Oswego County Historical Society

Raiders of the Lost Ark - Retro Movie Night 2026
2026-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Oswego Cinema 7, 138 W 2nd St #2763, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Join us for Dr. Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford)’s thrilling archeological adventure as we screen the 1981 film, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at Oswego Cinema 7.

Tickets are available for purchase from River’s End Bookstore, Oswego 7 Cinema, or by calling the museum prior to the event. Limited tickets will be available at the door the day of the event.

2026 Not-So-Silent Auction
2026-04-24 18:00 - 20:30 | G.S. Steamers, 70 E 1st St, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Mark your calendars for our biggest fundraising event of the year; guaranteed to be an evening of fun, friends, food and fantastic finds!

The Not So Silent Auction is the Oswego County Historical Society’s largest annual fundraiser for the Richardson-Bates House Museum. Participate in a silent table auction where donated antiques and collectibles, gift certificates and products from local businesses plus antiques, and more are up for grabs. Many of the artifacts and artworks are from Oswego history!

We kick off the evening at 7:15 with a live auction of particularly important and high-ticket items, hosted by Jerry Petro of Iroquois Auctions. Before the live auction, you can find Jerry at the appraisal table, where he’ll appraise one antique item that you can bring with you as part of your ticket purchase.

There are raffle baskets, a lottery board, and much more! We hope to see you there!

Become an Event Sponsor!

If you’re a local business interested in sponsoring the Not-So-Silent Auction, please consider donating at one of the following sponsorship tiers. All event sponsors receive sponsorship recognition in marketing material for the auction, and will have their business name and/or logo featured prominently on a donor thank-you panel at the event itself.

LevelAmountBenefitsPlatinum$1,0005 sponsored tables; 12 event tickets; 20 complementary museum tour tickets.Gold$7503 sponsored tables; 8 event tickets; 10 museum tour tickets.Silver$5002 sponsored tables; 5 event tickets; 6 museum tour tickets.Bronze$2502 event tickets; 5 museum tour tickets.Supporter$1501 ticket to the event. Thank you for your support!

Support from local businesses is a crucial component of this event, and others like it. It helps the Oswego County Historical Society not just host these kinds of fundraisers, but supports our mission to connect the community to the history that shapes their pasts, presents and futures.

Thank you for considering a contribution.

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"Painting Oswego" - Presentation by Michael Parks
2026-05-17 13:30 - 15:00 | Richardson-Bates House Museum, 135 East Third Street, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Join volunteer Michael Parks (M.A., Syracuse University, Art History) for a special presentation about his work in curating a special exhibit on “Painting Oswego.”

After his presentation in the drawing room on the first floor, guests will be encouraged to go upstairs to see the exhibit in our gallery space.

2026 Riverside Cemetery Bus Tour
2026-06-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Riverside Cemetery, 4024 County Rte 57, Oswego, 13126
The Oswego County Historical Society, along with the Friends of Riverside Cemetery, will host a guided tour of the historic Riverside Cemetery.

Interested members of the public should call Oswego County Historical Society at 315-343-1342 to reserve their $10 ticket. Reservations are capped at 45 guests but there will be a waiting list. Guests should park near Page Memorial Chapel. The tour will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the chapel. Please bring cash or check to pay for your ticket to the event.

2026 Annual Meeting
2026-06-28 13:00 - 15:00 | McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Join us for our annual meeting! This meeting is open to all members of the Oswego County Historical Society as well as any interested members of the public. There will be a report from Eva Corradino, Society President, and a special historical presentation.

This year’s featured historical presentation is entitled “From Water Street to Lake Street: Ellen and Mark Wahl present a unique history of the Oswego Music Hall” and coincides with the Oswego Music Hall’s 40th year celebration.

Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour with Dr. Natalie Woodall
2026-07-18 11:00 - 12:30 | Riverside Cemetery, 4024 County Rte 57, Oswego, 13126
Local historian Dr. Natalie J. Woodall will lead a walking tour of the upper section of Riverside Cemetery. The tour begins at Page Memorial Chapel just inside the cemetery entrance, but cars will be guided to the upper section to park. The rest of the tour will be walking. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate footwear and clothing. A walking stick or cane is advised on account of uneven ground. Program will last about one and a half hours. Reservations are not necessary, nominal fee will be collected and donations shared with Friends of Riverside Cemetery. If you are paying with check on the day of the event, please make this check out to Friends of Riverside. Dr. Woodall explains, “This program is intended to give participants a sense of local history in a less well known section of Riverside Cemetery. Among the prominent Oswegonians buried there are Civil War surgeon Carrington MacFarlane, Ladies’ Home founder Louise Braman Irwin, shipbuilder Thomas Mott and many members of his family, including Major Dorothy Mott, USMC, Abolitionists Edwin Winslow Clarke and his wife, Charlotte Ambler, and Normal School Professor Dr. Lida Penfield. These are local prominent men and women whose business endeavors, civic activities, and social involvement have contributed to the growth of Oswego City.”

Photo from Dr. Woodall’s 2024 Cemetery Tour.

2026 Family Fun Day
2026-08-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Richardson-Bates House Museum, 135 East Third Street, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Play traditional Victorian games on the south lawn of the museum for free. Ice cream sundaes courtesy of Stewart’s Shops.

2026 Landmark Lawn Sale, Day 01
2026-08-21 09:00 - 13:00 | Richardson-Bates House Museum, 135 East Third Street, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Oswego County Historical Society is holding their annual Landmark Lawn Sale! Join us on the south lawn of the Richardson-Bates House Museum for a sale of books, Oswego memorabilia, household items, collectables, vintage jewelry, historic photo reproductions, and more. No early sales.

2026 Landmark Lawn Sale, Day 02
2026-08-22 09:00 - 13:00 | Richardson-Bates House Museum, 135 East Third Street, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States

"Digging History:" SUNY Oswego Archeological Field School at the McWhorter House
2026-09-26 13:30 - 15:30 | Oswego Public Library, 120 E 2nd St, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Join professor and Society board member Alanna Ossa for a presentation on the 2026 Archeological Field School conducted this summer at the historic 1828 McWhorter house.

This ties into the America 250 commemoration and the John Laurance collection of colonial and early Oswego documents exhibited at the Richardson-Bates House Museum.

2026 Classic Movie Night
2026-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Oswego Cinema 7, 138 W 2nd St #2763, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Oswego County Historical Society is once again hosting our Classic Movie Night, in partnership with Zurich Cinemas.

Check back for more information.

2026 Trivia Night
2026-11-12 19:00 - 22:00 | G.S. Steamers, 70 E 1st St, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Test your trivia skills with Oswego County Historical Society’s annual Trivia Night! Gather a team of up to six brainiacs and challenge yourselves to five rounds of trivia, with categories ranging from local history, to general trivia, to literature, sports and more!

Tickets are available for purchase in advance or at the door at G.S. Steamers. First place wins a snazzy gift basket of goodies—donated by Man in the Moon Candies—featuring chocolates, merchandise from local businesses and organizations, and other surprises.

We hope to see you there!

2026 Holiday Open House
2026-12-06 13:00 - 16:00 | Richardson-Bates House Museum, 135 East Third Street, Oswego, NY, 13126, United States
Experience Victorian Christmas through the eyes of the Bates family. Christmas decorations and Victorian children’s gifts are on display through the month of December.
