Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

New York State Historical Societies and Museums

American Irish Historical Society - is a center of Irish culture and knowledge located in New York City.  You are very welcome to attend our events, conduct research in our library, and help support our mission

Brooklyn Historical Society - Founded in 1863, Brooklyn Historical Society is a nationally recognized urban history center dedicated to preserving and encouraging the study of Brooklyn's extraordinary 400-year history.

Bronx County Historical Society - The Bronx County Historical Society provides a great field trip for families, group members or students with exciting visits to The Museum of Bronx History and the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, theme programs, neighborhood walking tours, and school projects.

Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society - Since 1862, The Buffalo History Museum (formerly known as the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society) has been Western New York’s premier historical organization, serving to collect, research, interpret, and share the Niagara Frontier’s rich history.

Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society - The Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society (COLHS) is committed to preserving the history and heritage of the Moravia, New York area.

Cohocton Historical Society -Their Facebook page, many great photos.

Columbia County Historical Society - The Columbia County Historical Society is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of Columbia County, New York.

Franklin County Historical and Museum Society -  The mission of the Franklin County Historical and Museum Society is to initiate, promote and coordinate educational programs primarily for the benefit of residents and visitors in Franklin County.

Fort Brewerton Historical Society - The Fort Brewerton Historical Society will strive to collect and preserve history for the education and entertainment of the public at large.

Geneva Historical Society - Founded in 1883, the Geneva Historical Society tells the stories of Geneva, New York. We preserve and interpret these stories through three museums.

Greene County Historical Society - The Greene County Historical Society was established in 1929 and received it's official charter from the University of NY in 1939. More than 300 years 0f Upper Hudson Valley history are reflected in the cluster of architecturally significant buildings which comprise the Bronck Museum.

Greene County Mountain Top Historical Society - The Mountain Top Historical Society is dedicated to discovering and preserving the unique and rich history of the Catskill High Peaks.

Hispanic Society of America - Museum and reference library for the study of art, culture, and history of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines.

Historic Albany Foundation - fulfilled its mandate through public education, promotion and membership, provision of design and technical assistance, community projects, advocacy for endangered buildings, publications, tours, lectures and operation of an architectural parts warehouse.

The Historical Society For the Preservation of the Underground Railroad

History Center of Tompkins County -  helps you use the tools of history to understand your past, gain perspective on the present, and play an informed role in shaping your future.

Huguenot Historical Society  -Throughout the last 100 years, the Society has been the leader in collecting artifacts which preserve the heritage of our community. These artifacts are retained, and made available to the public, in the two house museum maintained by the Society.

Huntington Historical Society - maintains three national register historic properties as two house museums and a Resource Center and Archives.

Italian Historical Society of America (Brooklyn, NY) - preserves biographical and other material relating to persons of  Italian lineage, publishes documents and reports, will establish and maintain a cultural center or centers, will administer scholarships and fellowships.

Klyne Esopus Museum (Ulster Park, NY) - located in Ulster Park, New York, is housed in a former Dutch country church built in 1827. The museum offers a variety of exhibits about the culture, commerce and history of The Town of Esopus.

Lancaster New York Historical Society - is an integral organization that educates and informs the community about the history of Lancaster, but also plays a major role in preserving the historic structures in town.

Livingston County Historical Society Museum - The Livingston County Historical Society is an educational institution whose purpose is to present, promote, preserve, and value the rich history of Livingston County via its collections, programming, and partnerships.

Lynbrook Historical & Preservation Society - Long Island South Shore and Lynbrook History Website

Medina Historical Society - The Purpose of the Medina Historical Society is to preserve and maintain Annals and Relics of Western New York, especially the Village of Medina and the Townships of Shelby and Ridgeway and to educate the people in the history of their community.

Minisink Valley Historical Society - All of us involved with the history of the Minisink Region share a common link - an uncommon love for the preservation of history. Part of that history is Fort Decker, constructed prior to 1760, and attacked during Joseph Brant's raid on the Minisink in 1779.

Mohawk & Hudson Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society - The NRHS was founded in 1935 by a group of rail historians. It has since grown from 40 founding members to include over 13,000 men and women of all ages and professions in every state and many foreign countries, making it the nation's largest rail preservation and historical society.

Mountain Top Historical Society of Greene County - organized to promote the increase of knowledge of and interest in that portion of the Catskill Mountains referred to generally as the "Mountain Top" through the study and preservation of its art, literature, history, culture, folklore, legends and environment by means of a variety of programs, activities and projects.

Nanticoke Valley Historical Society (Maine, NY) - Our mission is to preserve and perpetuate the maritime history of the United States and to invite all Americans to share in the challenging heritage of seafaring.

National Maritime Historical Society - covers aspects of maritime history and seafaring, including the art, literature, and culture of the sea, sail training, ship saving, and maritime museums and events.

Newark Valley Historical Society - operates the Bement-Billings Farmstead and Newark Valley RR Depot, contact information: PO Box 222, Newark Valley, NY 138116.

New York Central Historical Society - Founded in 1804, New-York Historical is the oldest museum in New York City. New-York Historical has a mission to explore the richly layered political, cultural and social history of New York City and State.

New York Correction History Society - excellent histories of DOC institutions and their role in New York State and American history.

New York Covered Bridge Society - formed in 1966 to bring enthusiasts together to help preserve the old historic covered spans, to work with local communities interested in saving bridges, to collect information on all New York State covered bridges and to make such historical information available to its members. 

