The best things to do in Seneca Falls, NY span a range of unique activities. Located at the northern end of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York, the village is best known to tourists for three unrelated reasons.
First, Seneca Falls played a role in the history of women’s suffrage. The village is also thought to be the inspiration for an iconic Christmas movie. And finally, it’s in wine country and makes a good homebase to explore from.
Whatever your reason for visiting, I hope this article helps you figure out what to do in Seneca Falls. I’ve also recommended some local accommodations and restaurants, and suggestions on exploring destinations beyond the village. Read on for 20 amazing things to do in Seneca Falls, NY.
1. Tour the Visitor’s Center at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park
The Seneca Falls Convention took place in Seneca Falls on July 19-20, 1848. The event spurred the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed the right to vote for women in the U.S. The convention also led to Seneca Falls’ designation as a New York Heritage Area.
The Women’s Rights National Historical Park is made up of a collection of sites related to the Seneca Falls Convention. Visitors can tour these inspiring women’s history sites around Seneca Falls. The Visitor Center & Museum should be your first stop.
The two floors of exhibits provide background information on the Seneca Falls Convention and the history of women’s rights. The gift shop on the first floor sells literature, mugs, totes, and other souvenirs related to the women’s rights movement. Outside, don’t miss the Waterwall, a 100-foot-long wall featuring a passage from the Declaration of Sentiments. This was the document that declared women were entitled to the same rights as men in all regards, including the right to vote, control their finances and property, get an education, and much more.
Read on for two more sites that are part of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park
- Address: 136 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY
- Admission: FREE
- Hours vary depending on the season
2. See Where the Seneca Falls Convention Happened
Just next door to the Visitor Center & Museum is Wesleyan Chapel, a plain brick building where the actual activities of the Seneca Falls Convention took place. For two days, suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott gathered with 300 other activists, giving talks that promoted the resolutions set forth in the Declaration of Sentiments. The former enslaved person, abolitionist, and women’s rights advocate Frederick Douglass was also in attendance.
Wesleyan Chapel was built in 1843, five years before the Seneca Falls Convention.
- Address: 136 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY
- Admission: FREE
- Hours vary depending on the season
3. Tour Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Home
Elizabeth Cady Stanton lived in Seneca Falls with her husband and family during the time of the convention. She was a key organizer of the event, as well as the primary author of the Declaration of Sentiments. Visitors can tour her home, which, as the gathering place for other local activists, earned the nickname “Center of the Rebellion.”
- Address: 32 Washington Street, Seneca Falls, NY
- Admission: FREE
- Hours vary depending on season
4. Explore Downtown Seneca Falls
To get acquainted with the village, I recommend walking along Fall Street in downtown Seneca Falls. Here, thrift stores and antique shops are mixed in with restaurants and bars that look like quintessential local hangouts. Be sure to stop into WomanMade Products—an inspiring gift shop whose proceeds go toward supporting and uplifting women.
Boat owners will know of the docking facilities and amenities at Canal Harbor. There’s also a path along the Harbor Promenade that makes for a pleasant waterfront stroll on a warm day.
Finally, if you’re checking out downtown Seneca Falls, don’t miss Van Cleef Lake. The picturesque body of water was created by demolishing and then flooding an area of Seneca Falls that was known as The Flats.
5. Learn About Great Women at the National Women’s Hall of Fame
Angela Davis, Aimee Mullins, Maya Angelou, and Sonia Sotomayor. These women—and nearly 300 others—are gathered together, whether living or dead, underneath one roof at the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization that’s been celebrating accomplished women for more than 50 years and on August 25, 2020, they moved into their new, permanent home: the renovated 1844 Seneca Knitting Mill.
If you’ve been to Seneca Falls, you’ve seen the mill, an industrial limestone building and smokestack—obviously from another era—that sits imposingly along the south side of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.
