New Season at Rose Hill
By Mel Oles, Visitor Services and Program Manager at Rose Hill Mansion and Johnston House
We are excited to announce the start of a new season at Rose Hill Mansion. Our team has been hard at work preparing new exhibits, programs, and events for all to enjoy.
This season visitors can look forward to a new exhibit The Good Death: Illness and Death in the 19th Century. The Good Death explores 19th-century ideas about death and illness and common practices people developed to cope with them. Few families at the time were spared serious illness and loss, including the Swans at Rose Hill. The exhibit examines people’s attitudes, treatments and rituals surrounding death and illness.
In addition to our new exhibit, we have a lineup of engaging programs and events planned. Stephen Kess, founder of National Audubon Society’s Project Puffin and a visiting Fellow of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is leading our bird walks. The first walk was held on April 20 and another walk will be held on October 5. Participants will explore Rose Hill’s landscape while learning more about local bird species, habitats, and behaviors.
On May 18 we will welcome back the touring theater company Live History for the interactive theatrical experience In Time. This live-action historic scavenger hunt takes place throughout the mansion’s first floor and has an escape room, quest, and theater elements. Visitors will interact with actors portraying historic characters from Rose Hill’s history. Tickets are available online.
Our free summer concert series returns with four concerts. The bands are A Girl Name Genny (June 16), The 3 of Us, featuring Diana-Jacobs, Dave Kuykendall, and Geneva’s own Jimmy Richmond (July 7), The Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters (July 21), and Annie Ol ’Thyme featuring Trish Engelhard, Nora Starr and Lisa Ann Wright (August 18). Bring a lawn chair or blankets and a picnic dinner, and enjoy an evening of music.
Family Day will be held on Saturday, August 10. This free family-oriented event will have a scavenger hunt in the mansion, activities, music, and food for purchase. The Freier family is bringing their farm animals. The Geneva Rotary Club will sell hamburgers and hotdogs so bring a blanket for a family picnic. Time Travelers of Seneca County will be in period costumes and play old fashioned games. The Town of Fayette Historical Society and Girl Scouts will have hands-on activities. Ithaca Maple Works will be selling a variety of premium maple products produced.
To receive information about this season’s schedule, sign up to receive our weekly updates. . We also invite you to become a Historic Geneva supporter. Through their donations, supporters make our programs, exhibits, and other activities possible. We look forward to seeing you at Rose Hill.
Wow! Lots to look forward to this season. Thanks for the list of “Coming Attractions”.
A wonderful variety of events – well beyond the norm for
most historic houses nationally, geared to families and those
with varied interests. that stimulates attendance.
Congratulations!!!