All aboard the Dinosaur Train for a frosty adventure! Join us for a fun-filled day with WMHT and the New York State Museum as we dive into the Ice Age, following Mr. Conductor’s journey to find a Mastodon in the Cenozoic. Explore our real Mastodon fossil, discover Ice Age animals, and get creative with a cool Mastodon craft!
Please note: This event does not feature live costumed characters—just the excitement of Dinosaur Train, hands-on Ice Age activities, and a chance to explore real mastodon fossils!
Complete Mastodon Jaw Unearthed in Orange County Marks Major Discovery in New York
First find of its kind in over a decade sheds light on the region’s Ice Age past
A remarkable discovery in Orange County, New York, has unearthed a complete mastodon jaw, marking the first such find in the state in over 11 years. This prehistoric treasure, along with additional bone fragments, was excavated by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange from a residential backyard near Scotchtown, NY.
The fossils—discovered by a curious homeowner—will undergo carbon dating and extensive scientific analysis to determine the mastodon’s age, diet, and habitat. Once preserved and studied, the jaw and related findings will be showcased in public programming in 2025, offering visitors a glimpse into New York’s rich Ice Age history.
A Discovery Close to Home
The discovery began with an ordinary observation that led to an extraordinary find when a homeowner, while tending to their property, noticed two unusual teeth concealed by plant fronds and, intrigued, dug a bit deeper to uncover two more teeth just inches beneath the surface. For the homeowner, whose backyard yielded this incredible find, the experience has been both surreal and rewarding. “When I found the teeth and examined them in my hands, I knew they were something special and decided to call in the experts. I’m thrilled that our property has yielded such an important find for the scientific community.”
A Window into the Ice Age
Excavation efforts by the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange unearthed a full, well-preserved mastodon jaw belonging to an adult individual. Alongside the jaw, researchers also recovered a piece of a toe bone and a rib fragment, offering valuable additional clues about the mastodon’s life and environment.
This discovery is a significant contribution to understanding the Ice Age ecosystems that once thrived in New York. With over 150 mastodon fossils discovered across the state—one-third of which come from Orange County—the region remains a hotspot for these prehistoric giants, which are distant relatives of modern elephants.
Dr. Robert Feranec, Director of Research & Collections and Curator of Ice Age Animals at the New York State Museum, emphasized the importance of such finds.
“This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this magnificent species, which will enhance our understanding of the Ice Age ecosystems from this region. Fossils allow us to reconstruct ancient environments and better understand the world around us today.”
Scientific Collaboration and Future Research
The excavation has sparked excitement among scientists and researchers who hope to uncover even more from the site. Dr. Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange’s Behavioral Sciences Department, noted, “While the jaw is the star of the show, the additional toe and rib fragments offer valuable context and the potential for additional research. We are also hoping to further explore the immediate area for more bones that may have been preserved.” This collaborative effort underscores the importance of New York’s paleontological heritage and highlights how ordinary citizens can play a role in uncovering history.
What’s Next?
The mastodon jaw and its accompanying fragments will undergo rigorous scientific analysis, including carbon dating and dietary reconstruction, to piece together the life story of this Ice Age giant. By 2025, the findings will take center stage in public programming, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with one of New York’s most fascinating prehistoric discoveries.
Michael Mastroianni, Interim Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, underscored the Museum’s commitment, 'This discovery highlights the Museum's unwavering mission to empower vital scientific research that reveals the profound changes shaping our environment and inspires actionable steps toward a more sustainable future.”
For now, the jaw serves as a powerful reminder of the wonders that lie just beneath our feet, waiting to be discovered.
A Message to Future Discoverers
The New York State Museum encourages the public to report any similar discoveries to appropriate authorities. Every fossil find, no matter how small, has the potential to shed light on the distant past and inspire new generations of scientists and enthusiasts.
Stay tuned for updates on this exciting discovery and the secrets it will reveal about New York’s ancient past!
In the Spotlight: NYSM Paleontologist Discusses the Mastodon Find
WTEN Albany | Monday, December 23, 2024
Dr. Robert Feranec, NYSM’s Director of Research & Collections and Curator of Ice Age Paleontology, took to the local Albany airwaves on WTEN to share the excitement about the recent mastodon jaw discovery in Orange County, NY. During the interview, he showcased the toe and rib that were found with the mastodon jaw and highlighted the next steps in preserving and studying the rare fossils.
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon Exhibition
Meet Barbie®: the multi-generation powerhouse that started it all, made history, and broke boundaries.
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon Exhibition celebrates Barbie as a reflection of culture, with exclusive designer interviews and an up-close look at vintage dolls, iconic cultural moments, and fashion trends from each era. The exhibition features a priceless collection of over 300 artifacts from the 64-year history of Barbie, including the very first 1959 doll, an original Barbie Dreamhouse, behind-the-scenes prototypes, as well as some of the most infamous Barbie dolls throughout history. Visitors will also find numerous photo ops throughout the exhibition for shareable moments.
A role model, a muse, a best friend—Barbie means something to everyone. Step back into your childhood and join us on this exhibition of a six-decade evolution, and the making of a global icon.
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon – Curated and Toured by Illusion Projects Inc. and curated by Karan Feder, in partnership with Mattel Inc.
Credits:
Barbie: A Cultural Icon Exhibition
Karan Feder – Curator
Shelley Lynn M.A – Director
Tim Clothier – Producer
David Porcello – Consultant
Suzanne Becker PhD – Education Consultant
Gretchen Pruett – Exhibit Writer
Trevor Bluth – Project Manager
Step back into a time when Albany was a pivotal hub in the struggle for American independence. Historian Liz Covart, Ph.D., host of Ben Franklin’s World, an award-winning podcast exploring early American history, will guide you through how Albany served as the nerve center for the Northern Campaign and a revolutionary stronghold surrounded by counties with divided loyalties. Hear the high-stakes stories of military supply, regional rivalries, and the tensions that nearly changed the course of the Battle of Saratoga. Through engaging storytelling, Liz reveals how the decisions, conflicts, and alliances forged in and around Albany helped shape the young nation.
Experience an afternoon of bold, imaginative jazz with the James Fernando Trio, a forward-thinking piano trio known for its deep musicality and genre-blurring improvisation. This special performance pays tribute to New York State’s rich musical legacy, highlighting iconic composers and jazz legends with strong ties to the Empire State. The program will feature music by Sonny Rollins and Bud Powell, both born in New York, as well as fresh interpretations of Great American Songbook classics by fellow New York-born composers Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, and George Gershwin. Blending tradition with innovation, the James Fernando Trio breathes new life into timeless works in a celebration of New York’s cultural and musical history.
Join us for a special screening of WPBS's documentary Trailblaze a Path Through History: Central New York, as we uncover the stories of innovation, reform, and resilience across Madison, Oswego, Cortland, Cayuga, and Onondaga counties. From the Erie Canal to suffragists, abolitionists, and wartime heroes, discover the rich history that shaped New York State!
NYSM’s Hall of Birds
Our iconic exhibit The Birds New York is a favorite for museum-goers of all ages. Its 19 dioramas portraying mounted bird specimens in five habitat groupings were built from 1975-1977, and are now badly faded and need of repair and reinterpretation. I am working with the design and production teams at NYSM as they renovate the entire Hall, one habitat at a time. We reopened Tidal Bays and Wetlands in 2015; Freshwater Wetlands will be next.
Birds of New York: Exhibit Information
Learn more about this exhibit highlighting the diversity of birds in New York State and their unique natural environments.
Birds of New York: Online Feature
Featuring highlights and photographs from each of the newly renovated habitat dioramas, this virtual exhibit provides a "bird's eye view" of Birds of New York Hall.
Birds and Climate Change
Museum collections are long-term data sets that document changes in bird distributions and in their physical traits and gene pools over the last 150+ years. I am studying changes in body size of Red-bellied Woodpeckers as they have expanded their range northward in the past several decades. For the past few summers I have also been conducting bird surveys in the Adirondack Mountains to compare with historic surveys conducted 40+ years ago to examine altitudinal shifts in bird distributions.
Mine for minerals, forage for fossils, experiment with a river replica, and more at the annual Rock and Fossil Fun Fair at the New York State Museum. Be sure to bring your rocks and fossils from home for identification. With science activities and prizes to take home, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to have fun with science!
Map & Chart Series
The Map and Chart Series, first introduced in 1960, combines large format graphics with associated text with emphasis on the graphic in lieu of descriptive text. The primary purpose of the series is to document surface and subsurface geologic data that are difficult to present in other formats. Many geologic maps are published in this series. Since 2006 geologic mapping at the New York State Museum has benefitted from cooperative federal partnerships. Traditional geologic mapping has been enhanced by technological developments such as high resolution LiDAR elevation and terrain models. Many products contain both a surface map of geologic formations and materials as well as subsurface geologic cross sections. As you select a particular title or map you will have the option to open and download a high-resolution PDF file. If you would like to request full-sized printed maps please contact Mr. Brad Seymour at Brad.Seymour@nysed.gov. For older versions of the geologic maps below, please contact Mr. Karl Backhaus at Karl.Backhaus@nysed.gov. Any questions on the digital data or geology, please contact staff members under the Geology Contact tab.
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Ice Ages: How Ice Shaped the Land and the Life in New York
Ongoing Exhibition
This long-term exhibition explores both the landscape and animals of the Pleistocene, or Ice Ages, of New York.
