Ten Unique New York State Museums to Visit Before the Snow Flies!

Totally A-Muse-ing!

By J. J. Scott

Museum-phobics and museum-philes will be “a”mused with the variety of New York State’s small, unique, one-topic museums.  From masks to kazoos, from Jell-O to Lucy, there is a museum that will intrigue and dazzle both the philes and phobics. Call first to check when the museum is open.

1.  Vitameatavegamin and chocolates: The Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown honors the lady who has made America laugh for generations with her timeless antics. The museum features personal stories, artifacts, and favorite episodes including Lucy doing the Vitameatavegamin commercial and Lucy working in the chocolate factory. The nearby Desilu Playhouse recreates exact sets from the “I Love Lucy” shows. www.lucy-desi.com, 877-LUCY-FAN

2.  The birth of the salt potato: In the 1800s workers at the salt plant in Liverpool on Onondaga Lake cooked their luncheon potatoes in the boiling salt vats creating the famous salt potatoes. The Salt Museum follows the salt industry from the salt springs to the mid-1840s when it was the nation's leading producer of salt. Salt potatoes were a strictly Central NY dining delight but the marketing has recently gone nationwide. www.onondagacountyparks.com/parks/salt_museum, 315-453-6715

3.  Put on a happy face: Syracuse’s International Mask and Puppet Museum has changing exhibits of masks from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. The current exhibit is “Puppet Arts of India” featuring puppets from Rajasthan and an interactive Indian-style puppet stage. Check out their super size puppets and special activities. www.openhandtheater.org,  315-476-0466

4.  America’s most famous dessert: "There's Always Room for Jell-O" was the slogan when well-groomed salesmen went house to house in “spanking rigs, drawn by beautiful horses” to promote Jell-O. Follow the history of the fun dessert that jiggles, wiggles, and makes one giggle at the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy. See television personalities Andy Griffith and Gomer Pyle along with Bill Cosby as they pitch Jell-O. Tour the museum and get a free box of Jell-0 at the end. www.jellomuseum.com  585-768-7433

5.  America’ original musical instrument: Alabama Vest created the kazoo in the 1840's in Macon, Georgia, probably getting the idea from blowing on a tightly held blade of grass. Later the Original American Kazoo Company south of Buffalo started manufacturing kazoos with the hope that “someday every boy would have a kazoo in his hand instead of a gun.” Visit the museum/factory in Eden to watch kazoos being made on the original equipment make your own kazoo. www.edenkazoo.com,  716-992-3960

6.  A floating National Historic Landmark: A veteran of the WWII Normandy Invasion, the restored Army LT-5 tugboat is believed to be the only remaining fully operational vessel of its kind. Climb aboard the LT-5 then tour Oswego’s H. Lee White Marine Museum with displays of nautical artifacts from the 18th through the 20th centuries with a focus on the maritime history of the Great Lakes and canals. www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com, 315-342-0480

7.  The birthplace of Memorial Day: In 1865 when a druggist in Waterloo suggested honoring Civil War heroes by decorating their graves it gave birth to Memorial Day. The National Memorial Day Museum’s Mourning Room sets the tone for the seriousness of the museum. The Civil War Room chronicles how the horror of the war with its high numbers of casualties led to the creation of Memorial Day.  A new exhibit features the role of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Women’s Relief Corps in spreading the concept of Memorial Day throughout the nation. www.waterloony.com/mdaymus.html,  315-406-3565

8.  Bronco Buster: The bronze statue of the Bronco Buster is instantly recognizable as the work of Frederic Remington but he made his name as an illustrator, mostly of western and military subjects. To learn more about Remington, his art, and his connection to Northern New York, visit the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg which features changing exhibits of his North Country and Canadian watercolors, sketches, and illustrations. Personal possessions, studio equipment, and memorabilia are displayed throughout the museum. www.fredericremington.org, 315-393-2425

9.  Bike it! From Boulevard to Battlefield from biking up the mountain to pedaling across the water, the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum, in Orchard Park – near Buffalo - features one of the world's largest collections of antique and classic American bicycles, including thousands of items of cycling-related memorabilia. Learn how biking influenced all aspects of our life from clothing to sports.  An amazing collection from the 1817-walking machine invented by Baron von Drais to help him get around the royal gardens to today’s multi-speed bikes. Try riding the high wheeler. www.pedalinghistory.com, 716-662-3853

10.  The people of the longhouse: Built in the shape of a traditional Iroquois longhouse, the Iroquois Indian Museum promotes Iroquois culture, past and present, through art and education. The museum offers guided walks in their 45-acre nature park. To learn more about the diversity and history of the Iroquois visit the museum in Howes Cave. (518-296-8949)

For more New York State gems including museums devoted to toys, carrousels, ships, and many other items call 800-CALL-NYS for a free “I Love NY” guidebook.