9 Most Historic New York Towns to Visit in 2024
America, a relatively young country, has demonstrated a youthful spirit and a drive for adventure from the very first European explorers who took the risky journey to the New World. Welcoming weary and starry-eyed new settlers to establish themselves in the land of opportunity and watch the benefits roll in, simple families among them searched for a better life and work. The state of New York achieved statehood on July 26, 1788.
Bursting with old country charm today, the "Empire's" small antiquated towns delight with attractions like the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Inns of Aurora in the first town on the Cayuga Lake. Whether you're in for the War of 1812 sites in Sackets Harbor or a relaxing escape at Mirbeau Inn and Spa in Skaneateles, each town paints a unique backstory along the streets and surrounding natural spaces.
Aurora
Part of the six Native American nations' land, this central New York town offers a great summertime escape or vacation on the eastern side of Cayuga Lake and a dose of history at any time. With land tracks in the area dispersed to war veterans by the late 1700s, Aurora was founded in 1795 and later incorporated. Its tiny embrace of the lake encompasses Lake Glass Beach, a kid-friendly, beautiful place to relax by the waters. The highlights include Wells College, a landmark women's college with a beautiful facade and grounds. Perhaps the most notable attraction, Inns of Aurora, flaunts a white-columned resort and spa along green grounds with trails for all to enjoy the best lake views.
A lot has unraveled between the picturesque lakeside and the lush rolling hills, like the rift in Native American versus European relations during the American Revolutionary War. Famously "funded" by Pleasant Rowland of American Girl, the downtown charms up the past with small-town flavors for every taste, like Mackenzie-Childs, a ceramics and home décor store by a well-known creator. Among buildings and well-preserved attractions of the bygone era, other browsable stops to shop and indulge include the Village Market and the Fargo Bar and Grill for a foodie adventure. The fall leaf-peeping season on the nose is a great reason to meet Aurora in a frame of colors.
Ballston Spa
Not “Boston Spa,” an actual English town in between Leeds and York, this NY village did have prior variations of the name before its incorporation under the current in 1807, two years before the Revolutionary War, including “Ball’s Town.” This was in reference to Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Presbyterian minister of Bedford, NY; he created a settlement west of Ballston Lake after his congregation split. Choosing "spa" over "springs" for a sense of comfort, amenities, and leisure to attract tourists, Ballston Spa expanded its entertainment scene to various interests. From hotels and boarding houses to billiard rooms, dances, masquerades, card games, theater, and music, the beauty of a re-invigorating retreat persisted, thanks to the hot and cold mineral baths.
Today, the sign for “History Museum” leads you to “Brookside,” the Saratoga County Historical Society housed in one of the two historic hotels from 1792. Tour the eight-sided "Old Iron Spring,” a pavilion with a drilled spring from 1874, and try the acquired taste of its continuously flowing mineral water. Across the stream, “McMaster House” would now be along Front Street, but it burned down in the mid-nineteenth century. From the historic railroad abutments at the street's end, head on a self-guided walk downtown. From Victorian-style homes to shops, the National Bottle Museum attracts glasswork enthusiasts, with a surprising ton of history attached to the seemingly simple objects. Coffee Planet and Iron Roost, a bakery and restaurant, will hold you over before an Italian feast at Augie's.
Cazenovia
Nestled at the southern tip of the eponymous lake, this historic village, circa 1793, named after Theophilus Cazenove, was founded by John Lincklaen, his field agent. Established as a project of the Holland Land Company, Cazenovia, one of the state's oldest towns, is a convenient tourist destination in central New York, with history, art, and breweries like Meier's Creek Brewing Company. Make the first stop at the nearby Stone Quarry Hill Art Park to stretch your legs after the drive along the four-mile trail system, relax, and admire the outdoor sculpture space with contemporary pieces on history.
From beautiful estates to great breweries and trails, visitors can enjoy lakeside recreation in the summer and unwind at Critz Farms Brewing & Cider Co., one of the two venues on the beverage trail. With something for everyone on the side, like gifts, antiques, and consignment shops, Cazenovia Artisans is an artists’ cooperative and a gallery, while Fairchild Hill offers a "top" spot to wander and break for a picnic. From the waterfront Gypsy Bay Park to Lorenzo State Historic Site, don't miss "Hillcrest" Jephson Estate before catching the sunset from the pier by Willow Bank Yacht Club. The popular Brae Loch Inn will tuck you in for the night after a delectable dinner.
