Seneca Falls Historical Society

05/28/2026

Before screens and batteries, entertainment looked a little different.

A few childhood treasures from our collection. ✨

Do you remember playing with any of these?

05/26/2026

Memorial Day may be over, but remembrance does not end with a single day.

These photographs capture generations of Memorial Day tributes in our community, including Civil War veterans gathered at Restvale Cemetery in 1923, and post-World War II observances honoring those who served and sacrificed.

For generations, communities like Seneca Falls gathered along village streets, in cemeteries, and at memorial ceremonies to honor the brave people who gave their lives fighting for our country. These traditions of remembrance became an important part of our local history and collective memory.

As we reflect on these historic images, we continue to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and remember the generations who worked to ensure their service would never be forgotten.

05/22/2026

Much appreciation to the Nelson B. Delavan Foundation for helping SFHS support Reading Week at Frank Knight Elementary School last week! The school hosted David Soman and Jacky Davis, the author/illustrator of the Ladybug Girl and Elvis & Romeo picture books. Executive Director Jonathan Monfiletto and Curator/Educator Autumn Thaggard also got to be community readers and read books to the students during the week.

05/21/2026

Thank you to the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation for allowing us to borrow your exhibit panels featuring the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and its influence on the women's rights movement. The exhibit, titled "The Haudenosaunee Confederacy: Leading the Way to Women's Rights," is on display in the third-floor local industry room of the Becker Mansion now through the middle of June.

The exhibit accompanies our permanent display of Haudenosaunee artifacts, also on display in the local industry room. As the steward of the history of Seneca Falls and Seneca County, SFHS seeks to honor and pay tribute to the people who have lived on this land for hundreds of years. Seneca Falls is part of the ancestral homeland of the Cayuga Nation, who called this land Sha-so-on-se, meaning "swift waters" or "rolling waters" for rapids and waterfalls that once made up the Seneca River.

05/20/2026

The next time you take a tour of the Becker Mansion, you will be able to step inside the drawing room and see all the sides of it.

Previously, rope barricades - to protect the original 1880s carpet - allowed visitors to only look inside the drawing room and crane their necks to see as much of the room as they could. SFHS recently purchased runners that will both protect the carpet and allow visitors to walk into the room (please stay on the runners) and look all around them.

05/19/2026

Catherine Becker and her servants enjoyed hosting area schoolchildren in her home for tea during her annual Taking Tea events. Now, she is ready to welcome visitors to tour her mansion once again.

The Becker Mansion is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as Monday by appointment.

Stop in and see us and take a tour of all three floors of our Victorian Period mansion that showcases the amazing history of Seneca Falls and Seneca County.

05/18/2026

Last month, during Hobart and William Smith Colleges' spring Day of Service, a group of students came and did some work around the outside of the mansion to get our grounds ready for spring. Thank you all for the great help!

05/13/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our program on the influence of Haudenosaunee women on the women’s rights movement!

We are especially grateful to Ciarrai Eaton for sharing her research and insights on Haudenosaunee matrilineal society, the role of Indigenous women in shaping the women’s rights movement, and the connections between Haudenosaunee governance and the work of suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage.

If you were unable to attend, a traveling exhibit on the influence of Haudenosaunee women will be opening soon, alongside our permanent display of Haudenosaunee artifacts at the Seneca Falls Historical Society. Stay tuned for more information!

We appreciate your continued support of local history programs and look forward to seeing you at future events! 😊

05/12/2026

Join us tonight at 7 p.m. for this fascinating presentation exploring the influence of Haudenosaunee women on the women’s rights movement!

TONIGHT@ 7pm
Seneca Falls Historical Society
Haudenosaunee Influence on the Women's Rights Movement
Tickets available at the door.

This evening Ciarrai Eaton will present on the Haudenosaunee influences on the US women's rights movement at the Seneca Falls Historical Society. Presentation and discusssion start at 7pm.

05/12/2026

Women’s Rights Activist, Matilda Joslyn Gage, deeply admired the influence and leadership of Haudenosaunee women, recognizing their important role in governance and society at a time when many American women were still denied basic rights.

Join us tonight as our guest speaker, Ciarrai Eaton, discusses the impact Indigenous women had on the women’s rights movement and the connections between Haudenosaunee society and early suffrage leaders here in Seneca Falls.

📍 55 Cayuga St., Seneca Falls, NY
🕖 Tonight, May 12th, at 7 p.m.

Visit our events page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BJozwmu36/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from the Seneca Falls Historical Society!

This mother’s day we’d like to celebrate the women who’ve helped shape Seneca Falls history.

This photograph from 1912 shows Catherine Becker with her family. A mother of six, Catherine was the former owner of the Becker Mansion at 55 Cayuga Street, now home to the Seneca Falls Historical Society.

Thank you to all of the mothers and caregivers whose love continues to shape generations! 💛