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Make History Yours

Learn More About Us

Keep Our History Alive

Join the Oswego County Historical Society and get exclusive perks like members-only events, free admission, discounts in our gift shop, and more. Become a Member

Find Your Volunteer Niche

With opportunities behind-the-scenes and on the front lines, volunteer at the Richardson-Bates House Museum and inspire our patrons, preserve history, and find your niche. Become a Volunteer

Leave a Legacy

With a planned gift of stock or bequest in your will, a small act becomes a lasting impact on Oswego County history. Consider a contribution from your estate. Explore Legacy giving
Photo of city hall in Oswego, in springtime, taken from ground level looking upward. The drawing room piano and paintings wall, as seen from the right.
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.

Upcoming Events

$80.00 – $95.00

History Bus Tour: Watertown, NY

July 16, 2024 08:00
Tickets include lunch and admission to Jefferson County Historical Society, Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library, and the Sackets Harbor Experience Tour. Itinerary 8:00 A.M. Depart from Fort Ontario parking lot…
Children play an outdoor game in the museum's front lawn during Family Fun Day 2015.

2024 Family Fun Day

August 11, 2024 13:00
Play traditional Victorian games on the lawn for 50¢. Ice cream sundaes courtesy of Stewart’s Shops.

Independence: The True Story of Dr. Mary Walker

October 5, 2024
A one woman show highlighting Dr. Mary Walker, Town of Oswego resident and the only woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Tickets TBA.

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 or 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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The Oswego County Historical Society seeks to interpret its collections to connect the community to past, present and future topics relevant to local history, and to promote a public interest in Oswego County’s historical resources.

Address

Richardson-Bates House Museum
135 E. 3rd St., Oswego, NY 13126

Hours

Thurs. – Sat.: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
April through December

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NOW ON DISPLAY
Come see Dr. Mary Walker's Congressional Medal of Honor!
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