Visit the Oneida Community Mansion House for free during New York State’s Path Through History Weekends, June 7-8 and 14-15.  Over 100 special events are planned for the weekends at venues throughout the state, with more events added daily.  These weekends are designed to make it easy to experience the Empire State’s rich heritage and diverse attractions.

Once home to the utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880), this 93,000 sq. ft. National Historic Landmark houses a museum with permanent and changing exhibitions, residential apartments, overnight lodging, the farm to fork restaurant Kenwood and Vine, and banquet and meeting space.  The wheelchair accessible site is open year-round for self- and guided tours, excluding major holidays.  More than 200 acres include century-old trees, historic gardens and grounds, and the nearby Oneida Community Golf Course.  

Admission to the Mansion House includes tours of the Big Hall, described as “an embodiment of our life and faith” by founder John Humphrey Noyes, with its exquisite trompe l’oeil ceiling; the Upper Sitting Room that most defined their idea of home; the Community Library where life-long education was encouraged and more than 100 newspapers, magazines, and journals subscribed; and the Vestibule with its cabinet of curiosities.

Other exhibits include the Orientation Exhibit, The Braidings of Jessie Catherine Kinsley; South Seas to Botticelli: Frank Perry Flatware Designs for Oneida, 1950s-1970s, and the recently opened Children and Mothers of the Oneida Community.

Guided tours are available Wed. through Sat., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sun. at 2 p.m.  The Oneida Community Mansion House is located at 170 Kenwood Ave., Oneida, NY.  For information call 315-363-0745 or visit www.oneidacommunity.org.

In conjunction with Path Through History Weekends, I LOVE NEW YORK’s social media channels will be highlighting various themes with photos, videos, event itineraries and more. Follow I LOVE NEW YORK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or use #ISPYNY to join us on the journey down New York's Path Through History.

Path Through History highlights historically and culturally significant sites and events throughout New York State. The program, introduced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, builds on New York’s already robust heritage tourism attractions. The initiative is currently focused on 13 themes including: Arts & Culture, Natural History, U.S. Presidents, Women’s Rights, Canals & Transportation, Civil Rights, Colonial History, Immigration, Innovation & Commerce, The Revolution, Native Americans, Sports History and the War of 1812. Important heritage sites and events across the state were selected with input from leading historians. For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com/Summer/Themes/Path-Through-History.aspx.

New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York’s attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls, to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether it’s wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like fishing, hiking and boating, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers diverse activities for all travelers. For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com. Media can find press releases and more at www.iloveny.com/thebeat. Or contact Eric Scheffel, Empire State Development, 518-292-5274, escheffel@esd.ny.gov.