Museum Tour In & Near Ellicottville

With so much of our day-to-day living existing in digital spaces, from email to social media to video calls and more, it can be easy to overlook real-life opportunities for fun and exploration right in our own backyard! Beyond providing a respite on blazing hot or rainy days, local museums help us understand our community’s unique place and influence on history, inspire pride in our hometown heroes and innovations, and teach our children why so many people have chosen to call this place “home” throughout the years. This summer, take some time to explore one of the many outstanding museums in the region, and see what you might discover about yourself or your family along the way!

ELLICOTTVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM

Since 1956, the Ellicottville Historical Society & Museum has been dedicated to adding to and preserving the historical record of the town of Ellicottville and the surrounding vicinity. The museum, located at 2 Washington Street, is open every Saturday from 1:00-4:00pm during the months of May through September, and admission is free.

Society meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month (May through October) at 7:00pm at the Ellicottville Memorial Library, and all are welcome to attend. On Wednesday, May 7th, Lance White Eagle is the featured speaker sharing “The History of Indigenous Leaders.” The June 4th meeting features Vince Martonis from “Chautauqua County Curiosities.” Town Historian Ellen Frank will be speaking on the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington and Concord on July 2nd, and on August 7th, Don Dwyer will present “Songs and Stories of the Erie Canal.” On September 3rd, the EHS will welcome paranormal researcher, writer, and owner of Spook-Eats, Amanda Woomer, whose books will be available. Marina Blair from Illusion Tours will be presenting at the last monthly meeting of the year on October 1st. Questions? Email ellicottvillehistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Curious about the village’s historical landmarks and structures? The EHS will be offering historical walking tours around the village, led by Ellen Frank. Gather at the museum at 1:00pm on the following Saturdays: May 31st, June 21st, July 5th, and August 16th. Walking tour tickets are just $10 (cash or check only).

Be sure to save the dates for the EHS Ghost Tours this fall on the following Friday evenings at 7:00pm (meet at the gazebo): September 26th, October 3rd, 17th, 24th and 31st. Ghost walks are $15 per person, by reservation only (cash or check only). For questions or to reserve, please call Ellen Frank at 716-699-2276.

SENECA-IROQUOIS NATIONAL MUSEUM

Located at 82 W. Hetzel Street in Salamanca, the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum and Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center invite visitors to learn about Seneca history, culture, art, and more through their new exhibits. On Mondays this spring (through May 19th), all are invited for Conversations and Coffee at the cultural center from 10:00am to noon. This is a great opportunity for learning and connecting with old and new friends, alike! On Friday, May 30th, the museum will be reopening On the Mother’s Side/Johehgoh Exhibit, which shares the vital role of Seneca women, as the Onondowaga are a matrilineal society, meaning children receive their clan from their mothers.

Visitors can see a replica of a bark-covered longhouse outside the museum and learn about how the longhouse was central to Seneca families and clans. Other exhibits include the Kinzua Dam, the Creation Story, and traditionally crafted items, such as beadwork and carvings.

While there, be sure to check out the many handcrafted items available for sale, including baskets, antler carvings, stone carvings, and more. The museum is open from 9:00am-6:00pm., Monday-Saturday, and 10:00am-5:00pm on Sundays. For more information, visit www.senecamuseum.org.

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY MUSEUM

There is so much more to explore when it comes to the history of Cattaraugus County, and the Cattaraugus County Historical Museum and Research Library is the perfect place to begin! Known as the Stone House, the museum is located on the first floor of 9824 Route 16 in Machias. Be sure to check out “Piecing Together History: Saving the 37th NY Regimental Flag”, a Civil War exhibit that highlights the history of the 37th NY Volunteer Infantry, which included two companies from Cattaraugus County.

The museum also honors area veterans involved in more recent wars through its “Our Veterans, Their Stories” exhibit and project, which records and shares the oral histories of veterans from Cattaraugus County and makes them available in the museum and online. Visit the Cattaraugus County Museum’s YouTube channel, which has more than 50 video interviews with area veterans from World War II to the present.

The museum and research library are open from 9:00am-4:00pm, Monday through Thursday, and the third Saturday of each month (May through October) from 10:00am-2:00pm. For more information, visit www.cattco.org/museum.

ELDRED WORLD WAR II MUSEUM

Located at 201 Main St. in Eldred, PA, the Eldred World War II Museum shares the history of World War II through a variety of exhibits throughout its 15,000 square feet. Exhibits include thousands of artifacts, photographs, uniforms, military vehicles, a life-size submarine, and extensive information about the home front, which is essential to understanding the important role that Eldred played in the war. Eldred was home to the National Munitions Company plant, which employed some 1,500 people throughout the war, the majority of whom were women after the men enlisted. Since it opened in 1996, the museum has honored the men and women whose work supported the war effort - both at home and overseas - and continues to preserve and share the history of World War II.

