New York's Best Kept Secret - Genesee Country Village and Museum

A premiere destination in New York, in my opinion, is the Genesee Country Village and Museum. When traveling extensively, museums become a stable to learn about the area. Overtime, travelers may question if another museum should be added their itinerary. In this case, YES! You must visit GCV&M.

The moment a visitor walks through the gates, they step back in time. The village is organized by time periods so as we walked, the path directed us through different historical moments. The buildings are original structures that have been moved to this destination. Inside many were curators dressed in the attire of the time who shared stories of the past. In one home, we looked at pictures of the original owners and heard their stories.

The value of this museum is not in what you see but in what you do and hear. Visitor become emerged in the activities and are briefly transported through time. In the gathering hall, Randy and I spent time playing with the games of the time period. By the time we left, I had already placed an order for the game Shut the Box so I could play it with the grandkids when we returned home.

When Randy walked on the stilts, memories of hours playing on a set my father made me brought a smile. Building a set became an item on my to-do list, as did creating several games scattered around the room.

Numerous homes stood throughout the village. They shared the lifestyles of the poorest residents to the wealthiest. In one of the kitchens, we learned how to harvest chocolate pods and prepare the beans for cooking. We even got to taste the product.

In other rooms of the homes women demonstrated the intricate skills needed to perform tasks around the home. The size and complicated nature of the loom held my attention. We were informed there were 1600 pieces of thread on the machine that were used to create the material that would some day become a man's shirt.

The businesses came to life with activity, each sharing the process of the craftsmen of the time. The general store displayed some of the goods from the original. A woman dressed as the clerk pointed out interesting facts and explained how most items were purchased on credit or through a bartering system.

In the cooper shop, we watch how to assemble barrels without nails. The amount of math used to calculate the cuts and angles reinforced the science behind the work. The finished products could hold water with leaking. The master woodworker reinforced the value of science to create machines that made the heavy jobs possible. This was an age of invention.

A tinsmith demonstrated how make some kitchen utensils. He also shared where tin is found and how it is made into a usable product. Did you know that more than half the world's tin comes from Asia? While we listened, a couple children worked on creating Christmas decorations out of circular pieces of tin.

In other buildings we observed a blacksmith, potter, and shoe maker creating their wares. At the end of the day, we realized how much easier life is in today's world, post industrial revolution.

The gunsmith captured Randy's attention. They talked for quite a while about the different types of guns, ammunition, how they were built, and how they developed over time. The gentleman had a wealth of information to share and it was obvious he was proud of his products.

We stayed at the Genesee Country Campground that is one mile from the museum.