Upcoming Events

Switch to Calendar View

• HistoryForge Transcription Sessions (Volunteers Needed)

  • Start
    Sat, January 06, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Sat, June 15, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    12 sessions
  • Location
    110 North Tioga St, Ithaca NY 14850 - Located inside the Tompkins Center for History & Culture

  

  WHEN: Saturdays: January 6 & 20, February 3 & 17, March 2 & 16, April 6 & 20, May 4 & 18, June 1 & 15

  WHERE: Joe Mareane Conference Room (Second Floor), Located inside the Tompkins Center for History & Culture, 110 N Tioga St, Ithaca NY 14850

  HistoryForge Transcription sessions happen every other Saturday from 11am-1pm. They happen in-person at the Tompkins Center for History & Culture on the Ithaca Commons usually in the Second Floor Conference Room.

  Be sure you're on the email list to stay in the loop! APPLICATION REQUIRED for new volunteers - We need to do some behind-the-scenes prep-work for each session! 

  What We'll Be Doing

  Help build the HistoryForge database for Tompkins County! We hold community transcription sessions twice a month on Saturdays from 11-1. In 2024 we will be working on the Town of Ithaca census records for 1950, as well as for the Town of Caroline (1880-1950), Town of Newfield (1880-1950), and Trumansburg (1880-1950)!

  To help with our behind the scenes processing of volunteer materials, please complete the volunteer form at least 4 days before the session.

  Complete Volunteer Application

  HistoryForge is a digital mapping and transcription project from The History Center in Tompkins County. We need help digitizing information from the 1940 Ithaca census to add to our HistoryForge database! Volunteers will read through the handwritten census notes from 1940, re-type/and or scan information about individuals, buildings, and businesses from that time period.

  YOU WILL NEED: A laptop or desktop computer, stable internet connection. We have a limited number of volunteer laptops available.

  About HistoryForge
  

  HistoryForge is a digital history project from The History Center in Tompkins County which combines historic maps and photos with census records of the people who lived in Ithaca, creating a way to visualize the history of Ithaca in the early 1900s. Learn more about the project here and the start of our database creation.

  Not available Saturdays but interested?
  Contact Eve at HistoryForge@thehistorycenter.net

  The HistoryForge project has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The HistoryForge: Mapping Census Data to Visualize Local History grant was awarded in 2022-2024 through NEH's Digital Humanities Advancement Grant program. The project was also selected to receive funding through NEH's A More Perfect Union initiative.

  .
  LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
  This project is digitizing post-colonization records of Tompkins County, which is located in the traditional and contemporary lands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫˀ Nation (Cayuga), one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Learn more at thehistorycenter.net/land-acknowledgment.

  Show details
• Gallery Night (First Fridays in Downtown Ithaca)

  • Start
    Fri, February 02, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Fri, December 06, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    11 sessions
  • Location
    Tompkins Center for History & Culture - 110 N. Tioga St, Ithaca NY 14850

  

  The History Center is a regular participant in First Friday Gallery Nights (ithacagallerynight.com) in Downtown Ithaca. Please visit www.ithacagallerynight.com to see all open locations. 

  Gallery Night occurs the first Friday evening of each month from 5-8pm.

  Gallery Night is a walkable art show featuring the latest artworks created by highly skilled local and regional artists. Gallery Night varies from month to month, but you can expect to see a range of in-person shows, a walkable tour of window displays, or artwork in storefront windows throughout Downtown.

  1/5 - Exhibit Hall is CLOSED

  2/2 - Exhibit OPENING of A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field

  3/1 - A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display 

  4/5 -  A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display 

  5/3 -  A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display 

  6/7 - A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display 

  7/5 - A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display

  8/2 - A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display

  9/6 - A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display

  10/4 - A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display

  11/1 - A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display

  12/6 - FINAL GALLERY NIGHT A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field on display
  

  Show details
• Walk-in Hours - Research Library

  • Start
    Sat, February 17, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Sat, September 07, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    30 sessions
  • Location
    Tompkins Center for History & Culture - 110 N Tioga St, Ithaca NY 14850

  
  

  Saturday Open Hours - Research Library

  Beginning on February 17th 2024, the Research Library will be open to walk-in visitors on Saturdays from 10:00-3:00 for limited research access. Available records include:

  • Genealogy files - Explore our Family Files page to see if we have records with your family names!
  • Built environment resources
  • Local history books - We have over 4,000 books in our library! 
  • Historic maps and atlases - Maps
  • browsable photographs - Photograph Collections

  For appointments on other days with complete access to all of The History Center's archival collections, email archives@thehistorycenter.net  or call 607-273-8284, x224. Appointments are strongly encouraged.

  How long should I plan for?

  We suggest planning for at least an hour. The majority of our records are not digitized, and it can take time to locate the specific information you're looking for. Try to plan for your research time by contacting archives@thehistorycenter.net ahead of time and explore the content introductions we have available on our website.

  Explore the virtual tour of our building at thehistorycenter.net/TCHC to understand how to get to the Library - Use the menu in the top left corner to navigate to the Research Library area. 

