You are here

Home »

160 years ago, in 1866, the Seward family made sweeping architectural changes to their home on 33 South Street. The elements that defined those alterations will be the focus of this specialty tour with SHM Director of Operations Mitch Maniccia. Guests will explore areas of the home not exhibited on a normal tour and will have an opportunity to see a display of original building pieces from the 19th century.

For many historians, Senator William Seward’s 1858 “Irrepressible Conflict” speech was the event that ultimately doomed his presidential ambitions. Retired judge Richard Dollinger takes us back into the room where it happened: Rochester’s Corinthian Hall. How did this singular speech change the course of Seward’s career? How did it play on the state and local level? Find out at this Lunchtime Lecture.

This event will take place at the SHM Event Center and is FREE and open to the public.

Join us for a First Friday reception. Enjoy an art show by Ithaca artist Jules Hojnowski, complimentary refreshments including a mead tasting courtesy of Combgrown Mead,  Museum exhibits, and a musical performance by Aidan Thomas McKenna.

This event is FREE and open to the public!

SUNY Albany Professor of History Carl Bon Tempo will discuss the opening chapters of his book, Immigration: An American History, recounting the role immigrants played in both the American Revolution and the formation of a new republic. This program is part of the America 250 commemoration and includes a book signing.

Attorney and historian C. Evan Stewart comes to Auburn to discuss his new book on William Seward’s efforts to stave off secession in between Lincoln’s election and inauguration. Stewart’s account centers Seward during this chaotic transition and provides an important corrective to history. A book signing with the author follows this program.

Join us for a First Friday reception. Enjoy complimentary refreshments, Museum exhibits, and an exhibit in our Gift Shop space by Ithaca artist Caleb Harrington featuring artwork made with acorn ink.

This event is FREE and open to the public!

The SHM welcomes diplomat and historian Samuel Kidder for an exploration of William Seward’s relationship with Japan. Kidder, editor of the recent book Our First Glimpse of Japan, will explore Seward’s official policies in the Asian Pacific theater and describe his unofficial diplomatic visit in 1869.

This Lunchtime Lecture event will take place in the SHM Event Center and is FREE.

Join us in the Museum's Drawing Room for a book talk with Erik and Sheila Osborne.

Join us for a virtual field trip to the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington, Kentucky!

Drawing on their exhibit, "The Al-Marah Arabian Horse Gallery," Educator Anthony Eley will introduce the practice of "Horse Diplomacy," namely how Arabian horses became a form of 19th century diplomatic currency in the Middle East. SHM Director of Education Jeff Ludwig will share how William Seward benefitted from this practice when he was given three Arabian horses in 1860.

Pulled from the Seward family papers at the University of Rochester, this specialty tour focuses on some of the more shocking and scandalous stories from the archives. Gossip, intrigue, and tales of bad behavior abound in accounts you won't hear about on any other tour of the SHM. This event is part of the Brave Brews Festival of events in Auburn.

Pages