History Center Exhibit Hall & Research Library

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-Glass display

-Glass display

This walkway and tunnel begins with the creation story of the Cayuga Nation, and moves through history and highlights of Tompkins County. There are glass display cabinets in this space, and the floor is carpeted. A built in ramp provides wheelchair access to this exhibit.

-Glass display

-Glass display

-Glass display

The Research Library & Archives is a public work space where individuals interested in local history may access The History Center archival collection with the help of our staff. There is ramp access to the front entrance (please notify building staff if you are in a wheelchair as we need to prop open two doors to gain entrance into the Library by way of the ramp). The back entrance to the library (located at the back of the Exhibit Hall) has a set of 2 steps to gain access to the space.

The Story Vault is an enclosed room where visitors may listen to oral histories of local residents. Due to the limited size of the room this vault may be difficult to access for individuals in wheelchairs. Some of our oral histories are available on other platforms (web, tablet etc.), if interested please notify docent staff who can set up alternate auditory options for visitors interested in our oral history collection.

Our fully restored Thomas Morse Scout S4-B was built by the Thomas Morse Aircraft Corporation in Ithaca in 1918. The plane is a permanent exhibit in the museum, and can be viewed from all angles. View into the cockpit is accessed through a a short set of stairs. We have extensive images of the Tommy Plane from all angles, including the engine and cockpit, if a visitor wants to access these albums please ask at the Docent Desk.

Our miniature Eight Square Schoolhouse children's play area was built to represent the 1827 Eight Square Schoolhouse, our living history site located in Dryden. This structure is a permanent exhibit located in the back right corner of the Exhibit Hall.