's farm, the Setauket Village Green, Grist Mill, Patriot's Rock and historic grave sites. Discover the woods, fields, ponds and bays that tell the story of Long Island's colonization and settlement.

New York City

Millions: Migrants and Millionaires aboard the Great Liners, 1900-1914 is a new exhibition at the South Street Seaport Museum. It is one of the first to examine, side-by-side, the contrast between First Class and Third Class passengers aboard early 20th century ocean liners. Each transatlantic voyage transported thousands of people, with First Class passengers traveling in luxury accommodations and Third Class travelers sailing in the stuffy lower decks. The exhibit will demonstrate passenger life, the defining differences between travel classes, and the continuing importance that immigration plays in American history.

Thousand Islands-Seaway

Built in 1838, the Salmon River (Selkirk) Lighthouse is one of the last remaining “Birdcage” lighthouses in the United States. Located in Pulaski, visitors can take a staff-guided or self-guided tour, exploring the recent restorations including refinished 180-year-old plank flooring and a fully operational aid-to-navigation light tower.

Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "Our Path Through History Weekend events highlight the state’s rich heritage and celebrate the people and places who made New York the Empire State. This weekend is the perfect opportunity to explore the state’s fall foliage and festivals, while celebrating the incredible history of New York State."



Since taking office 2011, Governor Cuomo has made unprecedented investments in the tourism industry throughout New York State, leading to historic levels of visitors and direct spending. In 2016, New York welcomed a record 239 million visitors who spent nearly $65 billion, generating a total economic impact of more than $100 billion for the third straight year. Additionally, tourism remains the state’s fourth largest employer, supporting more than 914,000 jobs annually.



For more exciting and educational things to do during Columbus Day weekend, visit Path Through History Weekends for a full list of events, searchable by location and special interests. I LOVE NEW YORK’s social media platforms will be highlighting this weekend’s events with photos, videos and itineraries. Follow I LOVE NEW YORK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or use #PTHWeekend to join us on the journey down New York State's Path Through History.



About Path Through History

Path Through History highlights historically and culturally significant sites and events throughout New York State. The program, introduced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, builds on New York’s already robust heritage tourism attractions. The initiative is currently focused on 13 themes including: Arts & Culture, Natural History, U.S. Presidents, Women’s Rights, Canals & Transportation, Civil Rights, Colonial History, Immigration, Innovation & Commerce, The Revolutionary War, Native American Heritage, Sports History and the War of 1812. Important heritage sites and events across the state were selected with input from leading historians. For more information, visit paththroughhistory.iloveny.com.

Contact:

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