The knitting mill produced high-quality wool hosiery and was a major employer in the area until its closure in 1999. It sat empty for years afterwards and it has taken $10 million to renovate it into the new home of the Hall of Fame.
There are several large scrolls on display, listing the inductees by year. iPads sit nearby and can be used to learn more information about each woman. There’s also an exhibit showing the future plans for the Hall of Fame. Renovations are ongoing and the museum expects to continue expanding their offering of exhibits.
I highly recommend adding the National Women’s Hall to your itinerary of Seneca Falls. My mom and I visited and in my opinion, seeing the inside of the renovated knitting mill, as well as the museum’s plans for the future, was well worth the cost of admission.
One of the best things about the National Women’s Hall of Fame is that any American woman, famous or not, can be inducted. See more information about nominating a woman for the Hall of Fame.
- Address: 1 Canal Street, Seneca Falls, NY
- Hours vary depending on season.
- Admission: Donation based
6. Walk on the Bridge that Inspired It’s A Wonderful Life
Walk just a few minutes west of National Women’s Hall of Fame to the Bridge Street Bridge, one of the most memorable Seneca Falls attractions. A plaque on the bridge commemorates a man named Antonio Varacalli, who in 1917, jumped into the Seneca River to rescue a suicidal young woman.
Antonio saved her but he did not survive.
Enter movie director Frank Capra. The story goes that he used to travel to the region to visit relatives and once stopped in Seneca Falls to get his hair cut, where someone told him about Mr. Varacalli. The story—and the village—made such an impression on Capra that he modeled Bedford Falls, the fictional place in his iconic holiday movie, after it.
The Bridge Street Bridge has lots of nicknames. I’ve seen it called the Bedford Falls Bridge, the George Bailey Bridge, and the (somewhat clunky) It’s a Wonderful Life Bridge. Whatever you call it, be sure to walk over it and see the plaque that honors Antonio Varacalli.
7. Revisit Bedford Falls at It’s a Wonderful Life Museum
While it hasn’t been categorically proven, and while Capra always insisted Bedford Falls was based on a compilation of small towns, Seneca Falls has embraced its reputation as the place where George Bailey embarks on his hero’s journey.
It’s a Wonderful Life Museum is small but packed with movie scripts, photos, and film memorabilia. The museum hosts a popular festival every winter that celebrates the movie, which marked its 75th anniversary in 2021.
Special guests at the festival often include actors from the film, including Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey), Carol Coombs (Janie Bailey), Jimmie Hawkins (Tommy Bailey), and Jeanine Roose (Young Violet Bick).
- Address: 32 Fall Street, Seneca Falls
- Hours vary by season
- Admission: $5 per adult
8. See the Most Beautiful Church in Town
Trinity Episcopal Church is an imposing and beautiful stone building that has stood since 1885. And while the church’s interior, with its three Tiffany stained-glass windows, is magnificently grand, the exterior, built in Gothic and early English design, is a stunner.
On a walking tour of Seneca Falls I once took, the tour guide told me that Trinity Episcopal Church was one of the most photographed sites in New York State.
- Address: 27 Fall Street, Seneca Falls
TIP: There’s an excellent photo op at the corner of E. Bayard St. and Spring St., at the When Anthony Met Stanton Statue.
9. See the Spot Where Anthony Met Stanton
Two of the most notable figures of the women’s suffrage movement were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. They worked together on speeches, books, and articles, a collaboration that began with their meeting in Seneca Falls in 1851.
At the time, Stanton was living there with her husband and seven children. Anthony traveled to Seneca Falls for an antislavery meeting. They encountered each other on a street corner and were introduced by Amelia Bloomer. For more than 50 years after their meeting, Anthony and Stanton were leading figures of the 19th century women’s movement.
The 1851 meeting is commemorated with a bronze statue. “When Anthony Met Stanton” was created by sculptor Ted Aub and unveiled in 1999.
- Location: The statue is near the corner of E. Bayard St. and Spring St., just east of the Ovid Street Bridge.
