Wendy's trip log: Auburn NY Heritage Day and Festival of the Trees

Auburn, NY

12/10/2023

Auburn, NY has these community activities throughout the year. There is one called first Fridays, and every first Friday of the month, there is some type of activity. This weekend they extended the event and held Auburn Heritage Days. It was a free event that invited people to get a history lesson on the area of Auburn.

Auburn is most historical for Harriet Tubman. She purchased property here when she was in her golden years and had a home for elder adults. She attended a local church in the area and she was buried in Auburn. There are a few other interesting things and people from Auburn as well, and today we were Kelly and I were going to learn a little about everything heritage in Auburn.

First we headed to the visitor center and they had some warm meals to purchase. Chili and Mac and cheese. I think it was pretty cheep, and look at all I got, we also go a sugar cookie that we could decorate ourselves. (This was free). I love free. In fact other then my mac and cheese which was pretty cheep and a ton, everything we did today was free as part of the Heritage day.

I have been to both the Harriet Tubman National Historical Site as well as explored this visitor center museum, so I wont give much about those areas, plus we were not going to Harriet's home on this trip, but the visitor center does have some interesting information about women and slaves in history.

Below is the city of Auburn, NY. The area was founded in 1793 as Hardenbergh's Corners. It became Auburn in 1805 and part of Cayuga County.

The towns location to Oswego Lake and the Erie Canal made it an ideal location for Gristmills and sawmills which prompted a quick growth of the town industrially. The Auburn Correctional Facility attracted industries which contracted prison labor. Like it's neighboring city of Seneca Falls, Auburn was also a hub for Women and Civil rights. Many abolitionists lived in the area as well.

We soon hopped on the heritage days trolly and we were whooshed off to our next location.

The Schweinfurth Memorial Art Museum and the Cayuga Art Museum

The Cayuga Art Museum hosted an exhibit called Fabrication Telling stories through Clothing. It featured 15 different gowns, along with several additional pieces. and had a musical number to enjoy while we visited.

This dress (above) was worn by Elmerina Parkman. This dress was popular in the 1950's and her bridesmaid's wore gowns of pastels; blue, pink, Nile green and maize. (from the program). Elmerina's husband Paul would develop the first successful rubella vaccine. HUM...interesting.

These were all very pretty. I just couldn't get over the waistlines. People in general were much smaller in our past. This one had to be my favorite.

There were also different women's wardrobes and some more wedding dresses.

Some military uniforms.

Josephine Feneck Bender was the owner of the Women's Army uniform. She served in the Women's Army Corp from 1944-1946.

Yikes, Not my favorite piece in the collection.

Fashion has changed so much over the years.

I can not help but think these shoes must have been uncomfortable.

We were invited to make some decorations and some hot chocolate.

An interesting clock.

Next door is the Schweinfurth Art Center

My mother is a quilter and so I called her to tell her about this exhibit, and she of course had already visited. These quilts are lovely. They asked that if I took any pictures I also include the name plates so that the artist would get the recognition. so here we go.

All the pieces were very pretty.

All the art seem to be very abstract. These items were in the upstairs. They also had a shop area where you could purchase handmaid items and "scraps" from the many artists.

Different, is all I can say. I do not have a good eye for abstract art.

Up next we took the trolly and went to the Cayuga Museum. It was here where we were offered an experience in the Festival of Trees and we got to visit Santa.

There were so many trees, and we were asked to vote on our favorite. I don't think I could decide.

I did like this one with all the ocean themed items.

A le-go tree.

This seed packet one was cute.

How can you not love a tree full of Butterflies?

Or ducks......Rubber duckies always remind me of Ernie from Sesame Street.

A break in the tree's to view some of the museum exhibits, these lovely doll houses.

Who says you can't celebrate with a tree even if you are celebrating Hanukkah.

love the purple....

A kitty cat tree....

Eat your fruits and veggies...

Grandma's sowing room tree.

Candyland!!!!

Thinking of the sunshine in all that snow this winter.

Ice cream treats. YUM

Angels.

Museum exhibit....I love the miniatures.

Would you look at the cambell's soup characters tree.

You are a mean one, Mr. Grinch, but you sure are cute.

I simply could not decide. It was so fun to view them all though. Up next we got one of the last trolly's of the day and headed back towards the visitor center, where we walked next door to visit the Steward House. They were hosting a small gathering of this historic home in it's Holiday glory.

Kelly and I have been here before and had a full tour of the place. I am sure I have blogged about this, but it is a beautiful house that was once owned by William Steward and his family. Mr. Steward was once the Governor of NY and served at Secretary of State under President Lincoln and Johnson. His wife was a strong advocate against slavery. (if interested I believe there is a blog spot on all of this homes beauty and the family history.)