Over the last two million years, New York has experienced several Ice Ages interspersed with warm periods. Gigantic glaciers covered the state, and then retreated. Each wiped the landscape nearly clean—changing the course of rivers, widening valleys, and rounding mountaintops. As a result, modern New York landscapes are geologically very young.
As the last Ice Age was ending 15,000 years ago, many large mammals including mastodons, woolly mammoths, giant ground sloths, and musk oxen roamed the land. Most of these animals are now extinct or gone from New York. The exhibit features fossils of these Ice Age mammals including mammoths, caribou, moose, and whales.
View this Exhibit Online!
The online version of "Ice Ages" grants you direct access to each of the exhibit's galleries featuring recent research in glacial geology, images and 3D scans of Ice Age specimens including mastodons, woolly mammoths, and giant ground sloths, and additional resources related to the last Ice Age!
View 3D Models of NYSM Ice Age Specimens
In May, 2018, Dr. Bernard Means, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, scanned specimens from the NYSM vertebrate paleontology and archaeology collections in order to create high quality, three-dimensional digital archives of the specimens that can be used for research and virtual exhibition. View 3D Models here: https://sketchfab.com/virtualcurationlab/collections/new-york-state-museum
Related Content
Cohoes Mastodon
South Lobby
Adirondack Wilderness
Ongoing Exhibition
A treasure of the state of New York, the Adirondack Park was created in 1892 to preserve over 6 million acres of serene wilderness. In addition to an abundance of diverse plants and animals, boreal forests, hiking trails, and lakes, the Park also boasts over 100 towns and villages, making it one of the few protected parks in which man and nature together have shaped the land and the landscape.
Prehistoric Wilderness Landscape
View stunning dioramas of animals big and small that once lived in the Adirondacks, and of a few species that are making a comeback!
Explore the Adirondacks
View the scenic terrain of the mountains through the eyes of the city dwellers who began to flood the region in the late 19th Century. With the publication of several wildnerness guides in the 1850s, the tourism industry in the Adirondacks exploded, prompting the construction of seasonal resorts and camps for wealthy vacationers.
Industry and the Environment
In the early 1800s, logging, mining and farming were powerful industries that helped shape the dynamics of the Adirondack Park as we know it today. As clear-cutting for timber and mining for iron ore tore through the pristine forests, a new group of "naturalists" emerged to argue for the protection of the region's resources and beauty.
Fun Facts: Did you know?!
- The Tug Hill Plateau in the Adirondacks receives more snow than any other region in New York.
- The largest logging operations in the Adirondacks began in the 1870s
- The plants and animals that live in the mountains vary depending on the level of elevation.
- The last New York mountain lion, once abundant to the region, died in 1908.
- Absent for over 100 years, Moose are making a comeback in upstate New York!
Related Videos
Women of Science at the New York State Museum
The New York State Museum presents its annual Women of Science program. Learn about current and past NYSM scientists and their research through online presentations.
Women of Science in the Spotlight:
Beyond "Polite Botany": The Legacy of Mary Banning and Women in Early Mycological Research
Mary Elizabeth Banning (1822–1903) was a self-taught amateur mycologist who created one of the most comprehensive manuscripts about fungi in Maryland in the late 1800s. However, because she was a women, her work remained unrecognized for almost 100 years. Learn more about her life's research and how women used the study of "polite botany" to make a name for themselves in the natural sciences.
Winifred Goldring (1888-1971)
Discover more about the world's first woman State Paleontologist and the significant contributions she made to the fields of geology, paleontology, and paleobotany throughout her 40-year career at the New York State Museum.
From extensive research on the Devonian crinoids of New York and the development of the ground-breaking Gilboa Forest exhibit to over fifty research articles and publications, much of Goldring's pioneering body of work is featured here for you to explore!
Meet the Scientists
Dr. Lisa Amati
Job: Invertebrate Paleontologist
Collection: Invertebrate Paleontology
Title: State Paleontologist
As the Curator of Paleontology, my jobs include overseeing the care of the fossil collection, conducting original research on fossils, and contributing to science education for New Yorkers of all ages. My main job is making sure that the extensive collection of fossils cared for by the New York State Museum are stored safely and organized so that we can easily locate them for loan to researchers ranging from scientists to artists. My research focuses mainly on 450- to 500-million-year-old extinct marine animals called trilobites. I study how and where the trilobites lived and analyze how the many different forms are related to each other. One of the best parts of my job is using the fossils in our teaching collection to share the amazing things I have learned about extinct, once-living things with people in my community.
Lisa Anderson
Job: Bioarchaeologist
Collection: Bioarchaeology
Title: Curator of Bioarchaeology and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Coordinator
I study and curate a collection of human skeletal material from archaeological sites that date from over 4000 years ago to the 1800s. Bones tell a unique story about a person’s life, so my research focuses on the impact of different ways of life on the health and well-being of people in the past. I’ve been fortunate to work on a number of projects, from the impact of maize agriculture on the health of pre-contact Native Americans to a study of enslaved Africans in colonial Albany. We also assist other institutions and law enforcement with the identification and documentation of bones when they are found.
Heather Clark
Job: Archaeologist
Collection: Cultural Resource Survey Program (CRSP)
Title: Principal Investigator/GIS and CAD Specialist
At the Museum, I work for the Cultural Resource Survey Program (CRSP) where I serve a dual role as principal investigator and GIS/CAD specialist. As such, I often conduct my own research in addition to collaborating with colleagues and developing their geographic data.
As the GIS/CAD specialist, I create, process, and edit georeferenced data to help interpret and document archaeological sites. I am interested in using GIS as an aid to disseminate our work to the public via technical drawings, thematic maps, posters, and StoryMap websites. Working at the Museum has nurtured my love of New York State history, particularly early colonial domestic sites.
Dr. Denise Mayer
Job: Freshwater Ecologist
Collection: Malacology
Title: Museum Scientist and Collections Manager for Malacology
As a Freshwater Ecologist specializing in mollusks, I survey New York’s lakes and streams to find, identify, and count mollusks (mussels and snails). I curate the NYSM’s Malacology Collection which includes thousands of specimens from all over the world, including the oceans, lakes, river, and on land. The most important part of my job is sharing with scientists, teachers, and students the fragility and significance of freshwater ecosystems. I also emphasize that the animals inhabiting these ecosystems are essential for maintaining ecosystem health and for preventing the destruction of native mussel communities from human impacts such as pollution, dredging, dams, and invasive species.
A highlight of my job is SCUBA diving! I get to dive beneath the water and experience the environment where aquatic animals live. As part of my job, I have completed thousands of dives in the Upper Hudson River, I testified before the United States House of Representatives (Congress) in Washington, D.C. about managing invasive zebra mussels, and I toured the interior of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River.
Dr. Daria Merwin
Job: Archaeologist
Collection: CRSP
Title: Co-Director of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program (CRSP)
I work with the Cultural Resource Survey Program, which is an applied research program of the Museum’s Research & Collections Division that provides research and assessment of archaeological and architectural resources for other state agencies. This extensive program assists these agencies with their state and federal historic preservation mandates. The CRSP is the largest outside-funded Museum program and employs about one-sixth of the Research & Collections Division’s staff.
Most of my career as an archaeologist has been spent in New York State, and I have worked on a wide variety of sites here, ranging from a small camp marked by chips left over from making a stone tool thousands of years ago to trenches dug by soldiers training to fight for America in World War I.
My main research interests focus on underwater archaeology and the study of maritime cultural landscapes to learn about how people in the past lived on and near the water. As a scientist, I love the process of discovery and then putting together all the clues we find in the field, in the lab, and even in the library to explain how the people who came before us might have lived. I also enjoy the challenge of solving problems, something I get to do regularly at the Cultural Resource Survey Program.
Sarita Morse
Job: Anthropologist
Collection: Paleontology
Title: Paleontology Technician
One and a half million years ago, a group of our ancestors walked along the shores of Lake Turkana in Kenya. Their footprints in the mud were quickly covered by sediment, preserving them. Uncovered in 2007 by evolutionary anthropologists, the prints began to erode quickly, and removing them for transport was deemed too risky. With the help of a retrofitted medical laser scanner, a generator, and patience, the prints are now recorded in high-resolution and available to scientists around the world to examine at their computers. For 5 years I traveled the world, scanning footprints of our distant and recent ancestors. This created a data set that could be analyzed to determine geological and biological factors and understand how they affect footprint formation and preservation.
In 2015 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, ending my field career. Turning my fall into a dive, I now work in the CRSP archaeological laboratory here at the New York State Museum.
Kristin O’Connell
Job: Archaeologist
Collection: Historical Archaeology Research and Collections Technician
Title: Historical Archaeology Technician
I am the Research & Collections technician for the historical archaeological collections in the Anthropology Department. The material culture represents New York’s colonial and post-colonial past, spanning the 17th to early 20th centuries. The collection is estimated to contain over four million objects. A technician's responsibilities are broad, but over the years, my focus has centered on the preservation of artifacts and their associated documentation.
My research interest lies in artifact conservation (how to stabilize and preserve artifacts that are in danger of deterioration). Archaeological conservation uses chemistry to understand how and why an artifact will deteriorate after it has been removed from its subsurface environment and then finds the most appropriate treatment methods so the object and cultural data will not be lost.
I also assist with ongoing curatorial research fieldwork throughout the state and enjoy working with students who visit our department during their academic careers. One of my favorite field experiences was in 2012 after a devastating hurricane hit the Mohawk Valley. When flooding ripped through and washed away an asphalt parking lot at Schoharie Crossing State Historic State, a section of an 18th-century fort was revealed, requiring emergency excavation.
