The citys modern history began in the late 18th century when congress. The first to be established was the morse chain company, which incorporated in 1898 in trumansburg, growing from a carriagespring and bicyclechain business into a developer of chain and powertransmission equipment. Learn about how our community grew from early native american settlements, through the establishment of cornell. In 1874 ithaca s first local public high school opened. Each stop on the tour highlights one of tompkins countys historical bridges, showing how it has been either. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in ithaca, new york on tripadvisor.
With little arable land, ithaca must import grain, but some olive oil, wine, and currants are produced. Ithaca s main island has an area of 96 square kilometres 37 sq mi and had a population in 2011 of 3,231. As written in the ithaca daily journal september 20th 1875 the manufacture of calendar clocks has grown, during the past 10 years to be one of the largest and most profitable of the industries of ithaca. Explore earth and its prehistoric pastfrom the tiniest trilobites to the mighty mastodonthrough engaging and interactive displays, handson features, stunning fossils, and scienceinspired art. A selection of historical photos dating back to the construction of the six mile creek 30foot dam in 1903 is displayed below.
The 15 best things to do in ithaca coronavirus update 2020. This distinctive museum covers all things earthly, from tiny sea shells to gargantuan dinosaurs. Just 2 miles north of downtown ithaca on route 96, just south of the cayuga medical. It is the secondsmallest of seven main ionian islands, after paxi. Downtown ithaca haunted history walking tours ithaca events. Carol kammen is a retired senior lecturer in history at cornell university who works as an editorial writer for history news, the journal of the american association for state and local history. The history of historic ithaca s creation dates back to the early 1950s when gas stations began to replace the big old homes near the center of the city and the 1866 cornell public library. Railroad development linked tompkins county with the markets and destinations beginning in 1832 with the horsedrawn ithacaowego railroad. Brief overview of the history of ithaca, michigan ithaca was founded in 1855 by john jeffery of niagara county, new york.
Ithaca consists of two limestone masses connected by a narrow, peninsula that curves to form the head of a gulf facing the greek mainland. The first airport in ithaca, also believed to be the second airport in new york state, was the ithaca municipal airport, located near the inlet to cayuga lake, in an area that cass park now occupies. Wharton studio museum is preserving and celebrating ithacas role in early american filmmaking, and developing the historic wharton studio building in stewart park into a park center with exhibits and installations about film history and the history of the park. The ithaca waldorf school has been providing waldorf education to the finger lakes region of new york for over 40 years and has been bringing together families, teachers, alumni, and supporters of waldorf education to create a joyful and inspiring community experience. Within ithaca, electric railways ran along stewart avenue and eddy street. The following year, by a resolution of common council, the iyb became an officially designated department of the city with the charge to provide youth programs in the. By 1880, when the ithaca gun company was founded, the city population had reached 9,105 people. In fact, ezra cornell and andrew dickson white both encouraged the establishment of an enlightened, forwardlooking church in the community. Today the clinton house is operated as a successful rental property, housing offices and other uses. It is the seat of tompkins county, as well as the largest community in the ithaca tompkins county metropolitan area. The city of ithaca began as a small commercial center at the head of. Exhibit hall, cornell local history research library, thalerhowell archives 2nd floor.
In the decades since, ic has grown into a residential liberal arts college with five schools and over 100 degree programs. He acquired the land in 1853, but did not assume possession of it until 1855, when the site was unbroken wilderness in every direction. Our history begins with the first gathering of unitarians in ithaca on october 15, 1865, about the same time as the historic founding of cornell university. History on the initiative of a group of concerned citizens, the ithaca youth bureau iyb was created in 1947, with sam woodside serving as director on a volunteer basis. The nice new facility is easy to maneuver, has great displays and a wonderful library space for research of the area. The recent completion of the ithaca commons construction project spurred us to take a look back through the history books. Ctb was purchased by the brous and mehaffey families in 1981. The history center ithaca 2020 all you need to know. Ithaca is located in the finger lakes region of central new york state, four hours. Despite its steep hills, ithaca, ny has had a robust and colorful railroad history. Ithaca has a population of roughly 31,000 residents. Ithaca historic hotels provide a balance between an authentic experience in traditional surroundings, with a very comfortable stay.
The 15 best things to do in ithaca coronavirus update. The history of historic ithacas creation dates back to the early 1950s when gas stations. The history center in ithaca, tompkins county new york is a must if you are exploring that area of new york. Wharton studio history wharton studio museum ithaca, ny. Collection of regional history and the university archives. History on the initiative of a group of concerned citizens, the ithaca youth bureau iyb was created in 1947, with sam woodside serving as director on a volunteer. Ithaca college and cornell university have maple sugaring operations. Soon the 1844 city hall became too expensive to renovate, and the fiscal incentives of urban renewal were too attractive to save many of the old. In 1888, ithaca was incorporated and became the twentyninth city in the state of new york. The capital is vathy or vathi modern ithaca is generally identified with homers ithaca, the home of. History ithaca tompkins international airport, new york. In fact, ithaca was the fourth community in new york state with a street railway. Ithaca takes its name from the greek island of ithaca in homers odyssey.
