A 15-acre bog lake, an accessible boardwalk and a collection of nearly 8,000 ceramic objects show the many different ways to explore Allegany County. The predominantly rural landscape, with rolling hills, deep valleys and streams, provides a setting for nature destinations, museums and events. You can divide your time according to your interests, among landscapes, art and history.
Bog Lake, Trails and Water Access
At Moss Lake Preserve, a 15-acre bog lake is the standout feature. The loop trail is 1.1 miles long. There is also an approximately 0.3-mile accessible gravel section and a 150-foot accessible boardwalk.
Cuba Lake also combines a visit to the water with a story dating back to 1858: the artificial lake was created then as a water source for the Genesee Valley Canal System. Public boat access is available via the DEC boat launch on West Shore Road, near the mouth of Rawson Creek. A hand launch on the creek is suitable for canoes and kayaks.
Ceramic Art and Music in Alfred
The Alfred Ceramic Art Museum houses nearly 8,000 ceramic objects. The collection ranges from pottery shards recovered from ancient civilizations to modern and contemporary ceramic art. This offers a broad sweep of time and artistic styles within a single museum visit. The main gallery is open to the public during museum hours when exhibitions are on view. Collection tours are available by appointment only. Check current exhibitions and opening hours before your visit.
The MostArts Festival brings classical music together with art from Alfred. Its offerings include a daily chamber music series, daytime music and visual arts workshops, and evening concert series and galas. The Young Pianist Competition is for students aged 13 to 18. The finalists perform solo recitals and also perform with the festival orchestra. The festival thus combines performances and workshops, while the competition adds a clearly defined focus on emerging talent to the program.
History and Special Collections
The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in Belfast is considered the world’s only hall of fame dedicated to bare-knuckle boxing. Its tours include private access to the original 1889 training barns. They also cover the wrestling room, original training equipment and the Room of Repose. The tour therefore connects the sport’s history with its actual spaces and equipment.
The Palmer Opera House is a restored historic landmark. Joseph Palmer built it in 1867; after extensive restoration work that began in 2006, it reopened. The Pioneer Oil Museum is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the local oil and gas industry. It is intended to serve as a central collection of significant artifacts, historical articles and information about the oil and gas industry in Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties. The museum’s listed hours are Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. Check these again before traveling.
Events with a Character of Their Own
The annual Cuba Garlic Festival at Empire City Farms uses the historic bank barn as its backdrop. The Allegany County Fair includes, among other things, the Shawmut railroad cars, a Fair Museum, exhibits from the County Museum and a working sawmill. The program may change from year to year. If you’d like to include an event in your travel plans, check the relevant dates and program details in advance.
The various destinations offer different points of interest: Moss Lake Preserve and Cuba Lake lead into the countryside and to the water, while museums, music events and historic buildings open up their own themes. This makes it possible to choose what to visit during your stay based on your personal interests, rather than trying to fit every stop into the same kind of outing.
Discover more destinations: Cuba, Tompkins, Madison, Columbia, Ontario County, Dutchess, Queens, Wyoming County
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