Upcoming events include the Living History weekend on May 3rd and 4th, which features multiple reenactors representing various nations and services. Authentic artifacts will be on display during this unique opportunity to experience the lives of soldiers and civilians on the front lines. On Thursday, May 8th, the museum will host the McKean County Ham Radio Club on the 80th anniversary of VE-Day with a public demonstration from 10:00am-4:00pm. On Thursday, June 12th from 6:30-7:30pm, General Arthur Austin will give a presentation on “WWII: The Greatest Lost Generation.”

To learn more about the museum, visit www.eldredpawwiimuseum.com. The museum, which is a nonprofit organization, has no admission fee, but donations are greatly appreciated. Be sure to follow the museum on social media to stay up to date on all upcoming events and projects, including their War Stories V-Mail subscription service. Visit www.warstoriesvmail.com to learn more!

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF CUTLERY

Proud to be the only cutlery museum in the western hemisphere not affiliated with a manufacturer or retailer, the American Museum of Cutlery shares a unique part of Cattaraugus County history with visitors.

Over the years, there were over 50 cutlery companies within a 100-mile radius of Ellicottville, but the museum actually traces the history of cutlery back to pre-Columbian times. Learn how edged tools were created, used, and made, and their unique production history in Cattaraugus County. For example, Little Valley’s Cattaraugus Cutlery Company was the only cutlery company in the country to exhibit at the 1901 Pan-Am Exhibition and was responsible for the creation of dozens of companies forming in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

The museum is open from 1:00-4:00pm Thursday through Sunday. Visit www.amcut.com to learn more.

NORTHEAST VINTAGE CYCLE

For those passionate about motorcycles - especially Hondas - a visit to Northeast Vintage Cycle is a must! Located at 9505 Routes 39 and 240 in Springville, Northeast Vintage Cycle began as a hobby and grew into a business formed by self-described “Honda nuts” Mike Krzemien and Bill Miller. The store sells vintage Honda parts and has a service department, Exploration Motorsports, that repairs vintage bikes and modern bikes and ATVs.

Also housed inside the store near the front is a small museum filled with hard-to-find vintage Hondas. There are approximately two dozen vintage motorcycles on display, as well as motorcycle memorabilia. Honda fans will appreciate the Honda snowmobile on display, which is one of only a handful ever made. To see customers’ restoration project photos, vintage Honda advertising, order parts, and more, visit www.hondanuts.com.

Northeast Vintage Cycle is open from 8:30am-5:00pm Monday through Friday, and 9:00am-1:00pm on Saturday.

NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

Designated by Congress as the cultural institution dedicated to presenting the story of comedy and preserving its history for future generations, the 37,000-square feet attraction at 203 W. Second St. in Jamestown includes exhibits that appeal to the whole family and every genre of comedy - from cartoons to sitcoms to stand-up and beyond! Explore the Center’s many exhibits that celebrate comedy’s most influential stars, including the “King of Late Night” Johnny Carson, legend Carl Reiner, and icon Joan Rivers, whose career archive is now a part of the Center. Become part of the laughter with interactive exhibits that allow visitors to “act the part” through a green screen experience, be the performer in the karaoke lounge, and compete with friends in the “laugh battle.”

New in 2025, the National Comedy Center hosts a free, monthly Memory Café for individuals living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other memory-related illnesses, along with their caregivers, care partners, and family members on the first Monday of each month at 10:00am. The event is free and allows participants to explore the Comedy Center at their own pace before gathering in the Karaoke Lounge for refreshments, socialization, and fun. Reserve your space online at comedycenter.org/memorycafe.

Comedy fans should be sure to check out the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, August 7-10th, featuring Jon Stewart, Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers, and Saturday Night Live stars Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell. Learn more at www.comedycenter.org.

LUCY DESI MUSEUM

Known as the “First Couple of Comedy,” Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made history with their popular and groundbreaking show, I Love Lucy. Beloved for its hilarious storylines and physical comedy, I Love Lucy was the first television show to represent an interracial marriage and feature a pregnant actress on one of the three major networks. There’s no better place to experience the history of this show than in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, NY!

Enjoy exact re-creations of studio sets, screen-used costumes and props, scripts, awards, photographs, and so much more. The whole family will enjoy interactive experiences, like performing in your own Vitameatavegamin commercial! Tickets for just the Lucy Desi Museum are available or, for those planning to spend a whole day laughing in Jamestown, can be purchased as part of a dual admission package with the National Comedy Center.

Can’t get enough Lucy? Take the “LucyTown” Driving Tour throughout the Jamestown area to see important and historic locations related to Ball’s life and career, as well as I Love Lucy murals, residences, and Ball’s final resting place. The tour, which is mobile-device friendly, can be found on the museum website at www.lucydesi.com

Museum Tour in & near Ellicottville