10. Take in Art and Nature on the Ludovico Sculpture Trail
Stretch your legs and learn more about Seneca Falls on the Ludovico Sculpture Trail. This 1.5-mile easy trail runs along the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, set on what was formerly a rail bed for the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Eight sculptures appear along the Ludovico Sculpture Trail and all of them celebrate the history, industry, and culture of Seneca Falls in some way.
There’s the bronze-cast statue of Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894), a social activist who was known for flouting the custom of women’s fashion by wearing loose comfortable pantaloons under her skirts. There’s also a bust of Diana Smith, the first female mayor of Seneca Falls. Another one pays tribute to the Irish and Italian immigrants who helped dig the canal. Each sculpture in some way touches on significant contributions to Seneca Falls.
The trail was established in 1999 by Wilhelmina Pusmucans, a local art-lover and gallery owner. A businessman named Frank J. Ludovico donated the land.
There are benches along the trail for visitors to stop and rest, making this a perfect place to inject some art into your day while also taking in fresh air, nature, and local history.
- Location: The trail begins just west of Bridge Street, where there is a small parking area and informational signs.
- Open daily from dawn to dusk
- Admission: FREE
11. Tour a Victorian Mansion at the Seneca Falls Historical Society
Several ownership changes of this historical home have occurred (see timeline below) but it was really a woman named Eleanor Partridge who renovated it into the Queen Anne style, 23-room mansion that it is today.
Visiting this three-story mansion is like taking a step back in time and is one of the best things to do in Seneca Falls to place the village within a historical context.
The tour begins on the first floor. A knowledgeable tour guide fills in the timeline, while also pointing out special features in the home, such as the Tea Set on the drawing room table that came from Mary Todd Lincoln, and the intricate gas-lit chandeliers that hang in various rooms.
Other highlights that should be paid special attention to include a three-paneled stained glass window on the stairway landing, the ornately carved wooden furniture in Catherine Becker’s bedroom, and the costume room, where the guide carefully took an authentic British Red Coat uniform out of its box to show us.
We also enjoyed touring the kitchen, where we heard stories of Mary Merrigan, the Irish servant who lived in the house and had a bedroom on the top floor. Mary supposedly still makes appearances and is one of the reasons the Seneca Falls Historical Society is listed on the New York State Haunted History Trail. According to their website, original owner Edward Mynderse also haunts the mansion.
The home is packed with original artifacts and furnishings and is a fascinating destination for anyone interested in architecture and history, particularly of the Gilded Age era. A guided tour lasts about an hour and involves climbing two sets of stairs to reach the third floor.
- Address: 55 Cayuga Street
- Hours: Monday-Friday from 9:00 – 4:00
- Tours offered on the hour from 10:00 – 3:00
- Admission: Adults: $10. Children under 12: $5. Veterans/AARP: $8.
12. Learn the History of Local Waterways and Industry
Visitors at the Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry learn about the impact the Seneca River and Cayuga-Seneca Canal had on the 19th century development of Seneca Falls as a manufacturing hub.
Artifacts on display, such as lathe saws, cast iron stoves, and pumps manufactured by local industry titan Goulds Pumps are on display. Those with a thirst for trivia will be satisfied by learning that ubiquitous household items such as wood venetian blinds, slide rules, and the Whirlgig—that umbrella-shaped, spinning mechanism originally made for hanging clothes up to dry in a backyard—were all manufactured in Seneca Falls.
For history buffs interested in hyper-local history, or the industrial development of the United States in the 1800s, this small but information-packed niche museum is for you.
The building also acts as the Seneca Falls Heritage and Tourism Center, and I recommend stopping by for all of your tourism inquiries.
- Address: 89 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY
- Ph: 315-568-1510
- Hours vary by season
- Admission: FREE
13. Dine at the Best Seneca Falls Restaurants
There are plenty of restaurants in downtown Seneca Falls. Some recommendations include:
- Downtown Deli-We had a quick and delicious lunch here where, in keeping with the Wonderful Life theme, you can order such items as Zuzu’s Panini and Uncle Billy’s Cuban.
