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HISTORY TOURS IN TOMPKINS COUNTY

GUIDED TOURS

The History Center in Tompkins County offers guided, thematic tours that explore different parts of Tompkins County history. Specific tours are scheduled at various points throughout the year - like our Haunted History tours in the month of October - and vary in availability. Please check out our upcoming tour options and availabilities on our Events Calendar.

Tours are lead by our Ithaca Heritage Ambassadors, and staff members. Also in collaboration with Historic Ithaca and other community partners we have helped create over 40 self-guided tours with the free PocketSights app exploring Tompkins County (scroll down to see selections of these tours). 

A tourguide explaining something to a group of adults standing in an open area surrounded by two murals.

Group of adults surrounding a table while listening to a tour guide in the research library.

Individuals or groups interested in scheduling private guided tours of The History Center Exhibit Hall should contact community@thehistorycenter.net. We are not able to accommodate all requested times for tours so in your email please include a few possibilities. Private tours and field trips for groups are available at $125-$225 sliding scale in support of The History Center. 

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**INSIDER TIP** Our community partner (but separate organization) Historic Ithaca regularly hosts architectural tours in the community. Please visit their website at historicithaca.org

UPCOMING GUIDED TOURS

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The following 1-hour guided tours can be purchased for private groups by request:

Please contact director@thehistorycenter.net with your requested tour dates & times. We are not able to accommodate all requests, but will do our best. 

Private tours and field trips for groups are available at $125-$225 sliding scale in support of The History Center. 

SELF-GUIDED TOURS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY

POCKETSIGHTS SELF-GUIDED TOURS                                              PocketSights logo with green location marker and text reading PocketSights

PocketSights is a FREE mobile tour guide app. Anyone with a smart phone or tablet can download the app for free from the App Store and immediately access thousands of self-guided tours around the world. 

Ithaca Heritage, Historic Ithaca, The History Center in Tompkins County and other local partners have been partnering with PocketSights since 2017 in developing over 40 walking, biking, and driving historic tours of Ithaca and Tompkins County. Download the app today and start exploring! Be sure to tag us at @tompkinshistory in any pictures you share to social media! 

**There are additional PocketSights tours in Tompkins County that highlight local art, co-ops, geology, waterfalls, college campuses, and other notable sites. The tours below specifically highlight only local history. 

👣 Walking & Biking in Ithaca              🚴Walking & Biking Tours in Tompkins                     ðŸš—Biking & Driving in Tompkins County

 ðŸ‘£ðŸš´ WALKING & BIKING TOURS in ITHACA

👣🚴HISTORIC BROCHURE TOURS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY

For decades most walking tour research was preserved and shared through printed brochures. With the growing popularity of apps on smart phones and tablets, The History Center has selected a number of walking tours created in decades past and revised them to work on the free PocketSights app. Most of these brochure tours did not originate from The History Center, but many of them used our archives and collections during development. 

🚴🚗 BICYCLING & DRIVING TOURS - TOMPKINS COUNTY

WALKING & BIKING TOURS around TOMPKINS COUNTY TOWNS & HAMLETS

OTHER PARTNERS VIRTUAL HISTORIC TOURS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY

The History Center in Tompkins County is not the only supporter and explorer of local history. We have many other community partners and collaborators passionate about Tompkins County history. Many of these historical societies and organizations lead their own guided tours annually, below is a selection of virtual tours some of our partners have created. 

Image of the historic landmark plaque for the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

St. James AME Zion Church Immersive Tour - Local Histories of the Underground Railroad

In 2021, CyArk, Cornell University, and St. James AME Zion Church in Ithaca, NY collaborated to digitally document and produce a virtual guided tour of the church, which historically served as a station on the Underground Railroad. CyArk worked with Cornell and church leaders to document and share histories, memories, and songs part of the church's legacy historically and today. 

Topographic map of six mile creek

Six Mile Creek

Six Mile Creek, called Teegastoweas Creek in the earliest map of Ithaca, winds its way for twenty miles from its headwaters in the Town of Dryden, through the forests and fields of the Town of Caroline, the hamlets of Slaterville Springs and Brooktondale, and on down to its outlet on Cayuga Lake. It has long served as the source of the City of Ithaca’s drinking water, and therefore remains a vital resource for Tompkins County.

Black and white image of the entrance to the Grove Cemetery in Trumansburg, NY.

Cemeteries of Tompkins County

This interactive map lists all the cemeteries in Tompkins County including family cemeteries, and settlement cemeteries. Grab a copy of our Cemetery Scavenger Hunt for extra fun before you go!

Group of people engaging in various activities in a common area with a piano, fireplace, and table in the southside community center

Black History in Ithaca

Since Ithaca’s founding in 1804, Southside has been home to interesting, dedicated people committed to the preservation and enrichment of their and their community’s Black heritage, culture, and way of life. 

Geocaching Adventure Lab logo with clouds and a hot airballoon that doubles as a location marker.

Ithaca History Walk #1

Download the Geocaching Adventures app to access the first in our series of local history adventures throughout Tompkins County. The walk will take about one hour and traverse 1 1/2 miles throughout Downtown Ithaca, directing you to different historic locations.  

Black and white map detailing the railroads present in Ithaca and its vicinity.

Tompkins County Railroad Tour

Self-guided bus tour prepared by David Rossiter. Explores 36 railroad locations in Tompkins County.

Tour Guide PDF and Tour Map

OTHER GUIDED TOURS IN TOMPKINS COUNTY

Tompkins County has a wealth of beautiful views, delicious food, and educational experiences. Below are some community partners who host regular tours on a range of topics and experiences. You can also explore Visit Ithaca to see upcoming events in the region.

Historic Ithaca Logo and link

Discover Cayuga Lake logo and link

Discovery Trail logo and link

Experience the Finger Lakes logo and link

Physical Address

Located inside the Tompkins Center for History & Culture

110 North Tioga Street

(On the Ithaca Commons) 

Ithaca NY, 14850 USA

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Hours

Exhibit Hall Wednesday-Saturday 10am-6pm - CLOSED Sun-Tues

Cornell Local History Research Library & Archives - By appointment only. Please contact archives@thehistorycenter.net

Contact                                                     

Email: Refer to Contact page for individual emails, General inquiries to community@thehistorycenter.net

Phone: 607-273-8284

Web: thehistorycenter.net

Find us on social media @tompkinshistory

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