As a history major at ithaca college youll explore the complex interplay of political, economic, social, cultural, scientific, and philosophical forces that have shaped the story of humankind. Hurd, history of chemung, schuyler, tioga and tompkins counties, new york philadelphia, 1879 and in john selkreg, landmarks of tompkins county. They can both be found suspended above you in ithaca, nys museum of the earth. The ithaca area offers the best of smalltown life with the cultural qualities of a larger metropolitan city due to its universities and colleges. It lies at the southern end of cayuga lake one of the finger. The history center in tompkins county helps you use the tools of history to understand the past, gain perspective on the present. Walter stainton 19, president of the dewitt historical society in the county. The history center in tompkins county home facebook.
To know more about the history of clinton house, visit us at 212 center st, ithaca, ny 14850. Today ithaca is known for its gorges, education, food, vibrant cultural scene, and its diverse population. Ithaca conservatory of music on east seneca street courtesy of the history center. Ithaca is a separate regional unit of the ionian islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. The official web site of ithaca, new york and tompkins county convention and visitors bureau in the finger lakes. Over the years, ithaca made numerous firearms, most notably the ithaca flues double barrel shotgun, the all time bestselling american made double, and the ithaca 37 shotgun. Ithaca was founded in 1855 by john jeffery of niagara county, new york. Our students gain knowledge and confidence through a continuous cycle of learning, trying, and doingwith access to professional labs. The county is served daily by the ithaca journal, which began in 1814, the cornell daily sun 1880, and the ithaca times, a weekly news publication. Ithaca college began as a music conservatory in 1892, helping young musicians hone their talents into professionalcaliber skills. This area contains the municipalities of the town of ithaca, the village of cayuga heights, and other towns and villages in tompkins county.
The museum of the earth is a partner in the astc travel passport program, and a proud member of ithacas discovery trail. Explore earth and its prehistoric pastfrom the tiniest trilobites to the mighty mastodonthrough engaging and interactive displays, handson. He named the site ithaca in honor of his hometown in new york. History company is located at 373 enfield falls rd, ithaca, ny 14850. Ithaca is located in the finger lakes region of central new york state, four hours from new york city, three hours from niagara falls, two hours from rochester and four hours from philadelphia. During 1855, other settlers began to appear in the area and in the fall of that year, jeffery cleared the land that was to. Complete guide to ithaca, ny hotels, attractions, dining, shopping and recreation with maps and driving directions. The first ancient occupiers to rule the ionians were the mycenaeans, who have left significant traces.
It lies at the southern end of cayuga lake one of the finger lakes, 55 miles 89 km southwest of syracuse. The history of historic ithacas creation dates back to the early 1950s when gas stations began to replace the big old homes near the center of the city and the 1866 cornell public library. What do a giant whale skeleton and a mural depicting five hundred and fifty million years of geological history have in common. Soon afterward, the ithaca waldorf school was established and housed in a rental property while plans to construct a building on the schools land commenced. A bibliography of books and pamphlets printed at ithaca, n. Over the years, ithaca made numerous firearms, most notably the ithaca flues double barrel shotgun, the alltime bestselling american made double, and the ithaca 37 shotgun. The ithaca gun company is a manufacturer of shotguns and rifles originally established in ithaca, new york in 1880. Ithacas main island has an area of 96 square kilometres 37 sq mi and had a population in 2011 of 3,231. Through our public venues for education, the museum of the earth, the cayuga nature center, and smith woods, the paleontological research institution pursues and integrates education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the earth and its life, to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the earth. Ithaca became famous for building firearms based on. Ithaca past weather with historical weather conditions for the last 30 days, including history of previous high and low temperatures, humidity, dew point, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, wind gust, and rain fall totals for the ithaca area and overall tompkins county, new york. Ithaca, city, seat 1817 of tompkins county, southcentral new york, u.
Within the city are picturesque gorges cut by several creeks. Today, the hangar theatre has achieved national prominence as a regional theatre producing exceptional plays and serving as a learning environment for rising theatre professionals. The ithaca gun factory is built and quickly becomes one of the countrys most trusted gun manufacturers. Native americans wandered in this area for thousands of years. Simeon dewitt named it ithaca in 1801 or 1802, when he placed that name on the large map of new york he created for the state. Aug 31, 2015 in 2004, the board purchased 100 acres just south of ithaca college. The city of ithaca is located on the southern shore of cayuga. The hangar theatre made its home in the renovated municipal airport hangar right next to cass park. Dog names, humane society, vintage images, york, history, vintage pictures. The history center in tompkins county, ithaca, new york. She is the historian for tompkins county as well as the ithaca journal.
The area known as enfield was first settled in 1804 by john giltner and judah baker. City of ithaca dewitt map of 1840 courtesy of the history center. Ithaca, ny is famous having local events that feature familyfriendly activities, local artists and musicians, and highlight the towns rich culture. The programs of historic ithaca are made possible by the new york state.
Ithaca college sits on south hill and overlooks the heart of ithaca, a thriving city full of art, culture, and activity all surrounded by the natural beauty of new yorks finger lakes region. Museum of the earth ithaca, ny natural history museum. The island of ithaca met its greatest glory around bc when the kingdom of ithaca was constituted by all the ionian islands and a part of the coast of acarnania, in the mainland of greece. In central new york, maple sap runs usually from late february or march into about midapril.
Hotel interiors are fitted with modern conveniences and updated safety features, while every effort is made to preserve historic facades and treasured traditions. In 1874 ithacas first local public high school opened. The trip took about seven hours from new york city, about eight hours from philadelphia, and about three hours from buffalo. The history center in tompkins county visit ithaca, ny. Youll also learn that studying history is a continuous process of interpretation and reinterpretation as new data is collected and different. Historic highlights cecil robinson began conducting aerial.