PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Historic Ithaca is pleased to offer a wide variety of programs and events that serve our mission. Events throughout the year include walking and driving tours, lectures, hands-on workshops, our annual That Old House Tour, and our annual Ithaca City Cemetery Tours. Please see our Facebook for the most up-to-date listings as well as upcoming events below.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Historic Theaters Tour
When:
June 8, 2024 at 10:00am - 11:30am
Where:
Harold Square Building in Ithaca Commons
125 East State Street Ithaca, NY 14850
Cost:
$14.64 Registration is required, space is limited.
Meet outside at the historic theaters window panels (they're big and red!) in the Harold Square Building on the Ithaca Commons! Join Historic Ithaca and Wharton Studio Museum and relive Ithaca's movie palace heyday on a guided walking tour of its historic theaters and their original locations. We'll stop at many of the theater buildings that are still standing -- along with the locations of theaters that no longer exist -- and delve into Ithaca's heyday as the "biggest little movie city," when our very own Wharton, Inc. Studios produced many of the movies that were being shown in these downtown theaters one hundred years ago. Our walk will end at the Canopy Hotel's Strand Cafe, named for Ithaca's famous Strand Theatre.
PAST EVENTS
The 2023 Walk and Talk program was made possible in part by a grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Program.
The 2023 Ithaca City Cemetery Tours were made possible in part thanks to Carol Bushberg Real Estate.
If you or your business is interested in sponsoring Historic Ithaca's programming or events in 2023, please email Bethany at bparisi@historicithaca.org today!
West End Diorama Talk with David Fogel
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Ithaca's past as David Fogel shares insights into the creation of the West End Diorama, a meticulous recreation of the West End neighborhood before the transformative flood control project. Explore the intricacies of 'The Rhine,' a once-vibrant working-class community. Witness the dedication and craftsmanship behind the diorama's construction. Engage in a Q&A session with David Fogel and delve into the pre-flood-control West End neighborhood. This event is a unique opportunity to connect with history, community, and the passionate storyteller, David Fogel. Don't miss out on an evening filled with nostalgia, preservation, and a celebration of our collective heritage!
Ithaca City Cemetery Tours
Learn about the Ithaca City Cemetery's evolution from village burying ground to Victorian landscape for the dead as we walk through various sections of this 16-acre municipal cemetery and green space. Tours will last about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
We recommend wearing sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Some topics such as the discussion of death might not be appropriate for small children. The tour requires uphill walking and walking on uneven terrain.
Town of Ithaca Town Hall Tour
Join Historic Ithaca on a guided tour of the Town of Ithaca Town Hall. A fine example of Beaux Arts Classicism, the former post office was designed by federal architect James Knox Taylor and built in 1910. The tour is free, but there are limited spots available so registration is required.
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Upon arrival please enter through the rear door of Town Hall. The door is located in the Town Hall parking lot where very limited parking is available, on street parking can be found on both Aurora St. and Buffalo St..
Tree Tour in Ithaca City Cemetery
Join City of Ithaca Forester Jeanne Grace for a tree tour in the historic Ithaca City Cemetery. Learn about the new arboretum status of the cemetery and how to identify trees. Please meet at the main entrance gates on University Avenue. This tour is outdoors and includes walking on steep inclines, please be sure to wear proper footwear, bring a water bottle, and bug spray.
Silent Movie Month Historic Theater Tour
October is Silent Movie Month in Ithaca! Join Historic Ithaca and Wharton Studio Museum and relive Ithaca's movie palace heyday on a guided walking tour of its historic theaters and their original locations. We'll stop at many of the theater buildings that are still standing -- along with the locations of theaters that no longer exist -- and delve into Ithaca's heyday as the "biggest little movie city," when our very own Wharton, Inc. Studios produced many of the movies that were being shown in these downtown theaters one hundred years ago. Our walk will end at the Canopy Hotel's Strand Cafe, named for Ithaca's famous Strand Theatre. Writers and historians Roger Kimmel Smith and Pat Longoria will lead the tour.
Erie Canal Ribbon Cutting & Tour
Join us for the ribbon cutting of “Ithaca’s Waterway to the World”, a new interpretive sign created by Friends of Stewart Park and made possible by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
This event will be followed by a tour of historic Stewart Park hosted by Friends of Stewart Park, Wharton Studio Museum & Historic Ithaca. The tour will focus on the park's history and its current revitalization.
Pleasant Grove Cemetery Walk & Talk
Explore more than two hundred years of Tompkins County History on a guided walk through the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in the Village of Cayuga Heights. Once known as "a little country graveyard," the cemetery formally established during the Civil War, preserves the histories of the county's early farm families and charts the area's transition to a university suburb influenced by the founding and expansion of Cornell University. Join local historian Patricia Longoria to "read" gravestones for the stories they tell of the people whose lives are commemorated in stone.
Upon arrival please meet at the cemetery's entrance. Please park at Community Corners and walk down to the cemetery. There is no parking on the street in front of the cemetery and a very small driveway at the cemetery that does not allow for adequate parking.
Caroline Center Church Walk & Talk
Join us for a visit to this beautiful historic church tucked into the small crossroads of Caroline Center near Brooktondale. The original church was built in 1825. The new church was built in 1866 after the original structure burned down. After being closed for many years, the church reopened in 1988. Parking is available at the church site. Join us to learn more about this historic church.
Brookton's Market Walk & Talk
Join Beth Harrington and Sarah Michelle and learn about the history of this original general store in the hamlet of Brooktondale. The winner of a Preservation Award from Historic Ithaca, the building continues to operate today as a locally-owned small business for over 100 years, currently serving as a grocery/deli and tavern that prioritizes locally sourced goods. Participants can park in the parking lot beside the store, grab breakfast, and meet under the tent on the front patio. After the talk participants will be able to visit the local Brooktondale Farmer's Market at the Brooktondale Community Center (524 Valley Rd with on-site parking.)
Freeville Walk & Talk
Friends joined Historic Ithaca for a Walk and Talk through Freeville with Kristin Olsen and Jeanne Grace and learn about the rich history of the village! This tour went through the Genung Preserve and included about a mile of walking.
Brookton Cemetery Walk & Talk
Join Beth Harrington and Sarah Michelle and learn about some of Brooktondale’s famous residents as we tour the historic Brookton Cemetery. After the talk participants will be able to visit the local Brooktondale Farmer's Market at the Brooktondale Community Center.