The Seneca Falls Visitor Center serves as an orientation point for local and regional history, providing a historical overview illustrating how the Seneca River and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal powered the rise of industry and fostered cultural development, helping to spread social reform movements.
Located at 89 Fall Street in the middle of downtown Seneca Falls, you will find friendly staff to answer questions, provide referrals, and share a wealth of knowledge. You will also find a wide variety of travel brochures and information about attractions in and around Seneca Falls. The Visitor Center includes a gift shop.
Exhibits
The Visitor Center (established 1990) combined with the Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry (founded 1998) provides a unique experience for all ages showcasing the historical development of Seneca Falls and the Women’s Rights Movement. The Visitor Center serves over 17,000 visitors a year!
The Seneca Falls Visitor Center offers videos highlighting regional Finger lakes attractions and also rare footage of Seneca Falls in 1911.
Development of the Finger Lakes
Visitors learn about Seneca Falls and the greater Finger Lakes from three wall murals totaling 35’ with floor-to-ceiling maps of New York State and Seneca County’s Cayuga-Seneca Canal waterways. The geological formations of Seneca Falls are explored through a topographic exhibit. This exhibit also explores our cultural heritage and Native American history.
Waterpower & Industry
Discover how the power of the man-made falls were harnessed to run numerous factories, by viewing our three dioramas that range from 1817 through 1917. Our 1870s Kitchen exhibit presents artifacts from the many pump companies that were located on the islands in the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. The pump exhibit illustrates various ranges of pumps,
companies and uses throughout the 1800s. These pump companies made Seneca Falls an industrial hub in the 1800s and the “Pump Capitol of North and South America” for over 100 years.
Transportation
Fiber optic maps illuminate the system of turnpikes, canals and railroads that all converged in Seneca Falls.
Women’s Rights & Reform
A life-size statue of Elizabeth Cady Stanton sits near our exhibit “Women in Industry”. This exhibit highlights the diverse roles of women played in Seneca Falls.
Village of Seneca Falls
On display is a scale model of the Seneca Falls community. With a touch of a button, watch as the community is transformed back 19th century appearance.
ACCESS & PARKING:
Access is via Fall Street (two-hour parking available on the majority of Village streets) or through the Boaters Amenities at the canal level also free visitor parking available at the rear of the building.