Cold Spring
Established as a small trading post along the Hudson River in 1730 by Thomas Davenport, Cold Spring is one of the most historic villages in Upstate New York. As the industrial hub for the region during the Civil War and a supply center for the Union Army, many beautiful buildings and pretty churches are touchstones of the bygone era. Architecture and culture fans will appreciate the terrific preservation efforts of Our Lady of Loretto and Saint Mary's in the Highlands, as well as the free-to-enter Magazzino Italian art. Don't miss the scenically old 1865 Office Building, a landmark on the east edge of town, while Little Stony Point is a wonderful riverside area for a hike with rocky views. Breakneck Ridge attracts summertime tourists for hiking, kayaking, and camping, with plenty of sprawling spaces to relax over a picnic.
Featuring over 200 entries on the National Register of Historic Places, Cold Spring feels like an open-air museum, including the nearby West Point Military Academy. Offering river and open views of the Hudson Highlands, step back in time along the trails at West Point Foundry Preserve. Just east, Garrison's Boscobel House and Gardens is a striking attraction of a 19th-century Georgian mansion with gardens, orchards, and regular cultural events. Don't miss Moo Moo's Creamery, The World’s Best Ice Cream Shop, backed by a line of local and visiting patrons for its creative flavors in snug mom-and-pop shop digs. Featuring Revolutionary War fortifications and the Warner House, Constitution Island is a fun and insightful detour just south across the train tracks from Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary.
Cooperstown
This small village was established in 1786 by William Cooper, whose son, James Fenimore Cooper, became a renowned American novelist. Offering a convenient escape in central New York, on the very bottom tip of the beautiful Otsego Lake, namely its Blackbird Bay, Cooperstown is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the hub for America's favorite pastime fans, housing baseball memorabilia and other artifacts. Welcoming around 300,000 annual tourists, even those who aren't into baseball, must stop by the state-of-the-art building, with entry tickets ranging around $30, and crowds gather for the latest class to enter its Hall of Fame during the annual induction ceremony.
Home to greenspaces and attractions for every taste, many enjoy the Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmer's Museum, both in historical buildings. From Fairy Springs Park and golf to the historic Fernleigh Estate Stone Bridge, the Susquehanna River meanders through the historic downtown with waterfront views and 19th-century facades. Council Rock Park, an important site dating back to the Clinton/Sullivan Expedition of 1779, offers a magnificent view of the lake and the rock itself, a meeting point for Native Americans before the Revolutionary War. After a peak beneath the lake via Glimmerglass Queen Tour Boat Company Inc., all gather to dine at the Upstate Bar and Grill.
Oyster Bay
As President Theodore Roosevelt's family summer home, this prominent historic town on Long Island was chartered in 1667. Christened by David de Vries in 1639 upon sighting the beautiful harbor, Oyster Bay embraces visitors with attractions and open-water views. After the Dutch purchased the tract from the Native Americans, the area was ruled by the British, like much of the Empire. Raynham Hall Museum takes you on a tour before and after the American Revolutionary War, with free admission for kids under 5 and the military. The weekend-long Oyster Festival in October is a fun alternative to celebrating the month of Halloween over some delicious oysters!
Visitors can stop by Sagamore Hill upon reservation, currently under the National Park Service, where Teddy stayed and welcomed important guests. The Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park features striking grounds with greenery and the early 20th-century Gold Coast estate, open daily, including regular art and horticultural showings. Don't miss Wild Honey for American-style lunch or dining with an innovative twist that will surely leave an impression in a dimly lit vibe, while Stellina Ristorante is the local "Italian gem." Stay overnight in history at the Georgian-style "Mansion at Glen Cove," a reminder of the Gold Coast era with modern indoor and outdoor pools and other amenities.