  Visiting the Exhibit Hall

  The Research Library is located next to our Exhibit Hall, include time in your visit to explore our local history displays including our Timeline Tunnel, Story Vault, Eight Square Schoolhouse Replica, access to our six exhibit towers, and a close look at our 104 year old Tommy Plane! Private visits with only your group can be reserved in advance, walk-in's can be accommodated most days (W-Sat 10am-6pm).

  CURRENT EXHIBIT - 'A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field' will be on display February 2024-December 2024. Learn about the exhibit at thehistorycenter.net/sporting-chance.

  Our museum is open and accessible to everyone and we offer a number of accessible options for visitors with specific needs. Learn more at thehistorycenter.net/accessibility

  If a member of your group has sensory sensitivities or physical/visual/auditory limitations please reach out to us with any questions or concerns about our exhibits and the space. We're happy to offer adjustments and options to ensure an enjoyable visit for everyone.

  Our suggested admission price is $10 per adult, $4 per child. Your contribution is important for our continued ability to provide a public educational space within the community. No one will be prevented from visiting due to an inability to pay. Donations can be made during booking or in person.

  Museum staff sanitize all touched surfaces in the museum daily. Review our full safety procedures at thehistorycenter.net/health

  Health & Safety

  The History Center is a mask friendly space. Staff and visitors can wear masks if they desire, but it is no longer required.

  If you are concerned or are particularly vulnerable to the virus, please email us and we are happy to schedule private visit for you to explore the museum in a worry free way. Your comfort and safety is our number one priority!

  History Center staff sanitize all touched surfaces within the Exhibit Hall daily.

  Please do not schedule a visit if you or any member of your group are awaiting results from a COVID-19 test due to symptoms or potential exposure, or were recently in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

  .

  LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  Our museum is located in the traditional and contemporary lands of the Gayogohó:nǫˀ Nation (Cayuga), one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Learn more at thehistorycenter.net/land-acknowledgement.

  Show details
• Visit the Exhibit Hall

  • Start
    Wed, March 20, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Sat, July 13, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    66 sessions
  • Location
    Tompkins Center for History & Culture - 110 N Tioga St, Ithaca NY 14850

  
  

  Walk through local stories and discover the history of Tompkins County

  Open Hours

  Our Exhibit Hall is open Wednesday-Saturday 10am-6pm February-December. 

  HOLIDAY HOURS - Exhibit Hall will be closed: all Election Days, Juneteenth.

  Suggested Donation
  Adults: $10
  Child: $4

  If you would like to schedule a private visit with masked staff please contact community@thehistorycenter.net. 
  

  **Research visits to the Archives & Research Library must be scheduled separately by emailing archives@thehistorycenter.net**

  How long should I plan for?

  We suggest planning for at least an hour to explore the Exhibit Hall, but you may stay as long as you like. We encourage everyone to also explore the Community Arts Partnership Gallery, TCHC Community Tower Exhibit (rotates every three months) and Downtown Visitors Center located on the first floor.

  Visiting the Exhibit Hall

  The History Center is offering in-person visits to our state-of-the-art Exhibit Hall including our Timeline Tunnel, Story Vault, Eight Square Schoolhouse Replica, access to our six exhibit towers, and a close look at our 104 year old Tommy Plane! Private visits with only your group can be reserved in advance, walk-in's can be accommodated most days (W-Sat 10am-6pm).

  CURRENT EXHIBIT - 'A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field' will be on display February 2024-December 2024. Learn about the exhibit at thehistorycenter.net/sporting-chance.

  Our museum is open and accessible to everyone and we offer a number of accessible options for visitors with specific needs. Learn more at thehistorycenter.net/accessibility

  If a member of your group has sensory sensitivities or physical/visual/auditory limitations please reach out to us with any questions or concerns about our exhibits and the space. We're happy to offer adjustments and options to ensure an enjoyable visit for everyone.

  Request an Exhibit Hall Scavenger Hunt, coloring pages, or museum activity sheet from the front desk when you check in for added fun for all ages!

  Our suggested admission price is $10 per adult, $4 per child. Your contribution is important for our continued ability to provide a public educational space within the community. No one will be prevented from visiting due to an inability to pay. Donations can be made during booking or in person.

  Museum staff sanitize all touched surfaces in the museum daily. Review our full safety procedures at thehistorycenter.net/health

  *We try to accommodate visiting groups outside our normal operating hours when possible. Please contact community@thehistorycenter.net if you'd like to visit the museum or schedule a group field trip outside our normal operating hours.*

  Health & Safety

  The History Center is a mask friendly space. Staff and visitors can wear masks if they desire, but it is no longer required.

  If you are concerned or are particularly vulnerable to the virus, please email us and we are happy to schedule private visit for you to explore the museum in a worry free way. Your comfort and safety is our number one priority!

  History Center staff sanitize all touched surfaces within the Exhibit Hall daily.

  Please do not schedule a visit if you or any member of your group are awaiting results from a COVID-19 test due to symptoms or potential exposure, or were recently in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

  .

  LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  Our museum is located in the traditional and contemporary lands of the Gayogohó:nǫˀ Nation (Cayuga), one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Learn more at thehistorycenter.net/land-acknowledgement.

  Show details