Dr. Christina Rieth
Job: Archaeologist
Collection: Anthropology
Title: State Archaeologist in Archaeology at the New York State Museum and Co-Director CRSP
I currently work on the Early Late Prehistoric Period of New York (ca. AD 700–1400) and analyze prehistoric ceramics and their relationship to trade, exchange, and interaction in the Northeast. I have always been enamored with history and how we understand the past. By studying objects from our past, we can learn not only how lifeways have changed through time, but we gain insights into the future.
Because I am interested in both archaeology and chemistry, I decided to look at the archaeometry—applying scientific techniques to analyze ancient artifacts—of ceramics and lithic (rock) materials to better understand how changes occurred over time, and how they can used as trade items in the past.
Julie Weatherwax
Job: Bioarchaeologist
Collection: Bioarchaeology Lab
Title: Bioarchaeology Technician
I work in the Bioarchaeology Lab which houses human remains that have been recovered from archaeological excavations. Most of our collection is from excavations conducted as many as 100 years ago. Any new collections that come in are generally from salvage excavations where the remains are in danger of being destroyed. Once in the lab, my job and expertise are in documenting and assessing age, sex, and any pathology (disease or injury) the person might have had. Many of the remains are not permanent in our collection, and instead we work with indigenous nations and local communities to determine final disposition.
I became an osteologist (someone who studies bones) after going on an archaeological dig in Poland, where we excavated Medieval burials. I found it fascinating how much you can learn about a person’s life from examining their skeleton. My favorite thing about my job is seeing all the variations in the human body. Based on what I observe from bones, I get to reveal part of a person’s life story that isn’t in the history books.
Susan Winchell-Sweeney
Job: Archaeologist
Collection: Anthropology Department
Title: Archaeological Research and Collections Technician, Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP)
Working with a team of museum technicians (all women!), volunteers, and students, I manage the preparation of collections for storage, exhibit, and research. I also participate in field excavations and serve as the resident expert in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Instruments such as GPS (global positioning systems), GPR (ground-penetrating radar), magnetic susceptibility, and drones help map archaeological sites. These tools allow archaeologists to “see beneath the soil” without digging. I support the research projects of our curators, who have very diverse interests—there’s roughly a 13,000-year difference in the ages of the sites and artifacts they study.
The coolest thing I’ve ever done—and the most evocative of a tragic time in the past—was assisting in the discovery and excavation of North America’s first smallpox hospital from the French and Indian War era.
Discover educational resources, videos, and more focused on trailblazing women from New York State!
Women of Science Video Library
Take a deep dive into the science happening at the New York State Museum! The videos below will help introduce you to the variety of exciting and cutting edge work conducted by the museum's female scientists.
Women’s History Resources
We honor the vital role women have played in shaping our state’s history—from the groundbreaking research of female scientists to the inspired creativity of female artists and the courageous efforts of women in the suffrage movement who fought for voting rights.
Women’s History Month began as a local movement by teachers in California to celebrate “Women’s History Week.” In 1980, President Jimmy Carter officially recognized National Women’s History Week, and in 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, establishing March as Women’s History Month.
We invite you to explore the resources and special programming on this page and to visit the New York State Museum. Be sure to check out the exhibitions, Fashion and Faith: Hats of the Great Migration, on view through July 19, 2026, and Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms, on view through April 5, 2026, Together, these two exhibitions highlight the resilience and determination of women whose perseverance left enduring marks on history—an inspiring reflection of the spirit honored during Women’s History Month.
NYSM Programs
NYSM Exhibitions and Resources
Fashion & Faith: Hats of the Great Migration
Showcasing 24 hats worn by women from Albany’s South End, Arbor Hill, and Rapp Road, this exhibition explores the Great Migration, the vibrant communities that took root in Albany as a result, and the powerful role Black women played in building, leading, and sustaining those neighborhoods through faith, resilience, and vision.
Outcasts: Mary Banning's Mushrooms
This exhibition highlights the pioneering work of Mary Elizabeth Banning, one of the first American mycologists, showcasing her original watercolors and scientific descriptions while exploring the fascinating and vital role of fungi in our ecosystems.
Women of Science
Learn about current and past NYSM scientists and their research through online presentations.
Margery Ryerson: Art is Contagious
Past Exhibition (2024-2025)
Margery Ryerson (1886–1989), best known for compiling the influential notes of artist Robert Henri, for the 1923 publication, The Art Spirit, was important in her own right as a prolific painter and printmaker whose artistic career spanned an impressive seven decades.
From the Collection: Women Who Lead
Past Exhibition (2023-2025)
This exhibit featured objects and artworks highlighting the diverse achievements of women across New York, including the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument 1/3-scale model by Meredith Bergmann.
Women's History Month Online CTLE Credit for Educators
Explore the 360 Gallery Tour of the NYSM's exhibition, Votes For Women: Celebrating New York’s Suffrage Centennial, and earn 1 credit hour of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE). Learn about the history of the suffrage movement in New York State through artifacts on display and highlighted women who led this equal rights movement. Participants must complete the online form linked below the video to receive credit.
Additional Resources from the Office of Cultural Education
2026 Women's History Month Statewide Events
Look no further than the Office of the State Historian for a comprehensive list of Women’s History Month events taking place in person and virtually at museums and historical societies across New York State!
New York State Archives
For Women’s History Month, access hundreds of ready-to-use primary sources and standards-aligned, teacher-created learning activities on ConsidertheSourceNY.org. Historical records spanning from the Dutch colonial period through the preset day offer students an opportunity to practice their document-analysis skills and discover the role of women in New York State history.
In celebration of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, the New York State Archives presents, Opening the Airways. This display will feature documents, photographs, and ephemera from the State Commission Against Discrimination highlighting the stories of aspiring Black female flight attendants who fought to break the color barrier in the sky. Records will be on view in the 11th floor lobby of the Cultural Education Center through the end of March.
Watch: Opening the Airways virtual presentation for the Archives Partnership Trust Online Speaker Series (YouTube).
The New York State Library's collections contain items related to the history of women's suffrage, many of which can be viewed in our Digital Collections. Documents from Manuscripts and Special Collections, including letters written by suffragists; hand-outs, flyers, and posters advertising suffrage events; and two legislative addresses that trace the history of the movement in New York State and across the United States. The NYS Library also holds books published between 1846 and 1919 by American suffrage advocates and opponents. Want to learn more? Ask a librarian!
Talking Book and Braille Library: Women’s History Month Reading List
In celebration of Women’s History Month, check out a book at your Library! The NYS Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) is a free library service for eligible residents of upstate New York who are unable to use standard print materials due to a visual, physical, or reading disability. The TBBL collection is similar to what’s found in a large public library, including popular fiction and nonfiction titles, as well as informational and recreational materials for all ages and tastes. Learn more about TBBL services and sign up at their website!
PBS
Free multimedia resources ready to use in the classroom! This folder features videos, lesson plans, media galleries, and more, all focused around women’s history and culture. All resources are educator-created and standards-aligned from PBS stations.
https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/shared/1165858/6602363
Women's Suffrage in New York
Monumental Women and the Creation of the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument
Learn about the groundbreaking monument, Women’s Rights Pioneers, the first statue of real women in Central Park, NYC. Made possible through the work of Monumental Women, the monument depicts three historic women’s rights leaders—Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth—all hailing from New York State.
Teachers: Earn CTLE (1 credit hour) by watching the video and completing the Online CTLE form for the Women's Rights Pioneers Monument
Votes for Women: Celebrating New York’s Suffrage Centennial
This online web feature honors the centennial of women’s suffrage in New York State and raises awareness of the struggle for equal rights up through the present day. View biographies of New York women notable for their contributions to women's rights and discover resources related to the Votes for Women exhibition.
Explore the Votes for Women Online Feature
View/Download Educator's Guide and Graphic Organizer (PDF):
Suffrage Comic by Emily Ree (PDF)
In this comic, four fictional New York girls explore four events in history when New York women fought for their rights: the 1848 Seneca Falls convention, the 1915 New York State suffrage campaign, the 1977 New York State Women’s Meeting, and the 2016 Women’s March. These stories were written to inspire empathy and help students understand what it might have been like to witness and take part in these events.
Women's Suffrage Videos from the NYSM
New York Women in the Arts & Sciences
Winifred Goldring, Pioneering NYSM Scientist and State Paleontologist
Discover more about the world's first woman State Paleontologist and the significant contributions she made to the fields of geology, paleontology, and paleobotany throughout her 40-year career at the New York State Museum.
Berenice Abbott: Changing New York
Berenice Abbott (1898-1991), was an American photographer best known for her photographic documentation of New York City as the city grew and transformed throughout the 1930s-1940s. Working for the Federal Art Project, Abbott created “Changing New York,” one of the monumental achievements of 20th-century photography.
View the Online Feature:
http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/berence_abbot-educators-guide_a.pdf
View/Download Family Guide (PDF):
http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/
berenice_abbot-educators-guide_a.pdf
New Acquisition: Souvenir Handkerchief Designed by Marion Weeber
Learn more about this vibrant screen-printed handkerchief designed by a trailblazing female graphic and industrial artist.
Arts & Sciences Videos from the NYSM
Discover more about influential women with ties to New York State and how their efforts to elevate the status of women continue to make an impact in New York and throughout the world.
NYSM Research & Publications from NYSM Chief Curator of History, Jennifer Lemak
Discover more about Dr. Lemak's ongoing research projects, including a list of her publications.
