Calendar

  • May 17

    10am - noon
    Junior Historians
    grades 2-6
    A step back in time - an architectural tour of the southside of Jamestown. Find out about the people who lived in the great houses and worked at some of our most important businesses.

  • May 17

    2 pm & 5pm
    Project Runway 1880
    in the elegant Fenton
    Drawing Room
    See and learn about
    the beautiful and
    interesting formal
    clothing in the
    Fenton textile collection.
    Free for members
    or $10 for non-members.

  • June 6

    Exhibit Opening for
    "In the Good Ole Summer Time"
    Refreshments, music
    and memories - open
    to all members for free,
    non-members - small
    admission fee.

  • June 7

    "In the Good Ole Summer Time" What was it like to
    vacation on
    Chautauqua Lake
    in the golden age
    from 1875 to 1920?
    What was it like
    to work on
    Chautauqua Lake
    serving the vacationers?
    Artifacts, photographs
    and many other interesting pieces of our wonderful history will be on exhibit for the summer.

  • June 14

    7pm
    Red White & Blue
    A Patriotic Tribute to
    our Hometown Heroes.
    The evening will be
    filled with live music
    and local stories about our soldiers from the Civil War, World War I and World War II.
    $15 per person,
    $10 for Fenton members

  • July 19

    Fenton Institute - Our County's Bicentennial The Bicentennial Celebration of Chautauqua County begins in 2008! Join us for an informative time to learn about our earliest history as a County. Noon to 2 PM
    Members at certain levels are free, other levels only $5, non-members $10.

  • July 21-25

    Camp Brown
    A Call to Arms...Life as a Civil War recruit. Students in grades 4-6 will experience the life of a Civil War private preparing to march into history. Limited spaces, 1-4 PM each afternoon, please register early. $50 fee

  • August 4-8

    History Detectives:
    "In the Good Ole Summertime" Grades 1-3. Have fun learning about life around Chautauqua Lake in the golden age of steamboats and trolleys. The week will finish with a field trip to New York State's newest historic park, Midway! Great fun! 9-12 noon each morning, limited space available, please register early, $50 fee.

  • August 9

    4th Annual Old Fashioned Day NEW this year!! A Civil War encampment of living history by the 9th Calvary NY Volunteers! Hopefully with horses, campfires, firearms and a surgeon. Join a basket weaver, spinners, weavers, antique engines, food, fun and much more. More details to come!!
    9 AM to 3 PM

  • August 18-22

    History Detectives:
    "In the Good Ole Summertime"
    Grades 4-6. Fun and learning come together at the Fenton Mansion and Long Point State Park! What was life like around Chautauqua Lake when the trolleys and steamboats were running? What was it like to vacation or work at the #2 vacation spot on the east coast in the last 1800s? Find out at the Fenton History Center Summer Camp. 1-4 each afternoon, limited space available, please register early, $50 fee.

Camp Brown - A Call to Arms

Life as a Civil War Recruit

Camp Brown recruits


Muster in at Fenton History Center on Monday, July 21, to spend the week as a 112th Regiment recruit. Practice drills, learn about a soldier's equipment and life in Camp Brown. This year we'll also be making our own hardtack and discovering what recruits did with their leisure time in camp.

Highlights of the week will be visits by two Civil War re-enactors: Todd Langworthy, teacher and historian, of Fredonia will join us as First Lt. Alonzo Cushing of the 4th U.S. Light Artillery and Joe Bolivard of Forestville will arrive as a Civil War surgeon.

  • Camp Brown recruits must be in grades 4-6.
  • Troops gather daily from 1-4 pm
  • Cost is $50 plus $15 (to cover equipment issued to each recruit).
  • Register early as space is limited.
Contact us for more information.