Historic House Owned by Historic Family

The Seward House Museum is the home of the Seward family who were ensconced in various historic events throughout the ages. The estate is located on two acres of land with finely manicured gardens and developed trees. The interior had been restored and is close to its original beauty, and the museum's collection is filled with a variety of souvenirs collected from William Seward's 40 year career. A tour of the museum is like taking a peek into the history of this family.

William H. Seward, whose life spanned nearly all of the 19th century was an influential man who served as governor of New York, Senator, and Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson. His wife, Frances Miller Seward disliked politics, but she was often her husband's advisor. She was a free-thinking supporter of the Woman's Rights movement and she quartered runaway slaves in the basement of the home. William Seward, Jr. was the youngest son of the Seward family and was a Brigadier General by the age of 24. He made many changes to the Seward House, and often welcomed visitors to tour the estate. His sister, Fanny Seward, wrote detailed diaries about President Lincoln, as well as artists and foreign diplomats.

The collections at the Seward museum are vast and interesting and include photographs, decorative art, fine art pieces, manuscripts, and souvenirs. Included in the collection are dozens of pieces of silverware, a half dozen sets of porcelain, and furniture and cabinets. Works by Henry Inman, Thomas Cole, Chester Harding, and Emanuel Leutze are all on display at the museum, as well as many famous local painters like John Carlin and George Clough. There are more than 6,000 books in the family library accumulated over the course of four generations. Also featured are accounting ledgers, scrapbooks, and photo albums.

School groups occasionally visit the museum, and it is an affordable field trip at $1 per student. Adult supervision receives free admission to the museum. Curriculum materials are provided so students can enjoy lesson plans before and after their business, motivating and encouraging discussion. Materials are available for free download and are a great way to reinforce lessons learned on the tour.

The museum is open year round, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am until 4 pm. There are extended summer hours. Admission is $7 for adults and students and seniors receive a discount. Tour groups of all sizes are welcome. If you are visiting the museum with a group, they ask that you call ahead. Memberships to the museum are available and they entitle members to free admission to the Seward House for one full year, advance invitation to special events, an exclusive Friends Only tour experience, a subscription to the Diplomatic Pouch newsletter and reduced rates for education programs and the gift shop. To experience a piece of history from the 19th century, visit the Seward House, full of history and learning. It is an experience the entire family will enjoy, especially if they are Civil War buffs.