Dr. Mary Walker Coloring Activity (PDF)
Discover fun facts about Dr. Mary Walker, the first (and only) female recipient of the Medal of Honor, through this fun coloring activity for kids!
A New York Minute in History Podcast
Lady Acland’s Voyage: A First-Hand Account of the Battles of Saratoga
Discover the story of Lady Christian Henrietta Caroline “Harriet” Acland, aristocratic wife of Major John Dyke Acland, who commanded the British 20th Regiment of Foot during the Burgoyne campaign of 1777. When Major Acland was wounded and taken prisoner, Lady Harriet risked her own life and freedom to nurse him back to health. She would go on to publish her diary of her time traveling and living with the British Army during the American Revolution.
Grace Leach Hudowalski: Champion of and for the Adirondack Mountains
In celebration of Women’s History Month, this episode tells the story of Grace Leach Hudowalski, the first woman to summit all 46 of the Adirondack High Peaks. She was also the first president of the Adirondack 46ers Club as well as its historian for over 50 years.
New Episode! The Persistence of Dr. Mary Walker
Discover the story of Dr. Mary Walker: physician, heroine of the Civil War, and the only woman in history ever to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Born to progressive parents in western New York, Walker would defy the odds to become a surgeon, spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, and go toe-to-toe with prominent suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Walker is buried in the Oswego Rural Cemetery.
The Women’s Rights Movement: From Seneca Falls To Today
Explore the Women's Rights Movement’s progress through the lineage of Coline Jenkins, the great-great granddaughter of suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Jenkins, a women’s rights activist in her own right, has a family tree that touched nearly every major women’s rights milestone in the 19th century and beyond.
Audrey Munson: America’s First Supermodel
Born in upstate New York, Munson was one of the most famous models of the Gilded Age, and posed for the top American artists in the Beaux Arts movement. Sculptures based on Munson dot the landscape of New York City, and are held in museums around the country. Listen in to learn more about Munson's glamorous life before it took a tragic turn by the age of 40.
Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Visit to Wiawaka
Listen in to discover Georgia O’Keeffe's connection to Wiawaka, a women's retreat in Troy, NY, and how the experience may have influenced her work.
Margaret Hastings, the “Shangri-La WAC”
This podcast features the story of Corporal Margaret Hastings, a member of the Women’s Army Corps who survived 47 days in a New Guinea jungle during World War II.
New Acquisition: Souvenir Handkerchief Designed by Marion Weeber
This screen-printed linen handkerchief was designed by Marion Weeber (1905-2000) in honor of King George VI’s coronation in England on March 8, 1937. It was manufactured by Burmel and sold at finer department stores. The handkerchief was framed and given as a gift to one of Weeber’s friends who recently donated it to the Museum.
Marion Weeber was a noted industrial and graphic designer of silverware, jewelry, accessories, and tableware. Born in Albany, New York, Weeber studied at the Arts Student League of New York where she became a life member. In 1938, she opened her own NYC design firm, Marion Weeber, Inc., and patented 25 of her innovated and inventive designs.
Explore 250 years of Shaker history in the Capital Region! Discover how Ann Lee and her followers began building a home in the woods north of Albany that grew into a movement that spread across the country and has endured centuries. Experience live demonstrations, get hands-on with activities, and view rare historic Shaker footage. Special collections will also be on display, offering a closer look at the art, craft, and daily life of the Shakers. Celebrate this remarkable legacy and see how their influence still resonates today!
Check out basket and box making, broom making, seed packing, chair weaving, and string-bound journal binding, or watch spinning and weaving in action. Explore Shaker innovations, rare artifacts, and museum collections, and join the Shaker Heritage Society’s tinker zone for fun, interactive activities. Live demos, hands-on crafts, and historic treasures await!
This program is cosponsored by the Shaker Heritage Society.
Participating Organizations:
Shaker Heritage Society
New York State Museum
New York State Library
Cobalt Workshop
Hudson Mohawk Weavers Guild
Shaker Museum
Hancock Shaker Village
Sandy’s Fiber Arts
Chuck Thorne
Northeast Woodworkers Association
Join Dr. Gwendolyn Saul, Curator of Ethnography at the New York State Museum, for an engaging exploration of five remarkable Mohican and Haudenosaunee women artists whose work speaks powerfully to Indigenous experiences, histories, and creativity rooted in their homeland territories in what is now New York State. Beginning with Six Nations artist Shelley Niro, whose work is currently on view at the NYSM, Dr. Saul will introduce artists whose practices reflect distinct cultural traditions, materials, and contemporary expressions connected to their communities. Participants will have the opportunity to view artworks from the Museum’s collections, including a sneak peek at two recent acquisitions!
This in-person talk invites visitors to deepen their understanding of Indigenous art, sovereignty, and storytelling through the voices of women shaping the present and future of their communities.
Celebrate Women’s History Month with an afternoon of extraordinary music performed by talented women musicians from our community. This year’s Classical Music Showcase features three unique ensembles, each performing compositions written by women, highlighting the creativity, skill, and artistry of female composers across eras. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy this vibrant musical program.
This event is made possible through the generosity of the Albany Musicians’ Association, Local 14 of the American Federation of Musicians and The Music Performance Trust Fund whose support ensures that local professional musicians can share their passion and talent with the public.
Discover the hidden world of freshwater mussels with Dr. Denise Mayer. Learn how scientists determine their age, track populations, and uncover what mussels reveal about the health of our rivers and lakes. Explore the methods, data, and insights behind mussel research and the vital role these creatures play in freshwater ecosystems.
Office of Cultural Education Celebrates Women Who Shaped New York
Programming Highlights Trailblazing Women in History, Science, and Art
The New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education proudly celebrates Women’s History Month with a dynamic series of programs highlighting the extraordinary women who have shaped New York’s past and continue to influence its future. Through lectures, exhibitions, archival explorations, and interactive programs, visitors will explore the diverse contributions of women, including scientists studying the state’s rivers and lakes, artists preserving cultural experiences, and faith leaders strengthening religious communities.
The month’s signature program, Women of Science, provides an opportunity for families to meet scientists from the New York State Museum and beyond, inspiring a new generation of research and discovery.
Additional educational resources are available on the New York State Museum’s website.
Archive Adventures: Women, Words, and the Written Record – Exploring the NYS Archives’ Collections
Dates: Thursday March 5, March 12, and March 19
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Discovery Place
Explore the impressive documents in the New York State Archives Collection, from the colonial correspondence of Lady Deborah Moody, a religious dissenter and the first white woman to establish a settlement on the continent, to the immense creativity of women’s arts collectives like the Women’s Interart Center. An expert archivist will be on hand to share stories, answer your questions, and reveal how we uncover and preserve the past.
Meet the Scientist: Dr. Denise Mayer
Date: Friday, March 6
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Discovery Place
Meet Dr. Denise Mayer, Curator of Malacology, and explore the hidden world of freshwater mussels. Discover how scientists determine mussel age, monitor populations, and reveal what these remarkable organisms tell us about the health of our rivers and lakes. Learn about the research methods, data, and discoveries that highlight the vital role mussels play in freshwater ecosystems.
Opening Celebration Fashion and Faith: Hats of the Great Migration
Date: Friday, March 6
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: West Corridor
Join the New York State Museum for a special opening celebration of Fashion and Faith: Hats of the Great Migration, an exhibition honoring the Black women whose faith, resilience, and leadership helped shape Albany’s communities. Between 1910 and 1970, more than seven million African Americans left the South seeking new opportunities. Featuring remarkable hats worn by women who settled in Albany, the exhibition explores how church “crowns” became powerful symbols of dignity, creativity, and self-definition.
The evening will include a 7:00 p.m. screening of WMHT’s original documentary North to New York: The Great Migration in NY’s Capital Region.
From Boats & Votes: The Erie Canal and the Woman Suffrage Movement
Date: Wednesday, March 11
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Webinar
An engaging program with historian Pamela Vittorio exploring the Erie Canal—not just as a waterway of commerce, but as a powerful engine of social change. Learn how the canal shaped the movement of people and ideas across New York State, fueled reform movements, and ultimately helped pave the way for women’s suffrage and the passage of the 19th Amendment. This lively discussion will connect one of America’s greatest engineering achievements to the fight for equality and democracy.
Her Legacy in Their Hands: Shaker Women and the Making of the Museum’s Collection
Date: Friday, March 13
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Huxley Theater
Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Senior Historian and Curator of Social History, will present a special Lunchtime Lecture exploring the remarkable Shaker women who helped shape the New York State Museum’s renowned Shaker Collection. Beginning in 1926, as the Shaker communities in Watervliet and Mount Lebanon faced decline and closure, devoted members worked closely with Museum curators to preserve their material culture and document their communal way of life.
This talk highlights the women whose foresight ensured the survival of thousands of objects—from iconic oval boxes, furniture, and textiles to tools, seed packaging, bonnet molds, and even the only surviving Shaker fountain stone.
Five Indigenous Women Artists to Know Now
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: First Peoples Hall
Join Dr. Gwendolyn Saul, Curator of Ethnography, for an engaging exploration of five remarkable Mohican and Haudenosaunee women artists. Their work speaks powerfully to Indigenous experiences, histories, and creativity rooted in their homeland territories in what is now New York State. Participants will have the opportunity to view artwork from the Museum’s collections, including a sneak peek at two recent acquisitions!
Women of Science – *Our Signature Women’s History Month Program
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: New York State Museum
Discover the exciting world of science through the women shaping its future! Meet women scientists from the New York State Museum and beyond, learn about their cutting-edge research, and participate in interactive exhibits and stations. The day’s schedule features hands-on educational activities and several interactive “Ask a Scientist” panels designed for younger children, teens, and adults.
