Places to Visit in Rochester

The stunning landscape of hills and valleys formed by glacier deposits surrounds Highland Park. Highland Park, most recognized for being the site of Rochester's renowned Lilac Festival, has a colorful past to match its 500 species of blooming plants. Every year in May, Highland Park hosts the Lilac Festival, which attracts tourists from all over the world who come to view the lilac collection in full bloom. Despite being in the southeast portion of the City of Rochester, Highland Park is managed by Monroe County Parks, which also makes reservations for events, festivals, and summer theater productions. The John Dunbar Memorial Pavilion (Highland Park Bowl), the Lamberton Conservatory, the old Warner Castle, and the Arches Pavilion are all located inside the park.

Situated on the estate of George Eastman, the trailblazer of popular photography and motion picture film, the George Eastman Museum is situated in Rochester, New York. It is the oldest photographic museum and one of the oldest film archives in the world, having been established as an autonomous nonprofit organization in 1947. With holdings of over a million items, the museum is home to the world's largest collections of photographic and cinematographic artifacts as well as books with photographic illustrations. The organization has also long been a pioneer in the conservation of photographs and films. It is also considered as one of the best Rochester sites to visit.

Experience a global journey where you will encounter Masai giraffes, California sea lions, African elephants, red pandas, a southern white rhino, and many more species up close. Experience the recently opened Animals of the Savanna exhibit, feed the giraffes, engage in play in the Tropics Adventure Zone, and take advantage of the tram that runs from the front to the rear of the zoo. By supporting Seneca Park Zoo's activities, you may directly prevent animal extinction. Seneca Park Zoo is a national pioneer in species survival and conservation initiatives. Seneca Park Zoo supports reforestation in Madagascar and is active in local and worldwide conservation initiatives, such as the reintroduction of lake sturgeon to the Genesee River.

The Strong National Museum of Play is the best place to play for kids of all ages! Discover the greatest year-round cultural destination in upstate New York and immerse yourself in two levels of vibrant, interactive exhibit spaces that span more than a city block. Explore the greatest assortment of games, dolls, and toys on the planet. Take off in a rescue helicopter, explore the history of pinball and video games, and enter the realm of American comic book superheroes. Enjoy a ride on a kid-sized train across the nation, wander through a lush tropical garden where hundreds of butterflies soar freely, and much more. The Strong is conveniently located in Rochester and is open 362 days a year.

The renowned civil rights activist's National Historic Landmark home and the location of her well-known 1872 arrest for voting are both accessible at the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester, New York. When she was the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, its offices were at this house. After giving her "Failure is Impossible" address in Baltimore, she passed away here in 1906 at the age of 86. Since excursions frequently sell out, reservations are advised. Tours start at the Visitor Center, located at 19 Madison Street, which also has a small display center and a museum store. All year long, there are also special events, school programs, virtual programs, and group visits available.

The best place in the Finger Lakes Region for summertime family entertainment is Seabreeze. The park blends a contemporary coastal waterpark aesthetic with the nostalgic feel of a vintage Victorian amusement park. With more than 65 activities, you should schedule a full day of riding, sliding, viewing performances, engaging in games, and savoring delicious cuisine in addition to creating lifelong memories. For youngsters of all ages, Seabreeze offers a wide range of additional entertainment attractions in addition to four roller coasters.   The waterpark provides thrilling water attractions together with a tranquil setting. A massive wave pool, racing slides, kid-friendly slides, water play areas, a lazy river, and several interesting inner tube slides are all present.

The University of Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery showcases a broad range of artwork spanning more than 5,000 years, with pieces from cutting-edge modern trends to ancient artifacts. The 14-acre site of the Gallery is a magnificent urban area that attracts both locals and tourists, especially with the construction of Centennial Sculpture Park. More than 12,000 artifacts make up the Gallery's permanent collection, which has been dubbed the most well-balanced in the state outside of metropolitan New York City. A year-round program of temporary exhibitions, talks, concerts, tours, and family activities is provided by the Gallery in addition to its collection.

A must-see stop on any historical tour of the city is this enormous memorial to the well-known civil rights and anti-slavery activist from Rochester. A local hotel server spearheaded an effort in 1899 to elevate the Frederick Douglass monument, which at the time was the nation's first representation of an African-American, in honor of Rochester's "most illustrious citizen." Douglass spent a large portion of his life in the city. It was here that he released the North Star, a widely read anti-slavery newspaper. Feel pride in Douglass's contributions echo across Rochester, but nowhere more so than at this imposing bronze memorial located in Highland Park. Located near to the University of Rochester's main campus, in the heart of Highland Park, a large complex south of downtown Rochester, lies the Frederick Douglass Statue.

Dedicated in 1838, Mount Hope is the first municipal Victorian cemetery in the United States. Nestled in a magnificent setting sculpted by melting glaciers, the cemetery is home to unique species of horticulture as well as precious artwork. Notable figures such as Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass are buried there, and it is connected to the National Park Services' National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. As part of the Mt. Hope/Highland Preservation District, Mount Hope is listed in both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. It is home to 83 mausoleums, towering Egyptian obelisks, a Florentine cast-iron fountain, two Gothic Revival-style stone chapels, a Moorish gazebo, a Victorian Gothic gatehouse, and an endless variety of tombstones that mark 350,000 graves spread across 196 acres.

When Geva expanded into a "full-fledged company" in 1982, it outgrew its first home at 168 South Clinton Avenue and later moved into the Rochester Business Institute building. As a result, it required a better space. In order to do this, it bought a former convention center and armory located at 75 Woodbury Boulevard, diagonally opposite from the RBI building. The 54th Regiment of the New York State Militia inhabited the recently acquired structure when it was initially constructed in 1868 by Rochester architect Andrew J. Warner. Geva finished a seven-year project in 2016 that involved lobby and café areas improvements, administrative offices, green rooms, dressing rooms, rehearsal and conference spaces, and internal infrastructure work.