Sackets Harbor
Founded in 1801, Sackets Harbor served as the headquarters for the army, navy, and marines in the War of 1812. Its strategic eastern shore location on Lake Ontario became a shipbuilding center during World War II. Visitors can combine waterside recreation with a deep history lesson in the sea breeze through the authentic Sackets Harbor Village Historic District. Offering waterfront views and 19th-century architecture, the Madison Barracks, a significant site, reminisces of the living quarters for the soldiers. Stop by the Visitor Center and Pickering-Beach Museum before a stroll through Market Square Park with its stately gazebo and boat ramp.
Peppered with historic landmarks like the Union Hotel and Commandant's House, sailors would gaze longingly at the sea from the nearby Navy Point Marine. Take in the waterfront views along the somber Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site while many enjoy Sail Ontario Charters, both fantastic to enjoy at sunset. Good Fellos and the elegant Tin Pan Galley offer to dine in digs from the bygone era before letting the evening take you to Sackets Harbor Brewing Company. With so much to cover, stop here while you're browsing on a hot day for a cold one. Mill Creek wraps the town to the northeast, so there's plenty of green, open country to explore on a scenic drive.
Skaneateles
Enveloped between the gentle hills and the shores of the eponymous lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region, Skaneateles inspires an idyl by what is aptly translated as the "long lake" from Iroquois. Home to Greek Revival, Federal, Italianate, and Romanesque revival architecture, visitors can admire architecture while shopping and dining, including buildings from the first decade of its founding. With plots of land awarded to soldiers at the end of the Revolutionary War, historical landmarks include the John D. Barrow Art Gallery and the circa 1807 Sherwood Inn. Once the township of Marcellus was at the head of the glacier-carved lake ages ago, the small village separated in 1830, establishing itself as an independent entity, which was incorporated three years later.
Flaunting charming, tree-lined streets downtown, designated a Historic District in 1985, Skaneateles is a longtime-revered escape in the state, attracting hoards of wealthy summering residents from the Big Apple. The nearby Charlie Major Nature Trail is an easy 1.5-mile out-and-back hike parallel to Skaneateles Creek. Many enjoy an early morning jog or a hand-in-hand sunset stroll along this revamped rail trail. From fishing to boating and town greens, the whole area appeals as a tourist attraction for a traditional lakeside escape, like Clift Park with its scenic gazebo. Choose between the serene Thayer Park or Skaneateles Country Club just south to catch the sunset over the lake before winding down at Mirbeau Inn and Spa, with a French bistro on site.
Southold
Tangled amid the still waters of Southold Bay and Jockey Creek, Southold bursts with attractions in the shadow of neighboring Greenport West. Blissfully uncrowded, the waterways are like open highways for boaters, while the scenic shores flaunt small businesses and fishermen's offices if you'd rather explore on foot. Among the eight historic lighthouses in Southold Township, the most significant, Horton Point Lighthouse, was built in 1857 at 58 feet tall. Restored in 1990, the lighthouse on the New York State Register of Historic Places flaunts Long Island Sound views to Connecticut, as well as a nautical museum and park on-site. From the oceanfront Town Beach, a stroll along the Hashamomuck Pond takes you through the heart of town to the popular Southold Fish Market.
Nearby, the green Founders Landing Park is a hop from the Custer Institute and Observatory, offering Saturday tours with telescope views and astronomy exhibits. Stop by the Southold Historical Museum for the history behind the serene downtown. Others know of this water-abundant town for its handful of renowned wineries and vineyards, like Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery. Just north, Kontokosta Winery is perfect for whiling away an afternoon or taking a bottle to enjoy discretely at the nearby Inlet Pond County Park with rocky oceanfront views. The bayfront North Fork Table & Inn occupies a second-empire-style home from the 17th century to dine farm-to-table from the surrounding vineyards, farms, and fisheries at an outdoor patio.
The most historic New York towns, dating back to the 17th century, are proud of their long up-and-coming. Welcoming visitors with an open, natural embrace as varied as the state, from the Hudson Valley to the Finger Lakes to the Adirondacks, Southold is home to the Founders Landing Park, reminiscent of the first settlement on Long Island.
And while the Big Apple often steals the spotlight, there's something special about enjoying modern attractions in some of the oldest places in the Empire, like the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, or having a cold one along Cazenovia's beverage trail. Discover the 26th US President's family summer home in the sea breeze, perhaps at a shrimp festival this October in Oyster Bay!
