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ABOUT OSWEGO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Founded in 1896, the Oswego County Historical Society is a non-profit organization that has preserved and promoted Oswego County history for over 100 years. In 1946, the Society received the generous gift of a historic 19th century Italian Villa on Oswego's east side to serve as a permanent headquarters and museum.

The Richardson-Bates House Museum

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Richardson-Bates House Museum is one of the most intact house museums in New York State. It offers a unique glimpse into the lifestyle of a prominent wealthy Oswego family, and serves as the place where history comes alive in Oswego County.

The museum’s opulent interiors in the first floor period rooms reflect the art and culture of the 19th century Victorian elite. About 90% of the family’s original furnishings and most of the family’s historic and ethnographic collections were included when the house was gifted to the Society in 1946.

Featured Events

Volunteers and visitors occupy the front and side lawns of the museum of Family Fun Day.
Free

2025 Family Fun Day

August 17, 2025 13:00
Play traditional Victorian games on the south lawn of the museum for 50¢. Ice cream sundaes courtesy of Stewart’s Shops.
Free

2025 Holiday Open House

December 7, 2025 13:00
Experience Victorian Christmas through the eyes of the Bates family. Christmas decorations and Victorian children’s gifts are on display through the month of December.

Explore the history of Oswego County with Oswego County Historical Society’s educational resources. The material covers a range of topics, including local figures like Dr. Mary Walker and Tudor Grant, political movements like abolition and women’s suffrage, and the impact of industrialization on Central New York. These materials are offered for free to inspire your research, supplement your curriculum, and inspire curiosity in local history.

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