In celebration of Tompkins County's exact founding date, a number of Trumansburg area businesses will participate by offering Bicentennial specials to customers. Ulysses Town Supervisor Liz Thomas and Trumansburg Mayor Marty Petrovic have joined to make a formal declaration of the day as "Toast to Tompkins" Day. Copies of this proclamation and some details about the relevant history will be available for visitors and customers at the participating businesses.
Sponsored by participating Trumansburg area businesses, along with the Town of Ulysses historian, the Village of Trumansburg Historian, and the Trumansburg Chamber of Commerce.
Opening Ceremony, Town of Groton Bicentennial Celebration
Launching of the Town of Groton Bicentennial Celebration--Celebrating the Past, the Present, and the Future of the Town of Groton! Presentations and entertainment will be followed by light refreshments
"Mapping Tompkins" Workshop
Event Date(s) and Locations -
Saturday, April 8, 2017 - 2:00 pm - The History Center, 401 E MLK Jr, State St
Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 2:00 pm - Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St
In recognition of Tompkins County's Bicentennial, Tompkins County Public Library and The History Center in Tompkins County will partner this spring for "Mapping Tompkins," a community celebration of what it means to live, learn, work and play in Tompkins County.
Inspired by the book "Mapping Manhattan: A Love (and Sometimes Hate) Story in Maps by 75 New Yorkers," "Mapping Tompkins," offers an opportunity for community members past and present to share-through writing and illustrating pre-printed, blank maps of Tompkins County - what makes Tompkins County a special part of their lives. Participants are encouraged to preview the Tompkins County Map and look at an example from the "Mapping Manhattan." Crayons, markers and magazines for collage-style creation will be available for participant use.
"Nine Towns and a City"
Event Date(s) and Locations:
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 - 5:00pm - Tompkins County Legislature, 121 E. Court St., Ithaca
Friday May 5, 2017 - 6:00 pm - Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St
A dramatic reading of this brief play, authored by Tompkins County Historian and Bicentennial Commission Co-Chair Carol Kammen, presented by members of the Tompkins County Bicentennial Commission. This play offers a lighthearted look at a representation of the first meeting of the Tompkins County Board of Supervisors 200 years ago, and how the County since has developed over time. The inaugural reading of this play before the Tompkins County Legislature officially launches the Tompkins County Bicentennial celebration. It will be performed around the County at various locations throughout the 2017 Bicentennial year.
"Altered Landscapes/Preserved Landscapes" - Opening Reception
Event Date: Friday, May 5, 2017 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Event Location: The History Center - 401 E. MLK,Jr./State St.
This exhibit by students atTompkins Cortland Community College students examines the altered landscape, and is part of the larger celebration of the 200-year anniversary of Tompkins County. The artworks explore the visual and functional conditions of Tompkins County over time by drawing on primary source materials. What makes Tompkins County a unique place is answered, in part, by the growth and changes to the area through geological time, human activity, and social conditions.
Using contemporary and historical images and texts, this show investigates two questions: Why the County looks like it does and from what era did certain built features originate. The projects were created by traveling back in time through rich documents including historical photographs, texts, letter, and paintings in The History Center archive. In all, the show offers a look at the altered landscape of Tompkins County and ultimately provides a few glimpses of what gives this wonderful area a sense of place.
Bicentennial Walk & Talk
Event Date(s) and Locations:
Saturday, May 20, 2017 - 11:00am - Forest Home
Saturday, June 10, 2017 - 11:00 am - Town of Ithaca, Town Park, East Shore Drive
Saturday, June 24, 2017 - 11:00 am - Town of Lansing - Ludlowville
Saturday, July 8, 2017 - 11:00am - Cayuga Heights, Sunset Park
Saturday, July 22, 2017 -11:00 am - Town of Ulysses - County Home Building
Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 11:00 am - Town of Enfield, Main St, near the Grange Building
Saturday, August 12, 2017 - 11:00 am - Town of Newfield, Covered Bridge, Bridge & Main Streets
Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 11:00 am - Trumansburg - Conservatory, 5 McLallen St
Offered by Historic Ithaca. Stroll and explore selected landmarks in Tompkins County this summer with our local municipal historians! This program is one of a series taking place on Saturdays and will last for about an hour. For more information, including the meeting point for each walk, contact Historic Ithaca at 273-6633 or visit the organization's website at www.historicithaca.org.
