Events
The History Center Schedule of Events
Hours and Events:
Main Campus: 215 Niagara Street
Monday - Saturday 9 AM - 5 PM
The Col. Wm. Bond Jesse Hawley House at 143 Ontario St.
Seasonal Hours - Call for Information 726 434-7433
Erie Canal Discovery Center: 24 Church St.
Open: May 1-Oct. 31: 9 AM - 5 PM
Open Nov. 1-April 30: 10-3
PM, Closed Sundays
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Preview of Coming Events:
Events at the Erie Canal Discovery Center-Penney Gallery
Winter 2012: "A Shiny New Penney Scavenger Hunt," a great family event, bring the whole family for a fun day of hunting to find clues found in the new Penney Gallery to solve a mystery and get a prize!
Sat. Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. "Wandering Through the Town of Lockport," by John K. Hall. Please join us for this interesting and informative program and book signing by this well known local historian and award winning agriculturalist.
Sat. Feb. 18 and March 17 from 1-3 p.m., "Beaded Bracelet Workshop-Class II & III," featuring local artisans Dorathy Gallo and Linda Van Buskirk. Students will produce a custom bracelet. Class cost is $6 including materials for one bracelet. Reservations required at 439-0431.
Sat. Feb. 18th at 11 a.m. "Once A Teacher," program and book signing by retired local educator, Beverly Blewett.
Feb. 25th 11 a.m. "1940's Downtown Lockport," Enjoy 90 minutes of vintage movie film taken in downtown Lockport in 1940 including local industries, merchants, fraternal organizations, churches and much more.
March 3rd 11 a.m. "The 1960s-A Decade of Change", Featuring a 60 minute slide show of downtown Lockport taken before and after Urban Renewal.
March 10th 11 a.m. "Everything Changes," a one hour slide show depicting scenes from around the county at the turn of the 20th century and what the locations look like today.
March 24th: 11 a.m. Harrison Radiator Reunion Day including a viewing of Dr. Mohinder Bhatti\'s new video entitled, "A Century of Progress."
March 24 from 1 p.m. to 3. p.m. "Malt Shop Memories," Slip back to the 1950\'s and enjoy an old fashioned ice cream sundae . Get out your poodle-skirt and saddlebacks and let us know if your favorite soda shop was Castle's, the Royale, or the Crystal.
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Events at the History Center, 215 Niagara Street
Feb. 18 from 1-3 pm. "It's A Good Hair Day." This lively and interesting program features lots of "long-haired" entertainment all centered on the lives of the notorious Seven Sutherland Sisters, who created and lost a business fortune with their long hair and musical ability.
Thurs. Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. "Understanding the Border Patrol," regional representatives will be on hand to provide an interesting program on the work of this little understood federal agency.
March 22 at 2 p.m. "Crash of the Schoellkopf Power Station." A guest speaker presents information about this amazing event in Niagara Falls history.
Sat. May 12th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. "Spring Bus Trip with Buffalo Tours" (See details below)
Sat. June 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "Strawberries and Antiques Festival." We have some exciting plans for this annual event including a full day of family fun with Strawberry Shortcake, Chiavetta's Chicken BBQ, period crafters, great music and much more.
History Center Announces Spring Bus Trip!
The Niagara County History Center is pleased to announce its Spring Bus Trip with an exciting itinerary that includes many of the architectural treasurers of New York's second largest city, as well as taking in some sweeping lake vistas at the recently renovated Erie Canal Harbor and much more. Put your car keys away and let the professional motor coach driver handle the traffic and parking as we leave Lockport on Saturday morning, May 12th and head to downtown Buffalo to enjoy a special sightseeing tour of the Queen City of the Lakes. Our tour guide for the morning will be provided by Preservation Buffalo Niagara and their sightseeing company, Buffalo Tours. A friendly and informative step-on guide will board our bus to explain many of the architectural highlights of the city including Millionaire's Row, the Old First Ward and the Larkin District, which were recently enjoyed by visitors to the city from the National Heritage Trust who held their convention here last summer. Also included will be a walking tour of all the new developments taking place on the waterfront.
A leisurely lunch will be enjoyed at Pearl Street Grill, a mainstay of Buffalo's deli cuisine, located centrally in Buffalo's Brewery District. Pearl Street Grill features "Brawler's Back Ally Deli," a traditional old time deli with a Buffalo twist. While onsite, be sure to wet your whistle with Pearl Street's own Sabre's Edge craft beer.
Following lunch, a short bus ride takes us to the Wilcox Mansion, home of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site operated by the National Park Service. Even if you have seen this site before, you should come again as the entire facility has been recently renovated with state-of-the-art exhibits that interpret the story of Roosevelt's 1901 inauguration following the murder of President McKinley at the Pan American Exhibition in Buffalo. After an interesting guided tour of the site, visitors will be free to enjoy the hands-on interactives and perhaps spend some time picking out that perfect souvenir in the gift shop before the motor coach finishes its round-robin trip back to Lockport.