‘Women Are Going to Have to Organize’: Why the History of the National Organization for Women Matters Today
Date: Wednesday, March 25
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Webinar
Historian Katherine Turk will discuss the deep roots, wide reach, and long-term impact of the most expansive feminist membership organization in American history, explaining NOW’s historical importance and its lessons for our own time.
Archive Adventures: Sojourner Truth Fights for Her Family
Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Discovery Place
Before she became a legendary abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Sojourner Truth fought a legal battle in New York to free her son from slavery. State Archives staff will display New York State Supreme Court documents from 1828, which recount Sojourner Truth’s historic legal victory to secure the freedom of her son, Peter, after he was illegally sold into slavery.
Revolutionary Women: Lady Johnson, Angelica Schuyler, and the Politics of Loyalty
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Huxley Theater
Join Schuyler Mansion and Johnson Hall State Historic Site for a compelling exploration of women in Revolutionary New York. In the spring of 1776, a dramatic arrest and uneasy imprisonment placed two prominent women at the heart of a growing political storm. Through two engaging talks, examine how status, loyalty, family ties, and personal conviction shaped their choices during the early days of the Revolution, and consider how their actions may have had consequences far beyond what appears in the traditional historical record.
About the Office of Cultural Education
Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter.
The New York State Library, established in 1818, is the largest state library system in the nation and one of the largest research libraries in North America. It oversees a vast network of more than 7,000 libraries statewide. Collections are made available onsite and through a robust interlibrary loan program. The Library’s mission is advanced through several key divisions, including the Research Library, which houses a collection of over 20 million items, the Talking Book and Braille Library, and the Division of Library Development. The Library preserves and maintains invaluable historical collections and works, and serves as a Regional Depository for federal publications. Additionally, the State Library is the official repository of New York State government publications, ensuring their enduring preservation and accessibility for future generations. For more information, please visit the New York State Library website and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Established in 1971, the New York State Archives has amassed one of the most extensive and historically significant state archive collections in the nation. The Archives manages, preserves, and provides open access to over 270 million colonial and New York State records dating back to the 1630s. In addition, the Archives provides records and archival management services to nearly 4,500 counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, and other local governments across New York State. The Archives offers technical assistance, training, and grants to non-government repositories through the Documentary Heritage Program and Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY). Researchers can access public records through the Archives’ online Digital Collections or by appointment on the 11th floor of the Cultural Education Center. For more information, please visit www.archives.nysed.gov.
The Archives Partnership Trust, a 501(c)3 organization, works to advance New York State History by making the voices within over 350 years of records accessible, relevant, and heard. Education, preservation, and outreach programs unite scholars, students, and the interested public in the discovery, interpretation, and promotion of our shared history. Programs created and supported by the Trust include: ConsidertheSourceNY.org; Larry J. Hackman Research Residency Program; Student Research Awards; countless preservation projects to help stabilize and rehabilitate fragile records; and outreach programs such as New York Archives Magazine, the Empire State Archives and History Award, and other public education programs. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive timely updates.
The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.
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(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov
Join the New York State Museum for a special opening celebration of Fashion and Faith: Hats of the Great Migration, an exhibition honoring the Black women whose faith, resilience, and leadership helped shape Albany’s communities. Between 1910 and 1970, more than seven million African Americans left the South in search of opportunity, bringing with them enduring traditions of family, spirituality, and self-expression. Many made new homes in New York State—and in Albany’s South End, Arbor Hill, and Rapp Road neighborhoods—where they built vibrant communities while navigating the challenges of northern city life.
Featuring remarkable hats worn by women who settled in Albany, the exhibition explores how church “crowns” became powerful symbols of dignity, creativity, and self-definition. Far more than Sunday fashion, these hats carried memories of the South, hopes for the future, and the spiritual grounding that sustained generations. Through these personal stories, visitors will encounter the lived experiences of community builders whose leadership anchored and uplifted Black life in the Capital Region.
The evening will include a 7 p.m. screening of WMHT’s original documentary film North to New York: The Great Migration in NY’s Capital Region, offering deeper insight into the journeys of those who traveled north and the legacies they established. Celebrate the women who moved forward in faith—and whose stories continue to shape New York today.
Join Schuyler Mansion and Johnson Hall New York State Historic Sites for a compelling exploration of women in Revolutionary New York. In the spring of 1776, a dramatic arrest and an uneasy imprisonment placed two prominent women on opposite sides of the conflict and at the heart of a growing political storm. Through two engaging talks, discover how status, loyalty, family ties, and personal conviction shaped their choices during the early days of the Revolution, and consider how their actions may have carried consequences far beyond what appears in the traditional historical record.
Curious about New York's past? Come uncover the stories behind the state's history— one document at a time! Join us every Thursday at 11:00 a.m. for "Ask an Archivist" at the New York Museum. Each session offers a peek into New York State’s rich and surprising history through carefully chosen original documents, photographs, and videos. An expert archivist will be on hand to share stories, answer your questions, and reveal how we uncover and preserve the past. You never know what fascinating piece of history you’ll discover!
March 5: Women, Words, and the Written Record: Exploring the NYS Archives’ Collections.
March 12: Women, Words, and the Written Record: Exploring the NYS Archives’ Collections.
March 19: Women, Words, and the Written Record: Exploring the NYS Archives’ Collections.
March 26: Sojourner Truth Fights For Her Family.
Did you know that before she became a legendary abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Sojourner Truth fought a legal battle in New York to free her son from slavery? Come see New York State Supreme Court documents from 1828, which recount Sojourner Truth’s historic legal victory to secure the freedom of her son, Peter, after he was illegally sold into slavery.
Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms
Mary Elizabeth Banning (1822–1903) was one of the first American mycologists, specialists in the study of fungi. She was a talented, self-taught scientist who studied mushrooms in Maryland in the mid-1800s. Banning was also one of the first women to describe new species of fungi to science. Throughout her life, she produced scientific descriptions, beautiful illustrations, and rich narratives about her fungal encounters.
This exhibition features 28 exquisite original watercolors and detailed descriptions of mushroom species from Banning’s unpublished manuscript The Fungi of Maryland. Banning dedicated her manuscript to her contemporary, Charles H. Peck, the New York State Botanist and preeminent mycologist at the New York State Museum from the mid-1800s until the early 1900s. Also on exhibit are a selection of Peck’s laboratory equipment, mushroom specimens collected by Banning, as well as letters Banning sent to Peck during their 30-year correspondence. These artifacts are complemented by a dozen lifelike wax models from the NYSM Natural History Collection that were once displayed at the Museum in the early 1900s.
Step into the fascinating world of fungi and discover their vital roles in our ecosystems. Learn more about the New York State Mycology Collection and the science of fungi through the research of New York State Museum Curator of Mycology, Dr. Patricia Kaishian. Discover Prototaxites, a fossilized fungus from the Devonian period, on view in the exhibit, found in Orange County, NY. Thought to be the tallest land-dwelling organism of its time, don’t miss the opportunity to view this prehistoric giant that once towered over ancient landscapes between 420 and 370 million years ago.
From microscopic spores to vast underground networks, the kingdom of fungi is a world of astonishing diversity, hidden connections, and scientific intrigue. Whether fossilized in ancient landscapes or meticulously documented by pioneering mycologists like Mary Elizabeth Banning, fungi continue to reveal new stories about our planet’s past and present—yet so much remains to be uncovered.
A world of mushrooms awaits!
View Banning's Watercolors
From the Collections: Mary Banning's Fungi of Maryland
Discover the hidden legacy of Mary Elizabeth Banning’s The Fungi of Maryland—a stunning 1889 manuscript featuring 175 intricate watercolor illustrations and groundbreaking mycological discoveries, now a treasured artifact at the New York State Museum.
Additional Resources
Family Guide: A Closer Look at Outcasts (PDF)
A companion to the exhibition, this guide invites families to learn key fungal terms, spark curiosity, and engage with Mary Banning’s illustrations through hands-on activities.
"Outcasts" Featured in the New York Times!
Read a recent New York Times article featuring Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms. In addition to celebrating this stunning exploration of fungi, the article also delves into Banning’s life, accomplishments, and struggles, offering valuable context for her groundbreaking work.
Atlas of Inland Fishes of New York Database
This database contains information about the 436,401 collection records that were used to produce the temporal distribution maps found in the Atlas of Inland Fishes of New York (Carlson et al. 2016). All records were current as of 2016, but additional records may exist for various species in subsequent years. For assistance in database interpretation, users are directed to the “metadata” tab within the database file, which contains an introduction to the overall dataset as well as individual data elements.
Local Students to Present Final Products During Capital Region History Day at the New York State Museum
This Year’s Theme Explores “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History”
Middle and high school students from across the Capital Region will showcase their research on Saturday, March 14, during this year’s Capital Region History Day at the New York State Museum. Following the National History Day theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History,” students will present original projects exploring turning points that shaped local, national, and world history. While this year’s theme aligns with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, students may highlight any topic they believe fits the theme.
New York State Museum Executive Director Jennifer Saunders said, “Capital Region History Day is a great way for students to dig deeper into topics first introduced to them in the classroom. This year’s theme will help them discover more about events and movements that have shaped the world around them. It also perfectly complements the Museum’s upcoming Revolutionary New York exhibit, which we hope students and their families return to view this summer.”
This year’s contest will include students from Acadia Middle School, Farnsworth Middle School, Shaker Junior High School, Mechanicville Junior-Senior High School, Shenendehowa High School, and Niskayuna High School.
