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Seneca Falls
Seneca Falls is home to lots of history that shaped the lives of millions of Americans. The Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls commemorates July 19 and 20 when five women in 1848 hosted the first Women’s Rights Convention at Wesleyan Chapel to discuss women’s roles, the right to vote, education and other important issues. “It’s an important place for families to visit because it provides information about the struggle for women to have the right to vote as expressed in the Declaration of Sentiments, which was made in the Wesleyan Chapel,” said John Stoudt, park ranger. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M’Clintock and Jane Hunt persuaded 100 of the 300 attendees (which included Frederick Douglass) to commit to their cause and sign the Declaration of Sentiments. Of them, 68 were women and 32 were men. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Thomas and Mary Ann M’Clintock modeled the Declaration of Sentiments after the Declaration of Independence. The document also borrowed commonly-used phrases from the anti-slavery movement, as many women’s rights advocates, including the M’Clinkocks, were abolitionists. Their home on East Williams Street in Waterloo was part of the Underground Railroad, which helped slaves escape to freedom. The Wesleyan Chapel was often used as a meeting place for abolitionists. The women’s rights movement also had strong ties to the Quaker religion, whose adherents supported the equality of men and women. The visitor’s center offers a 30-minute video and self-guided tour of the historical artifacts and displays related to suffrage. Guided tours of the Wesleyan Chapel take about 30 minutes. A mile away, the Stanton house may be toured to take a glimpse into their daily home life. Three miles away in Waterloo, the M’Clintock home is also open for tours. The home of Richard and Jane Hunt is also in Waterloo, but is open to the public only for special occasions. Seneca Falls is also home to a few other independently operating historical places such as the Seneca Falls Heritage Area Visitor’s Center, National Women’s Hall of Fame, and Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry. Seneca Falls Heritage Area Visitor’s Center at 115 Fall St. (lower level) gives an overview of all of the significant places to tour in Seneca Falls, which makes it a great starting point for visiting local historical attractions. The center also helps visitors understand how each facet of the village’s history interrelates. The Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry at 89 Fall St. is very family-friendly with hands-on displays, dioramas, and maps all related to how the Seneca-Cayuga Canal and Erie Canal impacted business both when they were dug and now. The Museum also hosts special events throughout the year. When to Go The Seneca Falls Heritage Area Visitors Center (www.senecafalls.com/history-heritage.php) is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Sunday and all major holidays. Admission is free. (315) 568-2703. The National Women’s Hall of Fame (www.greatwomen.org), is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for an adult, $1.50 for a student or senior and $7 for a family. Members and children under 5 are free. For information on group rates, call (315) 568-8060. School groups and other children’s organizations are asked to call the office to determine rates at (315) 568-8060, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, to set up special activities and to schedule a tour. The Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry (www.seneca museum.com) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and (summer only) Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $2 for an adult or $5 for a family. Call for group rates at (315) 568-1510. |
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Women’s Rights National Historical Park is the major attraction in the area —