The cost of this all-inclusive day of tours and travel is $60 for History Center members and $70 for others. Reservations are needed and are first-come, first served. For information please call the History Center at 434-7433.
A Shiny New Penney
If you are tired of hibernating for the winter and are looking for a new family adventure, look no further than the Erie Canal Discovery Center/Penney Gallery at 24 Church Street in Lockport, where history fans are encouraged to participate in a new "scavenger hunt," called "A Shiny New Penney." This adventure is in memory of world traveler Charles Penney who lived in Lockport and spent his whole life traveling and collecting treasures along the way. The fun begins on Saturday, January 14th and continues at the Center during their regular winter hours, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"A Shiny New Penney" will take visitors along a serpentine trek throughout the three levels of entertaining and educational exhibits at the Center as they try to find hidden clues that will lead them to their next check point. Each stop along the way adds another piece of historical information that is needed to complete the scavenger hunt. Those that gather all of the clues can collect their prize in the gift shop. The Discovery Center's staff has created two age appropriate challenges, one for children and one for adults, so the whole family can get in on the fun.
The Erie Canal Discovery Center was opened in 2005 and has received national acclaim from such organizations as the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Museum. It is a highly interactive, hands-on, learning center, complete with working models, games, sound-sticks and even a "virtual" boat ride through the Flight of Five, Lockport's original Erie Canal locks. The Penney Gallery at the site is brand new, and was just opened in August, 2011. It features some amazing art work by local artists, as well as many displays of artifacts from local companies that Mr. Penney collected throughout his life.
The Discovery Center is offering a special introductory price of $10 for families to enjoy "A Shiny New Penney" scavenger hunt. The fun begins on Saturday, January 14th and continues throughout the Center's winter hours, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call the Center for more information at 439-0431 or 434-7433.
Col. Wm. Bond-Jesse Hawley House Tours
The History Center is pleased
to announce a new Col. Wm. Bond/Jesse Hawley House exhibit, "The
Life and Times of Lockport in 1910." This exhibit was prepared
by Bond House co-directors, Rebecca and Gloria Pittler in celebration
of the 100th anniversary of Old Home Week. The presentation focuses
on the year 1910 and features clothing styles, pictures of Lockport,
advertisements, America's events and a display featuring the cost of
common items purchased in 1910.
With the celebration of Old Home Week behind us, perhaps this would
be a good chance to relax and visit Lockport's oldest red brick home
(circa 1823). Previously featured in WNY Heritage Magazine, this 12
room State and National Register museum house is completely restored
and exquisitely furnished in the Empire Period (1820-1860.) Originally
built by Col. William Bond in 1823-24, the house has had 7 additional
owners including Lockport's own Jesse Hawley, a brother-in-law of Bond
who was part of the 19th century team that succeeded in building the
Erie Canal and the Flight of Five. Since 1968 the owner of the house
is the Niagara County Historical Society who has worked painstakingly
to restore the home to its original splendor. The Bond/Hawley House,
as discerned by WNY Heritage, "is a place that has never lost sight
of its origins." While on site, don't forget to view the recently
renovated gardens and landscaping. Don, Stellrecht, master-gardener,
has been assisted by many fine folks from the Tri-Town Garden Club to
plant and groom several horticultural highlights.
Enjoy a glimpse of 19th century Niagara County history as told by someone
who was there and lived it everyday. "The Diary of Thomas Leonard"
is now available in our gift shop at 215 Niagara or on our web-store
at www.NiagaraHistory.org
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY TOURS
Historic Lockport Towpath Trolley Tours
Available upon group request for Summer 2010
Four historic narrated tours to choose from. Please call 716-434-7433
for pricing and availability.
· Stone Houses - Visit the locations of Lockport's early stone homes
and learn the history of the builders and owners.
· Entertainers - Meet four of Lockport's famous entertainers and learn
about the theatrical venues during past centuries.
· Politicians - Early government leaders share their stories during
the trolley tour through related areas.
· Entrepreneurs - Learn how four men impacted the commercial life of
the city. Meet them at their homes or businesses.
NCHS works cooperatively with these other venues that also do school
programs:
· Towpath Trolley
(716) 434-7433
· Lockport Lock and Erie Canal Cruises
210 Market Street, Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 433-6155
· Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride
21 Main Street at Pine Street, Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 438-0174
· Kenan Center
433 Locust Street, Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 433-2617
· Colonel William Bond House - 1823
143 Ontario Street, Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 434-7433
· Erie Canal Discovery Center
24 Church Street, Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 439-0431
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Living History Program
Meet some of Lockport's famous citizens with the Niagara County History Center's Step Back in Time Players. Learn about the beginning of the Erie Canal and our early history and industry. Chat with people like DeWitt Clinton, Jesse Hawley, Aunt Edna Smith, Raphael Beck, Kate Chase Seymour, Birdsall Holly, William Rand Kenan, and Sara Lamb Cushing.
Step Back in Time runs July
and August of this year or other times by appointment. A variety of
venues showcase different historical personalities. Relax and listen
to our re-enactors on a narrated trolley ride, cemetery tour or at the
Palace theater. (See schedule below.)