Student projects can be presented in one of five categories: Historical Paper, Exhibit Board, Documentary, Performance, or Website. Divisions are broken into two groups, Junior (6th-8th grade students) and Senior (9th-12th grade students).
A team of 11 volunteer judges, comprised of staff from the Office of Cultural Education and other area institutions, will meet with student presenters and complete category-specific rubrics to evaluate their work.
Projects will be on display throughout the Museum, including in the Huxley Theater and 4th floor terrace. The day will follow the below schedule:
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.: Student & Teacher Registration
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Contest Judging
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.: Judges Tabulation, Lunch, & Public Viewing of Exhibits
1:30 – 2:00 p.m.: Exhibit Take Down
2:30 - 3:15 p.m.: Award Ceremony
Student winners at Capital Region History Day will advance to the New York State History Day competition, taking place on April 26, 2026, at SUNY Oneonta. The top performers from the state-level competition will then have the opportunity to compete against students from across the nation at National History Day, held this June at the University of Maryland.
About the New York State Museum
Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter.
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(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov
Freedom and Contradiction: The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State (URCNYS) supports organizations and programs working to advance and promote the history and legacy of New York State’s role in the Underground Railroad and related movements.
For more information on the Underground Railroad sites across New York:
https://www.urcnys.org
Women's Equality: Talking Statues
What would it be like if the monument could talk? Listen to an imagined conversation with Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to learn more about their lives and how they impacted their work for women’s rights.
Audio courtesy of Monumental Women, available in English and Spanish.
Recurso de Audio, cortesía de Monumental Women, disponible en inglés y español.
Connect to the conversation here:
http://www.nyts.de/mw/
Note: This feature is best viewed on a mobile device.
Power of Place: The American Gunboat
Dr. Peter Fix, Principal Conservator of the World Trade Center Ship at Texas A&M University, explores the story of an 18th-century Revolutionary War–era gunboat unearthed beneath the World Trade Center in 2010. He details its discovery, historical context, and the meticulous conservation process that preserves this rare glimpse into early American maritime history.
Dr. Warren Riess, Research Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Maine, was the principal investigator of an 18th-century Revolutionary War–era gunboat unearthed beneath the World Trade Center in 2010. He shares insights into its discovery, historical context, and the conservation process that preserves this rare window into early American maritime history.
Join Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Senior Historian and Curator of Social History, for a special Lunchtime Lecture exploring the remarkable Shaker women who helped shape the New York State Museum’s renowned Shaker Collection. Beginning in 1926, as Shaker communities at Watervliet and Mount Lebanon faced closure and decline, devoted members worked closely with Museum curators to preserve their material culture and document their communal way of life. Without their conviction and careful stewardship, much of what we know about the Shakers today would have been lost.
This talk highlights the women whose foresight ensured the survival of thousands of objects—from iconic oval boxes, furniture, and textiles to tools, seed packaging, bonnet molds, and even the only surviving Shaker fountain stone. Through their collaboration, everyday objects of work, worship, and domestic life became an enduring record of a community rooted in faith, industry, and shared purpose.
Governor Hochul and Commissioner Rosa Announce Members of New York State Museum Visioning Task Force
Join the Hudson River Fish Advisory Outreach Project for a hands-on, family-friendly exploration of Hudson River fish! Discover which fish are safe to eat, learn how to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals like PCBs, and find out tips for cleaning and cooking fish safely. Families can enjoy interactive activities, explore fun science and environmental concepts, and chat with an expert about the river, its wildlife, and how to make healthy choices when enjoying the Hudson River’s bounty.
Celebrate International Day for Monuments and Sites with a simple, fun art activity for kids! Choose a woman from history who inspires you, create a colorful pedestal to honor her, and share your artwork with the community. A hands-on way to learn, create, and celebrate women who helped shape the past.
Join Brad Utter, NYSM Senior Historian and Curator of Science and Technological History, for an engaging exploration of the evolution of firefighting from hand-drawn engines to motorized fire vehicles, and discover how New York State was at the forefront of firefighting technology in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Join Barry Dale, one of the supervising field archaeologists of the emergency relocation of more than 1,000 individuals interred at Albany County’s historic poorhouse cemetery. Learn how archaeologists documented findings in the field, managed a large-scale excavation, and approached the careful recovery and reburial of human remains. Ask questions and gain insight into the methods, challenges, and decision-making involved in this significant archaeological project at the Albany County Almshouse.
Join singer-songwriter Deb Cavanaugh and Dandelion Wine, for an enchanting musical journey celebrating traditional American folk music. From the haunting tones of the mountain dulcimer to the playful rhythms of the limberjack (jig doll) and the storytelling of the crankie. Deb invites audiences of all ages to experience the magic of music that tells a story and bridges generations.
Celebrate Citizen Science Month at the New York State Museum with the Utica Mobile Zoo—a free, family-friendly April Break event! Meet live animals, explore hands-on activities, and discover how you can help protect wildlife and habitats in your own community and beyond.
Enjoy a day of hands-on learning at the New York State Museum on Homeschool Day! Join scientists, historians, and educators for talks and activities ranging from mineralogy to the rich history of New York. Local community partners will be available to provide learning resources and to contribute activities about our local history.
Registration Encouraged:
Call or email the Museum Group Registration Office:
(518) 474-5843
groupreg@nysed.gov
Event Highlights
Gallery Tours:
- Tour Fashion and Faith: Hats of the Great Migration with Dr. Jennifer Lemak
- Learn about the minerals of NY State with Dr. Joseph Gonzalez
Community Partners:
- Capital District Council for the Social Studies and the New York Newspapers Foundation
- WMHT Public Media
- NYS Library Youth Services
- Talking Book and Braille Library
- NYS Archives Partnership Trust
- Hart Cluett Museum
- Historic Cherry Hill
Grab a drink and join Barry Dale, CRSP Principal Investigator, for a relaxed and engaging evening exploring how archaeology brings the past to life.
Centered on the excavation of a Westchester County estate owned by a surgeon who once served on George Washington’s staff, this talk shifts the focus beyond the battlefield to the rhythms of everyday life in the early United States. Through fieldwork stories and behind-the-scenes insights, Barry will reveal how archaeologists piece together the experiences of a physician navigating a new nation.
You’ll also get a look at how contract archaeology works—from planning and excavation to interpreting discoveries—and what it takes to uncover and understand sites like this one.
This fun, interactive program is free to attend. Food and drink are not included, but are available for individual purchase at the venue.
Location:
Common Roots Albany Outpost
19 Quackenbush Square
Albany, NY 12207
https://commonrootsbrewing.com/
Native American Heritage Resources
Celebrate and honor the cultural heritage, diverse histories, and continuing contributions of Native People during Native American Heritage Month (and every month) at the New York State Museum.
We invite you to visit the State Museum, attend our programming, and explore the additional resources below.
NYSM Resources
New Acquisition: Contemporary Mohican Basketry
Explore Donna Hogerhuis’s remarkable work and research into historic Mohican basketry traditions. Her contemporary basket celebrates cultural knowledge, ancestors, and the continued relationship between NYSM and the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican community.
Polly Cooper's Shawl: On View in the NYSM Exhibition George Washington: An American Paradox
This elegant shawl is understood to be a gift from Martha Washington to Polly Cooper according to Oneida oral tradition. On loan from the descendants and family of Chapman Scanandoah, and on display in a museum for the first time in years, the shawl honors Polly Cooper’s vital contributions to the American cause during the Revolutionary War, when she aided George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge with food, medicine, and care.
Double Weave Basket by Artist Carrie Hill (Kanien’keha:ka, Akwesasne)
Learn more about this extraordinary double-weave basket by Carrie Hill (Kanien’keha, Akwesasne) that creatively addresses the devastating impact of the Emerald Ash Borer on Haudenosaunee basketry and highlights the resilience of Indigenous traditions.
Unearthing Ceramic Technology and Pottery Traditions at the Mohawk Garoga Site
Discover how an ongoing investigation into 16th-century Haudenosaunee pottery and raw clay nodules from an ancient village is uncovering new secrets about the artistry, techniques, and daily life of the Kanien’keha:ka people.
Burial Law: A New Law to Protect Unmarked Burial Sites in New York
Learn how New York's new "Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act" is reshaping the respectful treatment and protection of Indigenous burial sites, empowering Native communities to reclaim control over ancestral remains and cultural heritage.
Repatriation
There are new 2023 regulations under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Learn how they transforming museum practices, accelerating repatriation, and fostering deeper collaboration with Native Nations to honor and protect their cultural heritage.
A New York Minute in History Podcast: Centering Authentic Indigenous Voices
Discover ways historians can center authentic indigenous voices and work with Native American communities across the state in planning for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Artwork on Loan
Did you know you can view artwork from the NYSM Contemporary Indigenous Artwork & Ethnology Collections that is currently on loan with organizations throughout New York State?
Native American Ethnography at the NYSM
Ethnography at the New York State Museum is focused on the documentation and analysis of human culture, specifically Native American culture, and explores how Native peoples lived in the past and continue to build and preserve their culture in the present.
» Explore Ethnography Research
» Explore Ethnography Collections
» Explore Ethnography News
Native American Archaeology
Native Americans have been present in New York for 13,000 years. Since the mid-19th century, the New York State Museum has conducted archaeological investigations that have helped to write the histories of Native Americans in the state. The Museum continues that tradition today through field- and collections-based research.
