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Explore Tompkins County and commit to preserving its history for future generations! Join other cyclists, runners, and walkers as we discover our history on the landscape through Traverse Tompkins. Whether you explore 1 or 100 miles, there is exciting history to uncover.
You can sign up or donate at www.charity.pledgeit.org/ASportingChance
Check out our free-roam tour on PocketSights as you build your own course that travels to different sights of athletic accomplishments in Ithaca or across Tompkins County.
You can be a part of Traverse Tompkins in 3 different ways!
Option 1: Sign Up as a Fundraiser to help raise support for The History Center's important work. Ask your network to chip into you run, walk, paddle, or ride, and help spread local history to a broader audience.
Option 2: Register as a runner, walker, biker, or paddler. Registration starts at $50.00 plus registration fee. In addition to participation swag, your registration fee ensures that our history will be there for future generations in Tompkins County.
Option 3: Donate to another Traverser! Even if you are unable to traverse with us this year, you can still make a difference. You can support The History Center by donating to any of the participating Traversers, like our executive director Benjamin Sandberg as he travels to and from Cooperstown in 24 hours!
Traverse Tompkins started in the fall of 2020 as a unique fundraiser to support The History Center in Tompkins County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Director Benjamin Sandberg biked all around the county, live streaming videos exploring historical points of interest in each municipality. His challenge was to ride as many miles as possible in a single 24-hour period. Despite high winds and a flat tire, he was able to ride a total of 175.1 miles. Almost 100 individuals made pledges of 10¢, 25¢, and $1 in support of each mile he rode, and raised over $7,500 for The History Center in a time of incredible need and uncertainty.
The community feedback to the inaugural ride was overwhelmingly enthusiastic! Folks asked how they might participate in future rides or reached out with suggestions about thematic focuses for future rides. And so, the concept of Traverse Tompkins was born. Traverse Tompkins 2021 saw a small collection of riders explore the history of Fires in Tompkins County through a series of tours visiting sites of historic fires. The fire tours for Ithaca, Dryden, Trumansburg, and Tompkins County are available on the free PocketSights app. With more riders and more pledges to preserve local history, 2021 rides raised almost $12,000.
From Fires to Floods to Bridges, Traverse Tompkins has raised over $50,000 since 2020 to support local history!
Traverse Tompkins rides generally take place in September each year. Join us and explore Tompkins County history!
Donate to Support the Traverse Tompkins fundraiser!
Cash Donations are accepted in our Exhibit Hall. | Checks can be mailed to: The History Center in Tompkins County c/o Ben Sandberg 110 North Tioga Street Ithaca NY 14850 |
We accept financial donations by cash, check, and credit in any amount.
The History Center in Tompkins County is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Learn more in our 2020 GuideStar Transparency Profile.
EIN: 15-6024061 RULING YEAR: 1972
Need more info, or interested in sponsoring an exhibit or program? Call 607-273-8284-ext 222 or email Ben Sandberg at director@thehistorycenter.net
If “Ithaca is Gorges,” then one result is that Ithaca is also bridges. Tompkins County has an elaborate infrastructure of bridges built to cross our numerous creeks, streams, and steep-sided gorges to keep people and vehicles moving. Some of our early bridges no longer exist, like the romantic covered bridge at Halseyville. Built in 1833, it crossed Taughannock Creek on what is now Route 96 just southeast of Trumansburg and was replaced in 1928 with a simple concrete structure. It was one of three covered bridges that were originally built in Tompkins County, with the only remaining one now in Newfield. Funds raised: $19,047 Miles ridden & run: 398.5 Cyclists & Runners: 9 | ![]() |
Brindley Street Bridge, Ithaca - 1937 | Six Mile Creek Bridge, 1935 |
The 2022 Traverse Tompkins explored Tompkins County through major storms and floods that impacted our region. From the floods of 1935 to Hurricane Agnes in 1972 major flooding has repeatedly re-shaped the Southern Tier. Ben Sandberg and Michael Smith completed 350 miles on Saturday September 24th raising $13,368, with the generous sponsorship of Servpro of Broome, Tompkins, & Tioga Counties. Facing Floods research is preserved through the 2022 virtual exhibit, a self-guided PocketSights tour, and through the New York Heritage Digital Collections Tompkins County Flood Photographs. Funds raised: $13,368 Miles ridden: 350 Cyclists: 2 |
FACING FLOODS - Self-Guided PocketSights Tour
Explore historic flood sites across Tompkins County!
Tompkins County has suffered several major floods throughout its history. Situated in New York’s Finger Lakes region, its many creeks and streams, (and Cayuga Lake itself), pose considerable threats during and after heavy rainfalls. In 1857, 1901, 1935, 1956, 1972, and 1981 the area was devastated by floods that destroyed property and threatened (and took) lives and livelihoods.
Download the FREE PocketSights app and access the tour through your personal device.
This tour was created through the support of:
Self-Guided Tours of Historic Fire Sites