Historic Sign Dedication & Celebration
Event Date(s) and Locations:
Saturday, May 20, 2017 - 2:00pm - Groton Town Hall - 101 Conger Blvd
Saturday, June 10, 2017 - 11:00 am - Ithaca Town Park - East Shore Drive
Saturday, August 12, 2017 - 10:00 am - Danby Town Hall - 1830 Danby Rd
Saturday, August 12, 2017 - 12:00 pm - Newfield Town Hall, 166 Main St
Saturday, September 16, 2017 - 10:00 am - Caroline Town Hall, 2670 Slaterville Rd, Slaterville Springs
Saturday, September 23, 2017 - 11:00 am - Ulysses Town Hall, 10 Elm St, Trumansburg
Saturday, October 14, 2017 - 10:00 am - Dryden Town Hall, 93 E Main St
Saturday, November 18, 2017 - 11:00 am - Enfield Town Hall - 168 Enfield Main Road (Route 227)
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 - 5:30 pm - City Hall - 108 E Green St
Community members are invited to the celebration, as the Bicentennial Commission and Town officials dedicate the historic marker presented to the Town by the Bicentennial Commission, recognizing the Town and its people, as part of the Bicentennial.
Join us at these events for celebratory consumption of the official Bicentennial ice cream, "Tompkins Swirl," created by Sweet Melissa's! (except City Hall event)
Ithaca Festival Parade
Event Date: Friday, June 2, 2017 - 6:30pm
Event Location: Cayuga Street, Downtown Ithaca
UPDATE: County employees and members of the Bicentennial Commission joined in celebration of Tompkins County's 200th Birthday as part of the Ithaca Festival Parade, featuring our 10-foot-tall birthday cake built by County employees!
See a video of our Parade festivities HERE
Thank you to all who participated!
Tompkins County Expo
Event Date: Saturday, June 3, 2017 - 11:00am to 4:00pm
Event Location: Outside the Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green St., Ithaca
Get to know your county government at this event, happening alongside the Ithaca Festival! Representatives of County departments will be on hand to speak with you about Tompkins County and its services. Play "Tompkins County Jeopardy" and engage in other interactivie activities. We hope to see you there!
"The Many Names of Fall Creek" - Exhibit Opening
Event Date: Friday, December 1, 2017 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Event Location: The History Center - 401 E. MLK, Jr./State St.
Join Names on the Land--Tompkins County's 6:00 PM launch of the exhibit, "The Many Names of Fall Creek." The exhibit traces the path of Fall Creek from Groton City to Cayuga Lake, pausing at its small towns and tucked-away places to explore more than 200 years of Tompkins County history through photographs and maps. Each place name tells a story of the people who have shaped and been shaped by Fall Creek. Local historians will discuss place names in the hamlet of Forest Home and follow the romantic names on the earliest tourist trail along Ithaca Gorge.
Names tell a story. Known to the Cayugas as Nogaene, Fall Creek flows past Tompkins County places whose names acknowledge the many connections we have with the creek--from business success to technical triumph, and even personal tragedies. The exhibition is co-sponsored by Names on the Land--Tompkins County, and will remain up for viewing through Spring 2018.
Fall Creek Program - The Many Names of Fall Creek
Event Date: Saturday, December 2, 2017 - 2:00pm
Event Location: The History Center 401 E State St, Ithaca
Names on the Land-Tompkins County celebrates its first year of collecting county place-name histories with a program that begins at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2 at The History Center, 401 E State St., Ithaca.
The Many Names of Fall Creek is the featured program in this exhibit. Know to the Cayugas as Nogaene, Fall Creek flows past Tompkins County places whose names reflect the many connections our county has with the waterway.
Municipal historians and local history enthusiasts from around the county will share how place names offer an approach to telling local history. Place names tell us about the people who have settled the area, the geography that influences where we live, work, and play, and the values we hold important. Learn how digital tools help us visualize these sometimes forgotten places and how they can reveal patterns of our history.
https://tcnames.com/2017/11/19/fall-creek-program-is-2-p-m-dec-2/
"Names on the Land" Program & Celebration
Event Date: Saturday, December 2, 2017 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Event Location: The History Center - 401 E. MLK, Jr./State St.
Names on the Land-Tompkins County celebrates its first year of collecting county place name histories. Municipal historians and local history enthusiasts from around the county will share how place names offer an approach to telling local history. Place names tell us about the people who have settled the area, the geography that influences where we live, work, and play, and the values we hold important. Learn how digital tools help us visualize these sometimes forgotten places and how they can reveal patterns of our history.
