Historical Attractions in LeRoy, New York

The Perfect Weekend Family Getaway

May 27, 2009 Hayley Harrison

Founded in 1812, LeRoy, New York offers a variety of sites that provides families with a glimpse into the history of western New York and the rest of the United States.

LeRoy, New York offers the perfect weekend getaway for those who have a passion for history. The town boasts plenty of places to take in a bit of the past without he crowds that can often swarm tourist destinations and overwhelm small children. The town is lovely year round, but visitors may wish to plan their visit to correspond with July's LeRoy Oakta Festival, which features crafts, music, and family activities.

LeRoy House Museum of 19th Century Furniture

Located along East Main Street, the LeRoy House provides three floors of fully furnished rooms that trace an entire century of trends and fashions in interior design. The rooms are meant to represent the various inhabitants of the home, including its first owner, Jacob LeRoy. LeRoy's father, Herbert, originally owned the land that the town was founded upon and gave the home to his son 1823. The house was later owned by abolitionist Reverend Samuel Cox during the 1850s and 60s, followed by a series of less notable owners. The LeRoy House is specially geared towards visiting families with hands-on exhibits that encourage children to touch and explore a variety of antiques and artifacts. The LeRoy House is open daily from May through October.

The History of Jell-O Desserts

Directly behind the LeRoy House is the Jell-O Gallery, a museum dedicated to the history of the gelatin dessert that got its start in 1897 when the rights to the recipe were sold for $450 to a Leroy businessman. The Gallery features a number of exhibits, detailing Jell-O's colorful past, including a set of oil paintings that were used in print advertisements and a compilation of Jell-O's most memorable television commercials. Small children who are not interested in the guided tours that begin every five minutes at the gallery's main entrance can busy themselves in a special play area that features a Jell-O storefront. In the basement of the gallery, families can tour an exhibit of travel history that features a variety of vehicles from an ox cart to sleighs to a turn of the century Cadillac. The gallery also features a gift shop with Jell-O merchandise and inexpensive candies and souvenirs for children.

Underground Railroad Driving Tour

LeRoy House is the starting point for a seventeen mile Underground Railroad driving tour that includes a variety of sites related to the abolitionist movement's efforts of the mid to late19th century. Amongst them are two homesteads that served as stops along the railroad. In addition, families can drive along a number of streets mentioned in historical documentation concerning the escape of black slaves from the south northward into Canada. A map of the driving tour and additional information is available from the LeRoy Historical Society.

D and R Depot Restaurant

A historic tour of LeRoy is not complete without a stop at the D and R Depot Restaurant. The restaurant is housed in LeRoy's former train station, which served as the transportation hub for people and goods for the town and neighboring villages. The D and R Depot is decorated with a variety of photographs and clippings from local history. Its menu is affordable and features a variety of traditional foods such as meatloaf and a legendary chicken pot pie as well as a few surprising departures like ostrich filet mignon. The D and R Depot features its own freshly baked breads, scones, and muffins with its dinners and offers a children's menu with a variety of choices for even the most picky of kid palettes. The whole family is sure to enjoy the restaurants ever-changing selection of homemade desserts, making for the perfect ending to a historic day.

Getting To LeRoy, New York

LeRoy is locate five minutes from the New York State Thruway's Exit 47. It is thirty minutes from Downtown Rochester and one hour from Downtown Buffalo.

The copyright of the article Historical Attractions in LeRoy, New York in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Hayley Harrison. Permission to republish Historical Attractions in LeRoy, New York in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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