- El Bajio-Fresh Mexican cuisine with a menu offering favorites like nachos, burritos, and fajitas.
- The Gould-The hotel restaurant serves a variety of American classics like burgers, chicken parm, and macaroni and cheese.
- Parker’s Grille and Taphouse-A highly recommended local chain with apps like cheesy bacon fries and pork potstickers. Wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and much more make up the rest of the menu.
- 84 Fall-Friendly restaurant that specializes in small plates, but also serves main dishes like lobster mac & cheese, Chilean sea bass, pot roast, and steak.
14. Stock Up on Snacks at Sauders Store
This Mennonite market, located 1.5 miles from downtown, offers a huge selection of excellent meats and cheeses, baked goods, ready-made sandwiches, snacks, and fresh produce. Sauders is perfect for assembling a picnic lunch or casual dinner, or for buying snacks to keep you energized as you explore Seneca Falls!
15. Sample Unique Cocktails at Mushroom Spirits Distillery
For an experience truly unlike any other in the Finger Lakes, don’t miss out on Mushrooms Spirits Distillery, founded by Joe and Wendy Rizzo. What started as the couple’s mushroom farm in Ithaca evolved into their Seneca Falls distillery where they infuse spirits with—you guessed it—mushrooms.
On a visit to their tasting room, you might vodka infused with Shiitake mushrooms or Hen of the Woods. Or perhaps you’ll opt for a cocktail like a Mushroom Mule or Mushroom Manhattan.
All spirits are infused with—rather than distilled with—mushrooms that are harvested from Blue Oyster Cultivation, the Rizzo’s Ithaca mushroom farm.
Traditional spirits not infused with mushrooms are also available. Discover mushroom spirits at the tasting room in Seneca Falls or at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market.
- Address: 4055 Route 89, Seneca Falls, NY
- Check seasonal hours
16. Find Your Favorite Fruit Wine at Montezuma Winery
This family-run business has its roots in beekeeping and honey production, which led to their commercial production of honey wine, and then fruit wine. They eventually expanded their selection and now customers can find everything from dry Riesling to Lemberger to fruit-based wines like Apple Pie, Fat Frog White Peach, and their most popular, Cranberry Bog.
Stop in their tasting room for a wine tasting or just to browse their selection of wines for sale. You’ll also find spirits produced by Hidden Marsh Distillery, another branch of the Martin family’s business. Sample or purchase Bee Vodka, Maple Liqueur, and more unique products, all made right in Seneca Falls.
- Address: 2981 US Route 20, Seneca Falls, NY
- Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Closed some holidays)
17. Go Bird-Watching at Montezuma National Wildlife Preserve
This bird and wildlife preserve is located approximately five miles from downtown Seneca Falls and totally worth the short trip for the opportunity to go bird-watching in the Finger Lakes. Once you park, stop first at the Visitor Center, where you can pick up a map and talk to the knowledgeable staff about the best route you follow in the preserve.
At this birder’s paradise, there are options to walk on various walking trails, climb up observation towers, and see wildlife from different viewing platforms. The refuge is home to six bald eagle nests—the staff at the Visitor Center will tell you where to look for them.
There’s also Wildlife Drive (open April 1-November 30), a 3.5-mile route where, from the comfort of your car, you can view bald eagles, osprey, and a wide selection of marsh birds.
- Address: 3395 U.S. 20, Seneca Falls, NY
- Check business hours
- Admission: FREE
18. Follow the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
Seneca Falls’ location near the northern tip of Cayuga Lake makes it the ideal homebase for wine lovers. You can easily follow the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, stopping at wineries like Goose Watch, Thirsty Owl, and Cayuga Ridge where you can sip wine and take in lake views at the same time.
You can stick to visiting some of the 16 Cayuga Lake wineries or drive ten miles west and sample wine at some of Seneca Lakes’ 27 wineries.