» Explore Native American Archaeology Research
» Explore Native American Archaeology Collections
» Explore Native American Archaeology News
Featured Videos
When the New York State Museum's Kanien’kehaka (Mohawk) Longhouse exhibit opened on October 3, 1992, NYSM staff member née Cooke, Toni Benedict (Oneida Nation), helped direct the educational programming. She also made pieces of replica historic beaded Haudenosaunee garments for the NYSM teaching collection that continue to be used to engage with our youngest visitors.
In 1993, exhibition staff added an audio recording of a Clan Mother telling a story in the Longhouse exhibit, enriching the sensory experience of stepping inside a longhouse c. 1550. Toni Benedict and George Hamell recorded Karihwaienhne, Delia Cook, Turtle Clan Mother from Akwesasne, reading a story compiled from a collection by Mabel Powers. Cook’s recording allows visitors to understand the leadership roles and essential activities of Haudenosaunee women in everyday life within a longhouse and village.
In 2007, Delia Cook won a First Peoples Community Spirit Award, a designation bestowed upon Indigenous artists who work within their communities to share their “cultural knowledge and ancestral gifts.” Delia Cook passed away in 2024. We continue to honor her memory and the enduring gift of her voice in our Longhouse exhibit.
Recorded on May 1, 2024
Artist Jeremy Dennis’s photography centers on Indigenous histories on Long Island and the complex, interdependent relationships between Indigenous people, non-Indigenous people, land, water, and animals that co-exist there.
Warrior of the Revolution: Colonel Louis Cook of the Seven Nations of Canada
Recorded on October 27, 2024
Author Darren Bonaparte presents an enlightening lecture on Colonel Louis Cook, a significant figure in the American Revolution.
Educator Resources & Online Exhibitions
Dispossession of Indigenous Lands Map
Learn more about territorial boundaries and the locations of present-day Indigenous Nations and communities whose ancestral lands lie within what is now New York.
Represent: Contemporary Native American Art
The Contemporary Native American Art Collection honors a living legacy of master craftsmanship and vibrant innovation in the artistic expressions of New York State's First Nations.
View the Online Exhibit
View the Educational Guide (PDF)
A Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Village
Discover more about three of the NYSM's most popular dioramas from the Native Peoples Gallery: A reconstruction of a full-size kanonhsésne (longhouse), a scale model of a Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Village, and an agricultural field highlighting the three main crops utilized by the Haudenosaunee.
View the Online Exhibit
View Instructions on How to Build a Longhouse (PDF)
Schedule a School Group Tour: List of Programs
» Cradleboards and Longhouses
» Native Peoples of New York - A Journey
» People of the Longhouse
Fort Orange
Fort Orange was the first permanent Dutch settlement in New Netherland. Built as a trading post by the West India Company in 1624, the fort was also a point of contact and trade between Native Americans and Europeans.
View Exhibit Information
View Educational Materials:
» Native American Daily Life before Dutch Arrival (Google Doc)
» Trade at Fort Orange (Google Doc)
Additional Resources from the Office of Cultural Education
New York State Library
Visit the State Library’s website to learn more about upcoming programs and to explore other online resources.
The Best Land: Researching a Contested Place
https://nyslibrary.libcal.com/event/12114956
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm–1:00 pm
Online: This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.
Talking Book and Braille Library
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we have curated a selection of braille and audiobooks for all ages: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/blogs/tbbl/news/reading-list-native-american-heritage-month
These titles are specifically formatted for people who have low vision, are blind, or have a physical or a print disability. We encourage you to share them with friends and family who are patrons of the Talking Book and Braille Library or would like to begin service with us.
With BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download, readers may instantly download books in audio or digital braille to any compatible phone or device. Our large collection includes the latest bestsellers and award winners, along with books and magazines for all ages in over 50 languages. There is never a cost for our personalized service and there are no waitlists or late fees. Help us spread the word to all who are eligible. So that all may read! Not eligible for our service? Your public library may have the same titles in a format that is available to you.
New York State Archives
Indigenous history and culture is present throughout New York State and its history. The NYS Archives and many repositories throughout New York hold documents related to this history. This page offers direct access to highlighted resources centering the history of indigenous communities in New York.
https://considerthesourceny.org/featured-collections/native-american-her...
PBS
Access the Indigenous Culture & History folder featuring curated classroom resources from PBS LearningMedia. These K-12 multimedia support materials are free and teacher-crated, ranging in focus from New York State to across the United States.
https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/shared/1165858/6311193/
NYSED Teacher Resources
Access a list of resources for teachers from NYSED and external sources.
https://www.nysed.gov/indigenous-education/teacher-resources
View a selection of artwork from the NYSM Contemporary Indigenous Art Collection and artifacts from the NYSM Anthropology Collection.
Explore select artworks featured in the past exhibition Each One Inspired: Indigenous Art Across the Homelands.
Sometimes important collections come in small packages. Learn more about this incredible donation of projectile points made to the NYSM by the McVaugh family.
Native American Archaeology
Art & Culture
Educational Videos for Young Audiences
Step into the Ice Age of eastern New York with Curator of Archaeology Dr. Jonathan Lothrop on a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Corditaipe site collections at the New York State Museum. The Corditaipe archaeological site is an Ice Age encampment located in the upper Mohawk Valley, the homelands of the Oneida Nation. Since 2019, New York State Museum archaeologists and volunteers have been re-investigating the Corditaipe site to better understand its age and the nature of the Indigenous encampments. Join Dr. Lothrop to hear about our fieldwork to date and initial insights on life in the Ice Age of eastern New York.
Registration is required: **Our apologies, this program has reached capacity and registration is now closed**
Visitors who have received registration confirmation should meet in the Museum lobby prior to the start of the tour.
Celebrate National Robotics Week with a hands-on family program inspired by the Museum’s A Train exhibit. Begin with an engaging introduction to how trains connect cities and communities, exploring both how they work and why they matter. Then design and build your own interconnected towns, drawing rail lines and pathways that link your creations together. Using programmable Ozobot robots, watch your routes come to life as you explore the basics of coding, problem-solving, and collaboration in a fun, interactive setting designed especially for elementary-aged learners and their families.
This program is best suited for ages 5–10.
Registration is required: **Our apologies, this program has reached capacity and registration is now closed**
Be part of the conversation as we explore how the fight for freedom and equality didn’t end with the American Revolution—it evolved. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, this engaging panel invites you to discover how generations of New Yorkers continued to challenge injustice and expand the meaning of liberty.
In New York, independence was just the starting point. From uprisings over land and rent in the 1840s to labor activism in 20th-century classrooms and the movement for LGBTQ+ rights ignited by the Stonewall Uprising, the state has consistently been at the forefront of transformative change.
Featuring historians and authors Bruce W. Dearstyne, Nancy Newman, Dennis Gaffney, and Ashley Hopkins-Benton, the panel draws on insights from Revolutionary New York: 250 Years of Social Change to highlight powerful stories of activism, resistance, and reform.
Bring your questions and join the discussion as we reflect on New York’s ongoing legacy of revolution—and what it means for the future.
Spring Break Programs at the New York State Museum Aim to Engage and Inspire Local Families
Inclusive Programming and Experiences Offer Something for Visitors of All Ages and Abilities
This Spring Break, families are invited to explore the New York State Museum, proving you don’t have to travel far to find a new adventure! From free, family-friendly programs that spark curiosity about the natural world to newly revamped interactive scavenger hunts designed to engage kids to further connect with exhibits, each trip to the Museum promises something to discover. The week culminates with a special Carl the Collector Museum Adventure, celebrating visitors with autism and providing an opportunity for individuals with sensory needs to discover in a more comfortable setting.
Jennifer Saunders, Museum Director, said, “Our goal is for every visit to the Museum to spark a sense of awe and wonder for guests of all ages and abilities. With April marking both Citizen Science and Earth Month, it’s an especially meaningful time for families to connect with New York’s environment, whether by joining one of our programs or exploring the Museum at their own pace through our engaging, age-appropriate scavenger hunts.”
The scavenger hunts, which are broken down into three age groups, can be picked up at the Museum’s front desk. While the youngest use clues to explore exhibits, older children answer questions or use prompts to take photos that inspire them to see the Museum through a new lens. The hunts will remain available beyond Spring Break.
In addition to regular weekday programming, Spring Break events include:
Music Performance: Deb Cavanaugh and Dandelion Wine
Date: Saturday, April 4
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Adirondack Hall
Join singer-songwriter Deb Cavanaugh and Dandelion Wine for a musical journey celebrating traditional American folk music. Deb invites audiences of all ages to experience the magic of musical storytelling that bridges generations.
Springtime Crafting Fun at the NYS Museum!
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Kids Cove
Welcome the season of renewal with a fun and easy spring-themed craft session for kids. This hands-on activity is perfect for children of all ages—no experience necessary. All materials will be provided, so just bring your creativity and a big smile!
New York State Archives: Archie’s Birthday Party
Date: Tuesday, April 7
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: NYSM Galleries
You’re invited to a wild celebration of Archie, the tiny titan of history and the New York State Archives' very own Junior Archivist! Archie isn’t just any mascot—he’s a curious, document-loving beaver who digs into New York's fascinating history and shares its stories with everyone he meets. On his special day, celebrate with crafts, games, and plenty of birthday fun.
