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Geneva History Museum

Two men looking at artifacts like dresses, a lacrosse stick, and photos in a small wood-floored room.
GHM Chew Exhibit Gallery (2)
GHM College Partnership
The Geneva History Museum, a large brick building with three chimneys, many windows, green shutters, a stoop, mansard roof, and a railed wheelchair ramp.
GHM Main Geneva History Exhibit (1)
GHM Main Geneva History Exhibit (2)
A tour guide, teacher and group of young children in a Victorian hallway decorated for Christmas pointing at mistletoe.
A tour guide, teacher and group of young children in a Victorian hallway decorated for Christmas pointing at mistletoe.
GHM Period Rooms (1)
GHM Period Rooms (2)
A group of people sitting in rows of metal chairs in an exhibit gallery with a video screen listening to a speaker.
A group of people sitting in rows of metal chairs in an exhibit gallery with a video screen listening to a speaker.
A group of people sitting in rows of metal chairs in an exhibit gallery with a video screen listening to a speaker.
GHM Puzzle Competition
GHM Research in the Archives (1)
GHM Research in the Archives (2)
A diverse group of young people standing around a table in a large room talking and eating.

At the Geneva History Museum, we tell the stories of the community’s people and places, ordinary and extraordinary. In our long term and changing exhibits, you can follow the growth of the Geneva community from prehistory to the present day. 

Throughout the year, we offer a variety of programs to people of all ages. For our current programs, visit our Calendar of Events. 

Our Gift Shop features souvenirs and local history books. To see a selection of items, go to our online shop.  

Items in our Research Library like research books, city directories, family files, and newspaper indexes are available during the Museum’s regular business hours without an appointment. You can make an appointment to do research using our archival collections, Tuesday through Friday. Click here to make an appointment or call 315-789-5151.  

Owned and operated by Historic Geneva, the Geneva History Museum is located in the Prouty-Chew House on Geneva’s historic South Main Street. The building also houses Historic Geneva’s offices and collections storage.  

  • Monday–Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
  • Saturday: 12 pm - 4 pm
  • Closed July 4 and Labor Day.
  • Tuesday–Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
  • Saturday: 12 pm – 4 pm
  • Closed Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Good Friday.

Admission – Suggested donation: $5 per person. 

The Geneva History Museum stands on the traditional lands of the Onöndowá’ga’ or “the People of the Great Hill.” In English, they are known as the Seneca Nation. They are one of the six Nations that make up the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the world’s oldest continual participatory democracy. 

This acknowledgement is one small step in the process of dismantling the unjust legacies of colonialism and honoring Seneca and Haudenosaunee communities, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. 

Geneva History Museum Directions

543 S Main St, 
Geneva, NY 14456 
GPS: 42.8622, -76.9824 

  1. Exit I-90 at Exit 42, Geneva 
  2. Go right onto Route 14 south. Geneva is about 7 miles down. 
  3. After about 6 miles, you come to your first traffic light. Shortly after this, Route 14 becomes Exchange St. 
  4. Continue on past the next intersection (North St.) to the third traffic light. Turn left here onto Lake St. (following signs for 5&20). 
  5. Turn right from Lake St. onto 5&20 west. This road will take you along the lakeshore, around the city, and up under the South Main Street overpass. 
  6. Just after the overpass, turn right onto North Cloverleaf Dr. This road will bring you up to South Main St. 
  7. The museum is directly in front of you at #543 in the brick building with dark green trim. There is a brass sign on the building for the museum. Parking is on the street or across the street in Trinity Episcopal Church lot north of North Cloverleaf Drive. 
  1. Follow Routes 5&20/Hamilton Street east past Walmart, Wegmans, etc. to the light at Pulteney Street, just before the South Main Street overpass. 
  2. The next right (the last turn before the overpass) is the South Main Street Cloverleaf (there should be a brown and white sign for the Geneva Historical Society at the turn). 
  3. Turn right onto the cloverleaf, which will take you up to South Main Street. 
  4. Turn left onto South Main Street and continue north over Routes 5&20. 
  5. The museum is on the other side of the bridge over 5&20, the fourth house down on the right. It is a large brick building with a sign on the front of the building and another on the lawn. 
  6. Parking is on the street or in Trinity Episcopal Church lot north of North Cloverleaf Drive. 
  1. Follow 5&20 west along the lakeshore, past the city, and up under the South Main Street overpass. 
  2. Just after the overpass, turn right onto North Cloverleaf Dr. This road will bring you up to South Main St. 
  3. The museum is directly in front of you at #543 in the brick building with dark green trim. There is a brass sign on the building for the museum. Parking is on the street or in Trinity Episcopal Church lot north of North Cloverleaf Drive. 

General

  • Service animals are welcome. They must remain on a leash or harness while in the Museum. Pets and therapy animals are not allowed inside the Museum. 
  • A quiet room is available. Historic Geneva staff can direct you to this space. 
  • An accessible restroom is available. 
  • A first aid kit is available. 
  • The Museum is air conditioned. 

Parking 

  • Parking is on the street, and there are no handicapped parking spaces. Visitors with limited mobility may park in the driveway space between the street and sidewalk for closer access to the Museum. 

For Visitors with Mobility Impairments 

  • The Museum is wheelchair accessible by a ramp at the front entrance. 
  • A lift serves the first and lower levels. 
  • An accessible restroom is available 
  • Chairs are available in most exhibit spaces. 

For Visitors who are Blind or have Low Vision 

  • Lighting is dim in some areas due to the historic nature of the house. 
  • Print information is available. 

For Visitors who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing  

  • ASL interpreters are available for groups, special programs, and events upon request with 2 weeks’ notice. 

For visitors with sensory or communication disabilities 

  • To help you prepare for your visit, we have created a social narrative
  • A quiet room is available. Historic Geneva staff can direct you to this space. 

If you have additional questions about accessibility or other needs, please contact Historic Geneva at 315-789-5151 or info@historicgeneva.org.

Bathrooms – Accessible restroom available. 

Dining – There is no dining facility on site 

First Aid – The Museum has a first aid kit 

Pets – Service animals are welcome in the Museum. They must remain on a leash or harness while in the Museum. Pets and therapy animals are not allowed inside the Museum. 

Shopping – The Museum gift shop offers books and other Geneva-related items.   

Strollers and Wheelchairs – The Museum does not have strollers or wheelchairs.  

Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi is available in the Museum. 

What is the Prouty-Chew House? – The Prouty-Chew House is the historic house that contains Historic Geneva’s offices and the Geneva History Museum. 

How old is the building? – The house was built between 1825 and 1829 by Charles Butler. It was a private home until 1960 when it was donated to Historic Geneva. 

Who is Prouty-Chew? – The building is named after two families that lived in the house, the Prouty and Chew families. Three generations of the Prouty family lived at 543 South Main Street from 1842 to 1902. Beverly Chew, a descendant of the first Prouty to live in the house, resided in the house from 1921 to 1960. He donated the building to Historic Geneva in 1960.   

Do you have to be a supporter (member) of Historic Geneva to visit the museum or attend a program? No. The Geneva History Museum and Historic Geneva’s programs are open to the public. Anyone is welcome to support Historic Geneva and our mission to share Geneva’s stories. 

How many families have lived at 543 South Main Street? – Between 1829 and 1960 at least five different families lived at 543 South Main. 

Why are there so many large, old houses along South Main Street? South Main was popular for Geneva’s well-to-do families.