19. Enjoy the Great Outdoors at Cayuga Lake State Park
You only need to drive about three miles east of the village to find Cayuga Lake State Park and the panoramic lake views it offers. Summertime activities include swimming and boating. A boat launch is open from May-October and in the winter, it’s an excellent spot for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing. Seasonal amenities include covered pavilions, showers, and a playground.
20. Have Outdoor Adventures Near Seneca Falls
If you loved birdwatching at the Montezuma National Wildlife Preserve and want to take part in more of the outdoor activities that the Finger Lakes has offer, check out the incredible hiking opportunities in Ithaca, located at the southern end of Cayuga Lake.
There’s also a hike to a one-of-a-kind waterfall in Trumansburg and another spectacular hike at the state park in Watkins Glen. If you’re more into kayaking, Watkins Glen has that, too.
Bed & Breakfasts and Hotels in Seneca Falls
Disclosure: Please note this section contains affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a commission if you make a purchase. Be assured that I only recommend products and companies I use and trust.
- The Gould-Funky modern hotel conveniently located downtown. I stayed here and had an excellent experience.
- Barrister’s Bed and Breakfast-Located inside an 1860 home that was built by an attorney. Several subsequent owners of the home were also attorneys.
- 3’s a Charm Carriage House-Overlooks Van Cleef Lake and Trinity Chapel.
- Hampton Inn Seneca Falls-Chain hotel with an indoor pool, fitness center, free hot breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms.
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham-Chain hotel with a fitness center and free breakfast. Rooms with kitchenettes are available.
FAQs about Visiting Seneca Falls, NY
Of course this answer will be different for every traveler but I say 100% YES!
Seneca Falls is absolutely worth visiting. It was the site of a major historical woman’s movement and visiting the attractions that honor that are worth the trip alone. Other than that, there are so many other things to do in Seneca Falls and I find it to be an authentic representation of small-town America.
Seneca Falls is best known for its role in women’s history. It was the site of the 1848 Women’s Convention, the first gathering of its kind in the United States. It is also famously believed to be the inspiration for the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life.
Unless your goal is to attend the special events in December related to It’s a Wonderful Life, I recommend visiting Seneca Falls in the summer or early fall. Many local sites close during the winter, or operate with severely restricted hours.
Interestingly, no! Don’t let the name fool you. Though the harnessing of waterpower was essential to its industrial success in the 19th century, there are no natural waterfalls in Seneca Falls. There were, however, manmade waterfalls in Seneca Falls until 1915.
The Cayuga-Seneca Canal goes through Seneca Falls. It connects Seneca Lake to Cayuga Lake and also connects to the Erie Canal.
How to Get To Seneca Falls
See an interactive Google map version of the above map.
Seneca Falls, NY about halfway between Syracuse and Rochester. As with most small towns in the state, the most convenient way to get there is by car. Approximate driving distances and times from major cities:
- Ithaca: 40 miles; 55 minutes
- Syracuse: 50 miles; 50 minutes
- Rochester: 53 miles; 55 minutes
- Toronto: 210 miles; 3.5 hours
- New York City: 270 miles; 5 hours
Other transportation options include:
- By Amtrak train to Syracuse, or Rochester.
- By bus to Ithaca, Syracuse, or Rochester.
- By plane to Syracuse or Rochester International Airport (and possibly Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport)
- Passengers arriving by train, bus, or plane would still have to rent a car the rest of the way.
Final Thoughts on Things to do in Seneca Falls, NY
You really can’t go wrong when visiting Seneca Falls. It’s such an interesting village with a fascinating history related to so many things that have shaped the United States. The early women’s rights movement was born here. It was a center of industry at one time in its past, and it was also the inspiration for one of the most famous movie’s of all time.
No matter what you’ve come tfor, chances are you’ll discover more things to do in Seneca Falls than you ever imagined!
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