Spring Chickadee: Acrylic Painting Workshop with Patrice Jarvis-Weber
Date: Tuesday, April 7
Time: Session One: 1:00-2:30 p.m.; Session Two: 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Location: Adirondack Hall
Celebrate spring with a hands-on acrylic painting workshop led by Adirondack artist Patrice Jarvis-Weber of Paint with Patrice. Inspired by the Museum’s beloved Bird Hall, participants ages 7 and up will create their own canvas featuring a charming chickadee. Designed for all skill levels, this step-by-step class offers personalized guidance and all materials provided, ensuring everyone leaves with a finished masterpiece to take home. Registration for session one or session two is required.
All Aboard STEAM: Build, Code, and Connect with Robots * SOLD OUT
Date: Wednesday, April 8
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Meet at Main Lobby Desk
Celebrate National Robotics Week with a hands-on program inspired by the Museum’s A Train exhibit. Begin with an engaging introduction to how trains connect cities and communities, exploring both how they work and why they matter. Then design and build your own interconnected towns, drawing rail lines and pathways that link your creations together. Using programmable Ozobot robots, watch your routes come to life as you explore the basics of coding, problem-solving, and collaboration in a fun, interactive setting designed especially for elementary-aged learners and their families.
This program is best suited for ages 5–10. Registration is required and the event is currently at capacity.
Hooked on Science: Hudson River Fish Adventures
Date: Thursday, April 9
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Adirondack Hall
Join the Hudson River Fish Advisory Outreach Project for a hands-on, family-friendly exploration of Hudson River fish! Discover which fish are safe to eat, learn how to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals like PCBs, and find out tips for cleaning and cooking fish safely. Families can enjoy interactive activities, explore fun science and environmental concepts, and chat with an expert about the river, its wildlife, and how to make healthy choices when enjoying the Hudson’s bounty.
Carl the Collector’s Museum Adventure: Discover, Collect, Explore!
Date: Friday, April 10
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: NYSM Galleries
Throughout the museum, visitors will find hands-on activities inspired by Carl the Collector, PBS KIDS’ groundbreaking series that celebrates the joy of collecting and the uniqueness of every individual. Episodes of Carl the Collector will be playing in the Huxley Theater, where Carl, a curious and warm-hearted raccoon with autism, embarks on adventures, solving problems with his unique perspective. As you explore the museum, take part in activities that connect to the exhibits, bringing Carl’s world of collecting to life.
This event is a collaboration between the New York State Museum, WMHT, and Bring on the Spectrum (BOTS), offering a welcoming, inclusive environment for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Amazing Adaptations: Citizen Science and Conservation with Utica Mobile Zoo
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Huxley Theater
The Utica Zoo returns to the New York State Museum to celebrate Citizen Science Month with a free, family-friendly April Break event! Meet live animals, explore hands-on activities, and discover how you can help protect wildlife and habitats in your own community and beyond.
A full list of programs can be found on the New York State Museum’s website.
About the New York State Museum
Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter.
###
(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov
Founding the Nation: Tattoos with Dr. Hemlock
“Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow (King of Maquas)," from the series Four Indian Kings (Mohawk Kings) of the New World painted by John (Johannes) Verelst, 1710.
Sha’kaien’kwarahton, also known as Peter Brant, is decorated with elaborate tattoo marks on his chest.
Sha’kaien’kwarahton is one of three Haudenosaunee leaders whose portrait was painted by John Verelst in his series Four Indian Kings of the New World (1710). Titled “Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow (King of Maquas),” Sha’kaien’kwarahton, also known as Peter Brant, is decorated with elaborate tattoo marks on his body.
Recent research by Dr. Kanen'tó:kon Hemlock (Kahnawake, Bear Clan), interprets the crayfish, Otsi’eró:ta, tattoo on Brant’s chest as a kind of totem, suggesting that “like a crayfish, he always faces his enemy head-on.” The hourglass tattoo with rays emanating outwards above the crayfish began to appear throughout Haudenosaunee territory 1666-1682 and has been found on bone combs at archaeological sites in what is now western NY.
Dr. Kanen'tó:kon Hemlock currently works within his community revitalizing tattooing practices, including sharing the knowledge associated with designs, and mentoring youth in the significance of this art form for Kanien’kehaka (Mohawk) people.
“Kanon’sen, Reviving, Revitalizing, and Reawakening a Dormant Practice and Language Amongst the Rotinonhsion:ni People,” Kanen'tó:kon Hemlock (2023)
Dr. Kanen'tó:kon Hemlock (Kahnawake, Bear Clan) gives tattoo marks to a young member of his community. His work centers on reawakening the artform and knowledge associated with it, for the benefit of his people and Nation.
Celebrate spring at the New York State Museum with a hands-on acrylic painting workshop led by Adirondack artist Patrice Jarvis-Weber of Paint with Patrice. Inspired by the Museum’s beloved Bird Hall, participants ages 7 and up will create their own canvas featuring a charming chickadee. Designed for all skill levels, this step-by-step class offers personalized guidance and all materials provided, ensuring everyone leaves with a finished masterpiece to take home.
Registration Required.
Session 1 (1-2:30 pm):
**Our apologies, this section has reached capacity.**
Session 2 (3-4:30 pm):
**Our apologies, this section has reached capacity.**
Join the New York State Museum for a compelling lecture with author, historian, and storyteller Sandra Weber, featuring her newest book, John Brown in New York: The Man, His Family, and the Adirondack Landscape. Weber offers an intimate and deeply human portrait of the famed abolitionist, focusing on the years of the Brown family’s connection with North Elba, Essex County (1848–1863), where they farmed, raised children, and forged powerful bonds with Black neighbors and fellow settlers.
Set against the rugged beauty of the Adirondack Mountains, this biography explores John Brown not only as a national figure but as a husband, father, farmer, and advocate for justice whose moral convictions shaped his life’s mission. Weber’s insightful narrative bridges the myth and the man, revealing the emotional heart of the Brown family story. A Q&A session and book signing will follow the talk.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
The datasets of the NYS Museum which are posted here are made freely available. Use of this data implies you understand the disclaimer associated with it. Our Metadata references are available from the NYS GIS Clearinghouse.
See Also
Boundary Data
This Index Map shows ArcGIS Pro coverages for the State of New York. Statewide coverages are "clipped" to the boundaries at 1:250,000 scale.
Boundary Adirondacks
Adirondack_Boundary.zip (2.98 KB)- Map Type: boundary
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Boundary Finger Lakes
FingerLakes_Boundary.zip (3.04 KB)- Map Type: boundary
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Boundary Hudson Mohawk
HudsonMohawk_Boundary.zip (3.04 KB)- Map Type: boundary
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Boundary Lower Hudson
LowerHudson_Boundary.zip (3.04 KB)- Map Type: boundary
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Boundary Niagara
Niagara_Boundary.zip (2.87 KB)- Map Type: boundary
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Surficial Geology Shapefiles
Adirondacks Surficial Sheet
Adirondack_Surficial.zip (4.9 MB)- Map Type: surfgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Finger Lakes Surficial Sheet
FingerLakes_Surficial.zip (3.19 MB)- Map Type: surfgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Hudson Mohawk Surficial Sheet
HudsonMohawk_Surficial.zip (4.38 MB)- Map Type: surfgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Lower Hudson Surficial Sheet
LowerHudson_Surficial.zip (2.45 MB)- Map Type: surfgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Niagara Surficial Sheet
Niagara_Surficial.zip (2.33 MB)- Map Type: surfgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Bedrock Geology Shapefiles
Adirondack Bedrock Sheet
Adirondack Bedrock Sheet (2.21 MB)- Map Type: bedgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Finger Lakes Bedrock Sheet
Finger Lakes Bedrock Sheet (1.31 MB)- Map Type: bedgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Hudson Mohawk Bedrock Sheet
Hudson Mohawk Bedrock Sheet (2.01 MB)- Map Type: bedgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Lower Hudson Bedrock Sheet
Lower Hudson Bedrock Sheet (1.53 MB)- Map Type: bedgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Master Legend (JPG only)
Bedrock_Master_Legend.zip (21.93 MB)- Map Type: bedgeology
- Region: Statewide
Niagara Bedrock Sheet
Niagara Bedrock Sheet (574.81 KB)- Map Type: bedgeology
- Region: Statewide
- Scale: 1:250,000
Statewide Geologic Reference Maps
Physiographic Province Map of NY
NYS_PhysiographicProvinces.zip (252.62 KB)- Map Type: physiographic
- Region: Statewide
Shaded Relief Map of NYS (Greyscale)
NYS_ShadedRelief_Greyscale.pdf (941.69 KB)- Map Type: physiographic
Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to insure the integrity of this digital data, the New York State Education Department ("NYSED") makes no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to its accuracy, completeness, or usefulness for any particular purpose or scale. NYSED assumes no liability for damages resulting from the use of any information, apparatus, method or process disclosed in this dataset, map or text, and urges independent site-specific verification of the information contained herein. Any use of trade, product or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by NYSED.
Unleash your creativity and explore New York State through the exciting world of comics! During Comic Book Day, visitors of all ages will discover how comic storytelling can bring science, history, anthropology, and art to life. From illustrating fascinating discoveries to sharing powerful cultural stories, comics offer a unique way to learn about the world around us.
Throughout the day, guests can explore examples of comics inspired by Museum collections and research, then try their hand at creating their own!
Join us for a fun, imaginative day where creativity meets learning.
Celebrate Dutch-American Friendship Day with Dr. Chelsea Teale, Director of the New Netherland Research Center. Stop by the exhibit "a small fort, which our people call Fort Orange" to learn about the often-overlooked contributions of the Dutch during the American Revolution. Ask questions, learn more about the Dutch influence on early America, and pick up a brochure highlighting the New Netherland Research Center.