Oriskany Battlefield: Bloodiest Battle of the American Revolution

There is an element of deep sadness here. This was the battleground of the bloodiest battle in the fight for American independence. But it set off a shockwave of victory that helped to change the course of the war. Hundreds of men died here. We came to give our respects, and found time to have a little fun, too.

Inside Shako:wi Cultural Center, Oneida, NY

The Shako:wi Cultural Center, south of the village of Oneida on Route 46, is a museum devoted to the history of the Oneida Indian nation, one of the original Five Nations of the Iroquois League of Nations. The Oneidas were the only Iroquois tribe to side with the Americans during the American Revolution (and they [...]

More Photos of Fort Stanwix 2009

We made our annual visit to Fort Stanwix on Independence Day (July 4th). See Part 1 here. We’d been wanting to visit on the holiday for many years– finally we got to! And it was GREAT. There was a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, a stirring speech to patriotism and our true roots, [...]

More Fort Stanwix Photos

Yes, more photos of our July 4th trip to Fort Stanwix in Rome, NY. This is such a great place. I’ve written several posts about our visits to Fort Stanwix. It is, in my opinion, probably the best New York State park! And it’s part of the National Park Service, too. You can check out [...]

Fort Stanwix Photos

Here are more photos of our terrific visit to Fort Stanwix in Rome, NY. You can read Part 1. There’s a drawbridge at the entrance. The fort was made historically accurate. Big meaty stakes with sharpened points tilt outward. There’s a big dry moat all around the fort. During times of peacefulness, the women and [...]

Schultz and Dooley are 50!

Schultz and Dooley– those interminable talking beer steins created for the marketing of Utica Club beer– are 50 years old! The steins are highly collectible. Schultz and Dooley first appeared in 1958, on television commercials for Utica Club beer produced by the FX Matt Brewery here in Utica, NY. The Matt Brewery also produces the [...]

A Day in the City

I had to go to Utica, NY, for an appointment last week. I try to snap photos of the streets I see when I am there. It’s an interesting city and has seen a lot of ups and downs in its long history. This photo is facing northward, on Genesee Street. The Hotel Utica, built [...]

Gerrit Smith Estate, Peterboro, NY

You may not have heard of Gerrit Smith, but in his day he was the man most responsible for the abolition movement in New York State. Gerrit Smith was the “Stationmaster” of the Underground Railroad. We visited his old estate in Peterboro, NY.

Whatever Happened to Fort Bull?

Fort Bull was one of three forts constructed during the French and Indian War to protect the Oneida Carry, a portage route in central New York State. The Oneida Carry lay between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, as one of the important trade routes between Albany and Oneida Lake. This fort was destroyed in an Indian raid, and some say Mel Gibson borrowed its history for his Fort Wilderness take in “The Patriot.”

The Erie Canal Packet Boat Ride, Rome, NY

Some called the Erie Canal the Eighth Wonder of the World. Many had said it couldn’t be done. The completion of the Canal and the burst of business it brought catapulted New York State into fame and riches, earning its nickname, “The Empire State.” The Canal is gone, preserved only in a few places in Upstate NY. But here at the Erie Canal Village, the Erie Canal lives on. We rode the packet boat for an enchanting step back in time.

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