Yates County History Center
Yates County History Center
4.6
About
The Yates History Center is one of the premier museums in the Finger Lakes. Actually, it is three museums in one - the Oliver House Museum, the L. Carolin Underwood Museum, and the Scherer Carriage House all adjacent to one another on Main Street and Chapel Street near downtown Penn Yan. There are extensive resources for genealogical and local history researchers and several displays and exhibitsThe Yates County History Center is open Tuesdays thru Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
38 within 3 miles
Attractions
25 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.6
20 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
3
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
JuneNY
1,623 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
It started to rain, so my friend and I could not hike the Keuka Outlet Trail and we decided to go to this museum. There are three buildings, with two "docents" who know a lot about the history of Caroline Underwood as well as the Universal Public Friend and more. We enjoyed our time here more than we expected to. There was a sale going on of MANY small items and books, etc. and I was able to purchase a few interesting items.
Written June 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ConnecticutTraveller1
Connecticut75 contributions
Oct 2020
We stopped in to the museum just on a spur of the moment decision, and it was terrific. Three small museums, each with great artifacts. The story of the “Universal Friend” (a gender non-binary founder of a religious group in 1700s) was really interesting. The museum was overflowing with cool stuff. Well worth it.
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaryMacABC
Palos Verdes Peninsula CA1 contribution
Oct 2013 • Family
I visited here in October 2013 and went to the Caroline Underwood Museum next door to the History Center. I was thrilled to discover a large box filled with photos that were free! My intent was to go in and buy 2 books and leave but I spent almost 2 hours there looking through the photos and taking quite a few from the 1960s. Then I looked at the books and bought only one because they were out of stock on the other but I went to Long's (local gift/card/book store) to buy it. The woman in the museum was very helpful in pointing out the box of photos and also that Longs would have the book I wanted. Then I ended up in the room with the files of local residents and looked up family names and found newspaper clippings about relatives' marriages and deaths. My husband took photos of all the clippings. It was so interesting. On another visit, I looked through the cemetery registries and located a gravesite of a relative of my husband's cousin who lives in Idaho. We went to the Evergreen Cemetery in Dresden, found the gravestone and took photos and sent them to the cousin who was thrilled. This museum is a valuable resource and the staff is always helpful and pleasant. Because I'd spent so much time there, I didn't have time to visit the Oliver House (the History Museum) next door which has many exhibits pertaining to Penn Yan and Yates County. I've been there numerous times and the exhibits are wonderful and educational. If you like history, this is a wonderful place to visit. My husband even enjoys it and he's not from this area. I grew up in Penn Yan but never visited the Oliver House (History Museum) until I was in my 40s and living in California!
Written November 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HashtagAirBuds
Toronto, Canada110 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
If you have roots that date back to the early days of Penn Yan, then the Yates County History Center is a must-see. With records and artifacts collected by the residents, there's plenty of personal history to be discovered.
For a tourist, it a nice window into the community, but lacks the impact it would have for those with a personal connection.
The staff is extremely friendly and clearly passionate about what they are doing. This is a gem for the community to enrich their knowledge of their past and celebrate their history.
For a tourist, it a nice window into the community, but lacks the impact it would have for those with a personal connection.
The staff is extremely friendly and clearly passionate about what they are doing. This is a gem for the community to enrich their knowledge of their past and celebrate their history.
Written June 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Morgan S
Rochester, NY23 contributions
Feb 2014 • Family
We learned some very interesting history that made our stay more enjoyable as we were able to make some new connections around the area. The museum is free, and there are several buildings to see though we only had time for the Oliver House. A good variety or interesting and well set- up exhibits.
Written February 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Rainham, UK30 contributions
Oct 2019
A very pleasant and well-informed volunteer showed us round the 3 buildings that make up the centre. Lots of interesting facts about the history of Penn Yan that enhanced our stay in the area.
Written October 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen B
Finger Lakes Wine Country, NY15 contributions
Jan 2018 • Family
This woman ,Caroline, was a spinster dating my relative William Utting in PennYan after his wife Mame, died, or maybe even earlier as a mistress. William's family in Rochester met Caroline on numerous times after Mame's death. The last being at Eddie's chop house in Rochester NY. Shortly, thereafter, Caroline Underwood had William Utting's Will changed with her being sold beneficiary. William was 92 and had dementia at the time. Needless to say. all of my great aunts antiques along with a violin valued at 100000 was given to her nephew and all the remaining proceeds willed to her museum. She and her family should be really ashamed of themselves. This museum is based on theft and shame. Sincere Lynch. Utting. Bailey. Bullis. Rochester ny
Written December 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah L
Penn Yan, NY16 contributions
Nov 2014
If you want an afternoon of learning history of Yates County and surrounding areas you have come to the right place. The people there tell you most everything you want to know. They are very informative and good at answering questions you may have. Everyone loves history so be sure to go to this place here in the beautiful village of Penn Yan
Written October 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pmjj2015
Cheltenham, UK28 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
These 3 small museums are definite gems and well worth visiting. Staffed by volunteers and running on donations rather than charges they offer a real insight into the history of the area.
Written October 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
majiksea
Fairfax, VA757 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Really cool little museum, if you are interested in the steam boats, the people or the area, this is the place to visit. A quaint old house with a ton of stuff inside and very friendly people to answer any questions. Free entry and entertaining for an hour or so, be sure and go.
Written August 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing