2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 & prior years

The famous Holiday History Shoppe featuring clothing, memorabilia, souvenirs, and other items from museums and historical organizations in Oswego County will return to downtown Oswego at Canal Commons on Friday and Saturday, December 9-10 and 16-17, from 10 AM to 8 PM.   You are invited to shop local this holiday season and help support those not-for-profit organizations which strive and struggle to preserve Oswego’s significant role in local, state, national, and international history.  Books, sweatshirts, hats, calendars, puzzles, games, lighthouse models, maps, cd’s, mugs, ornaments, pins, prints, textiles, toys, gift memberships, and more are available for purchase as gifts for friends, relatives, and oneself. 

A true cooperative effort, eleven historical organizations will be participating in the Holiday History Shop including the Oswego City Library, Friends of Fort Ontario, Friends of History in Fulton, Friends of Riverside Cemetery, Heritage Foundation of Oswego, H. Lee White Marine Museum, John D. Murray Firefighters Museum, Oswego County Historical Society (Richardson-Bates House Museum), Oswego Railroad Museum, Safe Haven Museum, and the Scriba Historical Society.  Volunteers from these organizations, some in reproduction period clothing representing four centuries of Oswego County history, will be present to discuss local history and help shoppers with their purchases.  Light refreshments such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will be available. 

CHRISTMAS AT SEA OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, December 11

1-4:30 pm

Come celebrate the holiday season in Oswego’s gaily decorated “Historic Maritime District.“ 

This program is free of charge!

Munch on homemade cookies while enjoying our uniquely decorated holiday trees. This year’s theme trees will highlight maritime knots, lighthouses and gingerbread decorations. In addition, a tree featuring the Titanic will be on display. Next year, 2012, is the 100th anniversary of the disaster. A model train display will be exhibited courtesy of the Oswego Valley Railroad Association and Museum along with a vintage Waterfront Village, which will be featured under the ten-foot high Christmas tree.

At 2 pm, Santa arrives by a wailing fire truck courtesy of the City of Oswego Fire Department.

There is no need to have your child wait in a long line. Unlike a mall store, children can participate in crafts, listen to stories with Mother Christmas, sing carols with elves or watch the model train chug by while waiting to take their turn with Santa Claus. Santa will not leave until he hears every child’s wish.

Gingerbread Craft Project For Youngsters

Sunday, November 20th, 2-3:30

Titanic Exhibit: Commemorating the 100th Anniversary

October 15 - November 30, 2011 

(extended through the end of the month!)

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Opening Day, Special Hours: 1:30 - 5:00 pm

$5/adult, $3/youth, free/5+under

Presentation

Titanic: 100 Years Later: A Local Perspective

With George DeMass, Chaplin of the Titanic Historical Society

Sunday, October 23rd, 3:30-4:30 pm

SecondPresentation, Sunday, November 13, 3:30-4:30

$5/adult, $3/youth, free/5+under

RSVP

Cruise on the Schooner Mary Day

7th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day

FREE Admission Saturday, September 24, 2011

with coupon printed from:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/

Annual Museum Picnic for Volunteers, Members and Staff

Friday, August 12

Canal Celebration 

Saturday, August 6, 2011

12 - 5 pm

RAIN OR SHINE!

FREE!

The H. Lee White Marine Museum and the Oswego Maritime Foundation invite the community to join us for a fun filled day, on Saturday, August 6th  from 12-5 pm and to help celebrate the New York State Barge Canal System. The day will be filled with activities centered around Oswego’s very own piece of canal history, the museum’s  renovated 1925 NYS Derrick Boat No. 8.

Visitors may try their hand at washing and ironing clothes the “old fashion way”, learn how to make paper jewelry beads, indulge in homemade pies, enjoy grilled hot dogs and soda, or just participate in making butter with a simple mason jar. Old time games can be played with your friends and family aboard the Derrick Boat. One craft will allow children to make paper boats that actually float. A friendly boat race may take place in the museum’s special stainless steel tank.

Museum Guides will discuss the canal system and Oswego's rich maritime history throughout the day. In addition, Oswego’s Sean Languien will perform songs to sing along with.  

"The Oswego Canal played an important role in transporting products and people between the canal, the Great Lakes and beyond. The Museum's Derrick Boat No. 8 served on the canal for over 60 years and is a piece of history that helps tell the story." noted Mercedes Niess, Executive Director of the Museum.

Also scheduled are two talks on 1800’s period dress worn by women and children. The presenter is Brittany Patterson of Schuylerville, NY and a former museum staff member.

Other activities offered in the Historic Maritime District are displays by the Oswego Maritime Foundation highlighting youth sailing and fishing, diving and more!  Bring the whole family to enjoy and appreciate New York State’s rich Canal history. For more information about this free event, visit the Museum website at www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com or call 342-0480.

