The Chautauqua Institution has been variously described as a summer camp, a religious retreat, and an art colony. It is a non-profit education center located in southwestern New York. It is located at One Ames Avenue in Chautauqua New York. The Institution was founded in 1874 by Lewis Miller and a Methodist bishop John Heyl Vincent. The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle was created in 1876 in order to assist those persons without the means in obtaining college educations and skills. These programs continued throughout the following decade, eventually blossoming into the current broad spectrum of offerings. In 1973, the Institute was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Institution is located on 750 acres of land. There are many buildings on the campus, including the Athenaeum Hotel. The Hotel was built in 1881 in Victorian style and has 150 rooms. It is a full service hotel that features a variety of American dishes in both menu and buffet style. The Hotel overlooks Chautauqua Lake. A standard double room rate for one night at the Hotel ranges from $210 to $270. Reservations can be made by calling 800-821-1881. Other public buildings include a library, a theater, stores, hotels, and condominiums. One of the major centers is the open-air Amphitheatre. The Amphitheatre seats 5,000 and was built in 1893. It is the site for a multitude of programs and events, including concerts, lectures, and religious events.
Tickets to events at the Chautauqua Institution can be obtained by phone by calling 716-357-6250 Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Chautauqua Institution's Main Gate Box Office during these same hours. There is a processing fee of $5 for each overall order. This fee is collected to defer operational costs. When ordering tickets over the phone, it typically takes about 2 weeks to receive the tickets in the mail.
Ticket pricing for morning concerts (7:00am to 2:00pm) is $16 per ticket. Afternoon tickets (12:00pm to 8:00pm) are $10 each. Evening tickets (4:00pm to 12:00am) are $36.00. Combination tickets are also available. For example, a weekend ticket, which runs from 4:00pm on Friday to 10:00am on Monday, costs about $116 per person. Ticket pricing is subject to change at any time and also varies based on the type of event. Ticketholders should also be aware that there is a $25 fee for parking at the gate.
The purpose of the Chautauqua Institution is to provide a location to the community where a person's mind can be stimulated, their spirit renewed and their faith restored. As part of this effort, the Chautauqua Institution's Department of Religion offers worship services and programs that express the Christian heritage of the Institution and its commitment to an interfaith dialogue. Lectures are also offered that explore contemporary theological and religious concepts.
In part, the Chautauqua Institution is meant to serve as a community center. In addition to the performance venues and programs offered, it is also home to tennis courts and a golf course.
Additional information about the Chautauqua Institution can be obtained by calling 716-357-6200.
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