Calendar

  • July 27 - August 1

    Spoon River Project
    Be inspired and touched by the moving Spoon River Anthology in the beautiful setting of Lake View Cemetery. Performance and ticket information is on the FHC Spoon River web page. For more information on the project you can visit The Spoon River Project website. Support provided in part by the NYSCA Decentralization Program of Cattaraugus County.

  • August 7

    Fenton's 6th Annual Old Fashioned Day
    9 am to 3 pm - Free admission to the festival and the museum. Experience our hometown's living history: try your hand at many of the "chores" our great-grandparents did everyday-for adults and children alike. Experience the "Make Do" attitude of the Great Depression. Fun, crafts & games for kids, a variety of food vendors, modern crafters, and much more!

  • September 25

    Blue & Gray 2010 Civil War Encampment
    The 9th Cavalry is returning home! The community is invited to learn more about living during the Civil War from the soldiers and family members camping at the Fenton Mansion. Donations accepted.

  • October 2 & 9

    5th Annual "Saints and Sinners" Lake View Cemetery Tours
    From 3 pm until 8 pm at Lake View Cemetery, corner of Buffalo St. and Lakeview Ave., Jamestown.
    The tour will uncover some of the more than 43,000 personal stories at Jamestown's beautiful Lake View Cemetery. Guests are asked to wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, bring a flashlight for the later tours and to be ready to learn some interesting information about Jamestown and Lake View Cemetery. Presale: $8 for adults, $2 for children& youth; at the gate $10 for adults, $3 for children and youth, and half price for Fenton History Center members. Reservations are required; please call 664-6256 to reserve your tickets and time slot. Call early as the later tours fill up fast!

  • October 3 & 10

    Twilight Mausoleum Tours at Lake View Cemetery
    Get a behind the scenes tour of a number of the elegant mausoleums in Jamestown's 1859 cemetery. Light refreshments follow the tour. 8 PM. The cost is $15/single, $25 per couple. Youth and children are $5. Reservations are required; please call 664-6256 to reserve your tickets.

  • November 23

    31st Annual Holiday exhibit
    Members Only Sneak Preview 4-7 PM. New members welcome, join and see the exhibit for FREE.

  • November 26

    31st Annual Holiday exhibit
    opens to the public- through January 15, 2011.

  • December 4

    Fenton Family Day
    Start a family tradition - bring your family for crafts, cookies and fun! Discover your past at the Fenton History Center! Children are half price!

  • December 11

    Girls and Dolls Holiday Tea
    11:00 to 12:30 PM and 1:30 to 3:00 PM. A special holiday event for young ladies, their mothers, grandmothers, aunts and friends. The event includes tea, dessert, a craft and tour of the Fenton Mansion decked out in its seasonal finery. The cost is $15 per ticket. Space is limited. Reservations are required.


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Join the Fenton History Center

Your History

The Fenton Historical Society of Jamestown, N. Y. better known as The Fenton History Center, operates in the beautiful Italian villa-style mansion built for New York State Governor Reuben E. Fenton (1819-1885) in 1863. Reuben Eaton Fenton was one of a class of developers and entrepreneurs, newly affluent in the mid-nineteenth century. After securing his fortune in lumbering and financial investments early in life, Fenton spent most of his adult years in political office. Moving from Town Supervisor to U.S. Congressman to Governor of New York and U.S. Senator, Reuben Fenton became one of the most famous citizens in the history of Chautauqua County.

What you get when you join

All members receive these basic annual benefits:

  • Unlimited complimentary admission
  • Unlimited access to museum library
  • Museum gift shop discount
  • Members only e-mail updates
  • Subscription to quarterly museum newsletter

Student $15

Receives basic benefits

Senior $30

Receives basic benefits PLUS two one-time guest passes, reduced fee for Fenton programs, collectible membership card and special gift

Educator $30

Receives Senior benefits PLUS access to educator area online

Individual $40

Receives Educator benefits PLUS complimentary admission to one Fenton Institute Event

Family $60

Receives Individual benefits PLUS unlimited complimentary admission for two adults plus children

Supporting $100

Receives Family benefits PLUS membership in Genealogy Support Group and limited edition FHC poster

Friend of Fenton $250

Receives Supporting benefits PLUS four one-time guest passes and two special gifts

Senator's Circle $500

Receives Friend of Fenton benefits PLUS six one-time guest passes, lunch with Executive Director or genealogy expert and a behind the scenes tour of Fenton History Center for four people

Governor's Circle $1,000

Receives Senator Circle benefits PLUS tea party for you and 9 closest friends

Today, the Fenton History Center provides a rich resource for:

Education - to facilitate over 10,000 student visits, provide speakers for many community groups and create new after school programming and adult education such as the Fenton Institute.
Museum - to research, build, and install at least 3 exhibitions per year, to continue to collect and preserve the permanent collection, and to maintain our largest artifact - the Governor's 1863 mansion.

Fenton Mansion
Library - to enhance computerized access to the collection materials, provide an on-line catalog to the reference library and to provide genealogy materials for a wide variety of researchers.
Facility - to support operations of the 12,000 sq. ft. Mansion and 4,350 sq. ft. off-site storage and the newly acquired Forest Avenue property.

Special Gift for NEW Members

Join and receive with your new membership your choice of a premium gift & a $5 discount to the Fenton Annual Dinner Gala.

At the Senior (65+), Individual or Educator membership level:

Receive (1) Fenton History Center Key Chain

At the Family membership level:

Receive (1) Fenton History Center tote bag

At the Supporting membership level:

Receive (1) Fenton History Center tote bag OR (1) pair of tickets for a cruise on the Chautauqua Belle (Chautauqua Belle tickets in limited supply.)

At the Friend of Fenton and above membership levels (pick two):

(1) Fenton History Center key chain
(1)Fenton History Center tote bag
(1) pair of tickets for a cruise on the Chautauqua Belle Steamboat (Chautauqua Belle tickets in limited supply.)

To enroll or renew please either:

  1. download the membership form

    2. OR
  2. send name, address and telephone number along with your check to:


    3. Fenton History Center
    67 Washington Street
    Jamestown, NY 14701
    OR
  3. join or renew online at the Fenton Museum Shop

 

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