Cortland’s cultural offerings provide different ways to get to know the area: from a museum with tours spanning four floors to art exhibitions and a historic garden cemetery. When planning your stay, you can choose what to focus on based on your interests: local history, contemporary art, a walk, or a theatrical production.
Museums and Local History
The 1890 House Museum is located in Historic Downtown Cortland and became a museum in 1975. Its tours take visitors through four floors and last about 60 to 90 minutes. This estimate helps you plan the tour as a separate activity. Since operating details may change, it’s a good idea to check the latest tour information before your visit.
The Suggett House Museum also connects a specific building with the history of the area: the house was built in 1882 in the Italianate style. Inside, a gallery of vignettes illustrates the history of Cortland County through objects from the collection. Visitors can explore the county’s history through selected collection items, while the house itself offers a distinct historical connection through its construction date and architectural style.
The Suggett House also has the Then & Now Children's Room. This interactive history room is exclusively for children. This is an important distinction from the rest of the museum: the room is intended for children and presents history in an interactive format. For visitors planning a trip to Cortland around different interests, it offers a clearly defined focus for young visitors, alongside the history of the building and the collection.
Art at Different Rhythms
The Dowd Gallery presents up to seven exhibitions each year. The works are primarily by contemporary artists recognized nationally and internationally. “Up to seven” indicates a maximum, not a fixed number. The exhibition program offers an introduction to contemporary art, with each exhibition showcasing different works.
The juried Student Select exhibition takes place every spring semester and gives the public a look at visual art created on campus. Its timing is therefore tied to the spring semester. Together, the two art offerings present different perspectives: the gallery features contemporary art exhibitions, while Student Select showcases work created on campus. Art enthusiasts can get to know Cortland through both a recurring exhibition program and this semester-based glimpse.
A Cemetery as a Cultural and Landscape Destination
Cortland Rural Cemetery is a 19th-century Victorian garden cemetery. Its character is shaped by rolling terrain, winding paths that follow the contours of the land, and lush plantings of trees and shrubs. These features describe the cemetery not only in terms of its historical significance, but also its landscape design. Visitors can explore it on foot with an interactive Cemetrail tour. This offers a guided way to discover the outdoors, alongside the museums and art offerings.
Theater in the Fall and Winter Season
Cortland Repertory Theatre presents its fall and winter productions at the Downtown Cortland Theatre, located at 24–26 Port Watson Street, Cortland, New York 13045. The seasonal schedule is important when planning: the productions are part of the fall and winter program. If you’d like to include theater in your stay, check the current dates for your intended visit.
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