This event is made possible in part by a grant from Stewart Shops Matching Gift Program.

TALL SHIPS!

PINTA AND NINA IN OSWEGO

THURSDAY, JULY 14 - SUNDAY, JULY 17

9 am - 6 pm

   COLUMBUS REPLICA SHIPS TO VISIT OSWEGO’S “HISTORIC MARITIME DISTRICT”

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The H. Lee White Marine Museum, the Port of Oswego Authority and the City of Oswego are proud to announce the impending arrival of two Columbus replica ships - the Niña and the Pinta. The ships will be in Oswego’s Historic Maritime District for the public to visit, 9 am – 6 pm, Thursday, July 14 through Sunday, July 17, 2011.  The Museum and its vessels will be open the same hours. Friday July 15th will be Kids Day with activities geared towards youth.

The ships will be docked at the north end of the West First Street Pier, north of the Museum, during their stay in port. Free off-site parking will be available before entering the west pier near the Oswego Railroad Museum.

The Niña is a replica of the ship on which Columbus sailed across the Atlantic on his three voyages of discovery to the new world beginning in 1492.  Come stand on the sloping deck of the Niña, often called “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.” It was Columbus' favorite ship, the one he very nearly died on in 1493, upon which he ultimately logged more than 25,000 miles. That ship was last heard of in 1501, but the new Niña has a different mission as a floating museum.  Pinta was recently built in Brazil to accompany the Nina on all of her travels. She is a larger version of the archetypal caravel and offers larger deck space for walk-aboard tours and has a 40-foot main cabin down below. 

“ We are always excited to host guest ships and these particular vessels are spectacular. We are pleased to have the support of the Port of Oswego Authority and City of Oswego to help provide services to accommodate these visits and the public. In addition, to the Port and the City, the Oswego County Tourism office assisted with promotion and we will be partnering with the Oswego Railroad Museum during this event.” Said Mercedes Niess, Executive Director of the H. Lee White Marine Museum.

While in port, the general public is invited to visit the ships Niña and Pinta for a walk-aboard, self-guided tour.  Admission charges are $8.00 for adults, $ 7.00 for seniors, and $6.00 for students 5 - 16.   Children 4 and under are FREE.  The ships are open every day from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.   No reservations necessary.

The Oswego Railroad Museum will be open for guided tours all four days from noon until 6 pm. The exhibit, “American Freedom Train” will be featured. A nominal charge is requested.

The H. Lee White Marine Museum will offer discounted admission rates for their own vessels and main building during this time. The Museum houses numerous exhibits focused on the maritime history of the Oswego River Basin, canal system and Lake Ontario. Also featured, is the National Historic Landmark WWII Tug, LT-5, the 1925 NYS Derrick Boat No. 8 and the Eleanor D, the last US Commercial fishing vessel to fish Lake Ontario.

Kids' Pirate Days 

Thursday, July 21, 10 - noon & Tuesday, July 26, 1-3 pm

sign up for one or both

(separate charges)

Prepayment Required

DUE TO POPULARITY,

PREPAYMENT REQUIRED!

$ 10 (ask about member discount)

“Shiver Me Timbers!” Join us for pirate themed games, treasure hunt, crafts and more!  

Geared for ages 2-12 years. Costumes strongly encouraged.

Family Boat Building Weekend

Fri, Sat, Sun July 22, 23 & 24

Sign up soon - this is our only session this year!

Families can build their own functional boat in just a few days!  

Kits are limited.  Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

Three boat types available:

• $95 - 9’ Kids’ Kayak (rated for kids up to 100 lbs.)

• $150 - 9’ Dory Lark 

• $275 – 12’ Bevin’s Skiff (rated for up to 600 lbs.)

Contact the Museum ASAP for information!

Waiting list has been started - sign up to get priority call next year!

