Random Pictures

 A handful of Random Pictures from our time in Upstate New York that don't seem to fit into any other category!

 

Below - the lakefront in Canandaigua.  Sunrise and sunset.... 

 

 

 

 

Lake Erie!  I've finally been to all of the Great Lakes!  

Downtown Rochester 

Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua

Erie Canals and Museums

How much do you know or remember about the Erie Canal?  Built between 1817 and 1825, the canal stretched across Upstate New York from Albany to Buffalo.  The canal had a huge impact upon the settlement of New York, and was the source of commerce and immigration.  The canal was dug by hand.  It was orginally 4 feet deep and 40 feet wide.  The lock system allowed for water traffic to stop and then be raised or lowered to the existing level of water on the other side of the lock.  This system allowed people to easily navigate changes in elevation. 

I have to admit, younger me was enchanted by the idea of the Erie Canal and the impact that it had upon the settlement of the interior of the country.  The Erie Canal,  the C&O Canal, and the Ohio Canal Systems are all so fascinating.  I was in middle school in Ohio when we learned about the Ohio canals, and the mystery and romance of the Canals always stuck with me.  I know the life wasn't easy, but oh, it seemed like it was so unique. When Dad was transferred to Virginia, I made my parents out the the C&O Canal so that I could see the actual working locks in person!

Anyway, back to the Erie Canal - 

The original canal way has since been replaced a couple of times. But, an Erie Canal still exists and is used for commerce today.

While we were in New York, we visited several museums dedicated to the Erie Canal and we stopped at a couple of places with public access where we could walk down into the old canal and walk on grass through the old locks.  We even drove next to the Canal for a while and watched the traffic moving through the water while we ate lunch.

Sadly, I didn't take any pictures while we were roaming through the canals and museums.  But if you follow the links below, you will find pictures on the websites!

 

 

The Erie Canal Museum: https://eriecanalmuseum.org/

Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Site: https://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/park-rest-areas/port-byron-old-erie-canal-heritage-park

The Erie Canal Discovery Center: https://niagarahistory.org/visit-the-erie-canal-discovery-center/

National Park Service Erie Canalway: https://eriecanalway.org/learn/history-culture

Susan B. Anthony House

Susan B. Anthony was a powerhouse of a woman.  She is best known for her efforts to get women the right to vote. (the 19th ammendment)  But she was very active in her community and worked tirelessly to help improve the lives of others. Among other things, she was an abolitionist and a temperance worker.  

We visited her house in Rochester, NY and learned about her, her family, and all of the work that she was involved in.  Passionate and Tireless are two of the best words that I could find to describe her.  

This is the view of the front of her house.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside.  It is a fascinating house, with many artifacts from either her time in the house or donations from that time period from people in Rochester. 

If you look up at the 3rd floor of the house, you can see windows in the attic.  This very large space is where much of the work of the suffragist movement occurred.  It was humbling to be in that room and realize just how much of a difference those women made in the world in that little space.

Susan was arrested for voting in the Presidential Election of 1872.  She was tried in the Cannandaigua Court House. She was tried, found guilty, and fined $100.  Note that she never paid the fine.  It's well over 100 years later, and that fine is still on the books! 

I've got to admit - she is one of my all time favorite people.  I am so impressed by everything that she accomplished in her life.  I'd like to think that maybe I've accomplished a small fraction of what she has accomplished.  She's such an icon!

Susan B Anthony House and Museum

https://susanb.org/

The National Archives

https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/html.php?section=3

Watkins Glen

 In New York State, near Ithaca lies an unexpected State Park.  Watkins Glen lies along a 2 mile long gorge.  Over the course of this gorge, you will encounter 15 different waterfalls.  It's a captivating trail!

I found it to be a relatively easy, if somewhat muddy climb.  There were a couple of spots where things were a little closer than I would have liked, but it was worth pushing through to see the wonders of this magical trail.  

As always, when we are hiking, we packed an easy picnic lunch to carry in our daypack so that we could find a magical spot somewhere and sit and eat and enjoy the moment.  

I'm leaving you with a picture dump of some of my favorite pictures from that hike.  My words can't succinctly describe the beauty of that place.  Enjoy!

State Park Website: https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/watkins-glen-state-park

Eastman Museum

Kodak film.  Do you remember those bright yellow boxes of Kodak film at the grocery store?  And how you'd load the film into your camera, take pictures, and then send the film off to be developed and hoped that all of your pictures came back to you?  

When we were in Rochester, New York we stopped by the home of George Eastman (GE) to tour this wonderland and visit the museum. 

The museum was fascinating.  The public is not allowed to tour the archives, which is below ground, but we were able to tour the public galleries.  The galleries rotate on a regular basis, so what we saw on our trip will most likely not be what you see on your trip!

 

The highlight of the visit was the tour of Eastman's house, and the history behind Eastman and everything he did - not only for the world of photography, but also for the residents of Rochester as well as his employees. He was a phenomenal human being.  

 The house is a showpiece.  We kept thinking of the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, but somehow the Eastman house seemed more regal, yet understated.  After we finished touring the house, we roamed through the gardens before we stopped at the restaurant and had one of the best lunches that we've had in a museum in a very long time!

 

View of a very small portion of the garden.

Above and Below, the Solarium.  I could work in this space!

So peaceful!

 To find out more about George Eastman, the Kodak corporation, and the Eastman museum, follow this link: George Eastman Museum: https://www.eastman.org/about-george-eastman.

Corning Museum of Glass

The Gift Shop

Back in October, the husband and I went to Upstate New York to celebrate a belated 35th wedding anniversary trip.  We had a wonderful time.  There is just so much to see and do in Upstate New York!  But one of my favorite stops was on the way home.  We stopped at the Corning Museum of Glass and explored the history of glass and of glass blowing.  It was a fascinating trip!  This picture, below is a giant display of Pyrex dishes.  THAT is fascinating to look at and explore!

Not only did we learn the history of glass from the beginning of time, we learned the importance of modern engineering in making the glass that we use everyday.  Think about car windshields.  The engineering behind the glass that you can see through, that breaks but doesn't shatter is astounding.  As we were roaming through the studio, I wished that teenage me, who was desperately seeking a career had known about this.  I most likely would have looked into a career in this field.  But enough of that.

From the brains at the glass blowing studio!

For me, the highlight was the Glass Blowing Studio, where we got to watch the masters at work, as they talked us through the process of Blowing Glass.  It was fascinating to find out why things are done the way that they are done in a glass blowing studio.  We enjoyed ourselves so much that we stayed through two separate shows, sitting relatively high up the first time, and then in the front row the second time!

Beautiful blown glass vases at the front of the studio.

Blown glass creation from the Master Glass Blower!
It's at the beginning!