The Oriskany Museum

06/12/2026

Join us on June 17, 2026 at 7 pm for a presentation by historian Bob Moore and museum curator Alexis Albright about Oriskany’s own Summit Park, an amusement destination that operated on the bluffs over the village from 1897-1926 (sometimes known locally as the "first Summit Park.")

The park once boasted a merry-go-round, rollercoaster, amphitheatre, dance hall, games of chance, and more. This summer will mark one hundred years since the park’s final season.

The presentation will center around Moore’s latest 3-D computer model, which brings the original Summit Park to life based on original photographs, first-person accounts, twentieth century aerial images, and topographical maps.

Albright will expand on some of the unique conditions that spurred the development of the park, as well as details of Seward Baker’s development of the park and the adjacent “Oklahoma" neighborhood.

The program is free and open to the public. We do expect the run time of this program to be 90 minutes to two hours based on the amount of material, which will include flyover scenes from the 3-D model, clips from early "moving pictures" that were shown in the park, and examples of music performed by its orchestras.

06/12/2026

On January 6, 1779, Col. Peter Bellinger, who led the Fourth Regiment of the Tryon County militia at the Battle of Oriskany, wrote the letter below to attest to the duration of injuries suffered by some of his men. The letter was written at Fort Dayton (now Village of Herkimer), some sixteen months after the battle.

Documents from Tryon County Militia officers are relatively rare and few are digitized. Thank you Old Stone Fort Museum & Schoharie County Historical Society for sharing this glimpse into history!

Letter from Colonel Peter Bellinger, 1779

This letter concerns several soldiers who swore under oath that they continued to suffer from wounds received during a battle near Fort Schuyler in August 1777. It was written by Colonel Peter Bellinger on January 6, 1779, at Fort Dayton, located in present-day Herkimer, New York.

During the American Revolution, Bellinger commanded the 4th Regiment of the Tryon County Militia and played an important role in defending the Mohawk Valley frontier.

Thank you Matthew Avitable for adding this to the Cobleskill Herald (Mountain Eagle affiliate)! This picture was sent by Clay Edmunds.

06/11/2026

The Buffalo Maritime Center is on their way back to Buffalo with the full-scale replica Erie Canal boat "Seneca Chief." The boat will arrive in Rome this evening at Bellamy Harbor Park and be open for tours tomorrow (6/12/26). Check out their schedule and a virtual tour below!

06/07/2026

The Fort Plain Museum's American Revolution Conference last weekend included a presentation by Robb K. Haberman who has published and annotated the unpublished original manuscript of James Selkirk, a Continental Sergeant who was stationed at Johnstown in August 1777.

Selkirk's unit marched to the aid of Fort Stanwix after the Battle of Oriskany. The memoir tells of meeting up with General Arnold's forces at German Flatts and the aftermath they witnessed at Oriskany Battlefield.

Selkirk later went on to serve with the Second New York at Yorktown, just like Oriskany's Col. Gerrit Lansing. As Mr. Haberman pointed out in his presentation, Revolutionary War memoirs by enlisted soldiers are quite rare. It is even more rare to find a written account of the aftermath of Oriskany. Check out the link below for more information about his book!

Day 1 of the 2026 American Revolutionary War Conference - Thank you to Robb K. Haberman - James Selkirk's Revolutionary War: The Memoir of a Continental Sergeant

Order the book at: https://fortplainmuseum.square.site/product/james-selkirk-s-revolutionary-war-the-memoir-of-a-continental-sergeant/VDQS5DRV2RBJE4ZBOX4DLPGP?cs=true&cst=custom

05/19/2026

Lifelong Oriskany resident Walt Mitchell is featured on the cover of today's Daily Sentinel. Read more about his record collection and correspondence with some Hollywood greats in today's article.

He worked the line at Waterbury Felt Mill by day and corresponded with Moe Howard and Mel Blanc by night — meet Walt Mitchell of Oriskany.

05/14/2026

Fenimore Farm and Country Village (formerly the Farmers Museum) in Cooperstown is training up the next generation of historic interpreters. Is your young teen interested history or historic trades? Let the "step into history" this summer in Cooperstown. Details below!

Last call to apply for our Young Interpreter Program!

If you’ve ever wanted to step into history instead of just reading about it, this is your chance. From the blacksmith shop, to the print shop, to helping with historic homes and farm life, every day brings something new!

The application deadline is coming up fast. Applications close next Friday, May 22nd!

Open to ages 12–15.
Learn more and apply here: https://www.fenimorefarm.org/young-interpreters/

04/28/2026

Thank you for everyone who joined us for the Liberty Tree Planting and playground opening on Saturday. We greatly appreciate the support in both endeavors!

We are looking forward to more history and community programming this summer, so please check back for upcoming events here at the Oriskany Museum and during the Oriskany Farmers Market.