Niagara County Historical Society - maintains the Outwater Memorial Building, Niagara County Genealogical Society, Pioneer and Transportation Building, Fire House, Yates Farm Barn, Washington Hunt Building, Colonel William Bond House, and Hille House.

Northport Historical Society and Museum - The Northport Historical Society maintains a museum and research library in a landmark Carnegie Library building at 215 Main Street in Northport, NY, where artifacts associated with the area's history are curated and displayed.

Oliver House (Penn Yan, NY) - home of Yates County Genealogical & Historical Society, operates a museum to discover, preserve and interpret whatever may relate to the history of Yates County, to collect materials and objects relating to the history of Yates County, and to plan exhibits which relate to local history.

Onondaga Historical Association (Syracuse, NY) - genealogy, architecture, industrial and transportation history.

Ontario County Historical Society - owns and operates a Community History Museum located in the Heart of the Historic District in Canandaigua New York and is part of New Your State’s Path Through History.

Ontario and Western Railway Historical Society - dedicated to preserving the heritage of New York Ontario and Western Railways.

Ossining Historical Society - In the late 1920s, a handful of Ossining’s leading citizens saw the need to preserve and celebrate the town’s unique history. A museum would be just the thing. But maybe, they said, a historical society should come first.

Oswego Town Historical Society - web site includes genealogical research application. 

Oyster Bay Historical Society - we believe that a society devoted to the collection and preservation of material and lore pertaining to Oyster Bay itself, will perform a greatly needed function.

Queens Historical Society - For over forty years, the Queens Historical Society has been actively preserving and celebrating the history and heritage of Queens, New York.

Photographic Historical Society, The (Rochester, NY) - brings together all individuals with an interest in the history of photography.

Rensselaer County Historical Society - established in 1927 to connect local history and heritage with contemporary life.

Richmond Hill Historical Society - educational programs, historic house tours, and more.

Rockland County Historical Society - operates Jacob Blauvelt House and History Museum Center.

Rome Historical Society & Museum - the Society has a museum, the William E. Scripture Memorial Library, an archives, artifacts, and much more to offer researchers.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society - The Roosevelt Island Historical Society promotes awareness of our Island’s unique story and pursues preservation of its landmarks and artifacts.

Rye Historical Society - operates two historical houses: The Square House, c. 1730, an interpreted tavern house, and the Knapp House, c. 1670, with a library and archives. 

Saint Lawrence County Historical Association - continues to research, collect, preserve, and interpret the history of St Lawrence County.

Saratoga Springs Historical Society - Permanent and changing exhibitions that document the long and varied history of the resort community. Emphasis is on spa, gambling, hotel and ethnic history of Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga County Historical Society - operates the Brookside Museum.

Schaghticoke Knickerbocker Historical Society - Restoring the Knickerbocker Family Mansion which dates from about 1770, at Schaghticoke, NY. The Society also hosts the annual Knickerbocker Family Reunion, as well as other fund-raisers at the mansion during the year.

Scarsdale Historical Society - provides large array of exhibitions, lectures, meetings and educational programs.

Schenectady County Historical Society - history, genealogy, library, and the Jan Mabee Farm.

Schoharie County Historical Society  - For more than 125 years, the Schoharie County Historical Society has been preserving historic sites, especially the Old Stone Fort, and our collection of more than 50,000 artifacts related to the history of Schoharie County.  

Sharon Historical Society - founded in 1971, dedicated to preserving the history of Sharon, operating the Sharon Historical Museum and the Chestnut Street School.

Shelter Island Historical Society - The mission of the Shelter Island Historical Society is to research, preserve and share our heritage and island history through education, exhibition, scholarship and community activities. 

Skaneateles Historical Society - museum and nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the history of Skaneateles.  Web site offers data from St. Mary's gravestones, Lakeview Cemetery, and 19th century newspapers, as well as family files from the Society's archives.

Smithfield Community Association - a not-for-profit organization formed to preserve the historic buildings and properties in the hamlet of Peterboro, in Madison County, NY.

Staten Island Historical Society - The Staten Island Historical Society operates Historic Richmond Town, an authentic village, museum complex and archives, interpreting three centuries of daily life and culture on Staten Island. Many buildings have been restored and are open for touring.

Sullivan County Historical Society - history and genealogy.

Three Village Area - historical society on the North Shore of Long Island.

Tully Area Historical Society - south of Syracuse, runs a bookstore and Exhibit Hall

Tioga County Historical Society - an educational organization which interprets the history of Tioga County, New York, by collecting and preserving artifacts, operating a museum, conducting educational programs, and publishing material on the county.

Thomas Paine National Historical Association - founded January 29, 1884 in New York City, to commemorate the life and works of Thomas Paine and to ensure Paine's rightful place in history as pre-eminent founder of the United States of America.

Tonawanda Historical Society - founded in 1849.

Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society - focuses on Catskills and Hudson Valley RR history including U&D, Delaware and Northern, Catskill Mountain, Catskill and Tannersville, and Otis Elevating Railroads.

Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. - an effort to research, identify, celebrate, and preserve the Underground Railroad's story in the Capital Region.

Vestal Historical Society and Museum - discovers and collects material that may help to illustrate the history of the Town of Vestal and surrounding areas.

Westchester County Historical Society - library and research center founded in 1874.

Western New York Railway Historical Society - dedicated to preserving Western New York's railroad heritage through restoration projects and other events.

Yates County History Center - inspires community memory on both personal and scholarly levels by preserving and sharing the story of Yates County through interactive and engaging programs and services.

Yorktown Historical Society - fostering public awareness and pride in Yorktown's heritage.

AHGP New York