Michael Lewis & Brittany Patterson

2011 History Lecture Series

THE STRANGE CASE OF “THE OSWEGO FOUR” MUTINY & DESERTION IN 1752       The first lecture of the 2011 H. Lee White Marine Museum history series will be presented Saturday afternoon, April 9, at 1:30 PM.  “The Museum has been offering these informative programs FREE to the public since 2002,” noted Executive Director Mercedes Niess. “Our featured speaker, Steve Wapen, will present the topic “The Strange Case Of The Oswego Four: Mutiny & Desertion In 1752.”   Prior to the capture and destruction of Oswego by French forces in 1756, Oswego was a small fur trading outpost on the Great Lakes frontier protected by a modest British garrison of about 20 soldiers.  On the night of January 11, 1752, garrison Commander Captain John Mills was the victim of mutiny when he was placed in irons by several of his own men!  Of the ten mutineers that deserted Oswego in their attempt to reach Cataraqui (Kingston, Ontario) just a few (“Oswego Four”) made it back alive—but only after resorting to murder and cannibalism. Word of the mutiny & desertion reached the highest levels of British government, including Henry Fox, Secretary of War and even King George II himself.   Were the “Oswego Four” justified in committing mutiny and desertion?  Did Oswego’s fur trading community play a role in these events?  How were “the Oswego Four” eventually brought to justice?  These and other questions will be answered in the presentation.   Steven G. Wapen has researched recently discovered documents and will present this remarkable and untold story of frontier intrigue, betrayal, survival and resolution.  Wapen’s findings represent a rare and unsettling look into Oswego’s colonial past in the years immediately before Oswego’s fall to the French. Wapen is a native Oswegonian and a graduate of SUNY Oswego and holds masters degrees from the University at Albany and Cornell University.  He has worked in human resources and labor relations for more than 30 years in the public & private sectors throughout the country.  Wapen currently resides in Chaplin, Conn. with his wife, Sharon (LaMay), also from Oswego.   The H. Lee White Marine Museum is located at the end of the West First Street Pier, in Oswego’s historic maritime district.  For more information about this program, or other museum activities, contact the H. Lee White Marine Museum at 342-0480, or info@hleewhitemarinemuseum.com.  Also, visit us on Facebook!

In commemoration of the 67^th anniversary of D-Day, the H. Lee White Marine Museum is hosting a special event on Saturday, June 4, 2011, beginning at 1 pm. The Museum is located at the end of the West First Street Pier, in Oswego.

The event will be multifaceted, centering around an unveiling of the new indoor exhibit focusing on the history and significance of the National Historic Landmark Tug , LT-5, during World War II and afterwards. The vessel is proudly berthed on the west pier by the Museum, in Oswego’s Historic Maritime District.

“D-Day actually took place on June 6, 1944. We are proud of our local connection through our area veterans that served during the war and this historic vessel, which was built specifically to serve in WWII.  Although its mission was as a supply ship, the LT-5 gunners shot down an enemy plane during the invasion. The WWII living history element is something we have not done before. The re-enactors will be available all weekend for questions and to interact with the visitors,” stated Mercedes Niess, Executive Director of the H. Lee White Marine Museum.

Lance Knapp, Captain of the LT-5, will give a presentation. The Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting during the ceremony. The H. Lee White Marine Museum division of the Sea Scouts will attend as the color guard. “This is the first permanent exhibit about the LT-5 the Museum has had in addition to the vessel itself. We hope it will educate the public as to the rarity of this special ship and its role in our history,” said Knapp.

The World War II re-enactor unit is based in Central New York, and portrays the 'A' Company, 5th Ranger Battalion during their service in Europe from 1944-45. The members of the unit will gather at the H. Lee White Marine Museum. They plan to interpret the unfolding of events of this brave military unit on the days immediately following the D-Day invasion.

“During the intense fighting in the shore towns on the Normandy coast, troops needed to travel, sometimes miles, back to the invasion beaches to gather supplies. Boats and ships of all kinds, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army, were used to carry ammunition, food, and supplies to shore. Our interpretation for the D-Day commemoration at the Museum will be just that: Rangers who have been fighting between the Pointe du Hoc and Vierville sur Mer areas in Normandy who have returned to Omaha Beach for supplies being brought ashore. We will be setting up a supply point with a vast array of material, crates, invasion equipment, etc. and will be interacting with the public throughout the day, telling the story of the 5th Ranger Battalion at Normandy in World War II,” noted Tom Frost, a member of the 5^th Ranger Battalion Re-enactor’s Group. (http://wwiisupply.com/aco/)

The Museum will be open free of charge both Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 pm. Visitors are encouraged to donate to the preservation of the LT-5.

For more information, contact the Museum at 315-342-0480.

Join us on Saturday, May 7th, from 1 - 2:30 pm, as students from SUNY Oswego perform creative and imaginative presentations of various children’s stories, at the H. Lee White Marine Museum. Storytellers will use costumes and props to add to the experience. Bring your favorite stuffed animal, puppet, story book or story character and a pillow to sit on and get ready for the unrestrained antics of these talented performers!

This is the fourth year that the Marine Museum has hosted this SUNY Oswego Theatre Department program and their storytelling course. A craft project will follow the performances. This program is free and appropriate for ages 3 and up.

The Museum is located at the end of Oswego’s West First Street Pier.  No RSVP required. Contact the Museum at 315-342-0480 or info@hleewhitemarinemuseum.com for more information.