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Explore the past; look into the future in state heritage areas

Discover New York's rich legacy at the State Heritage Areas, special places where we honor history, celebrate the present, and plan the future of our communities. Whether you are seeking to stimulate your mind, exercise your muscles, or delight your senses, you'll find something to enjoy at a Heritage Area.

The Heritage Area System (formerly known as the Urban Cultural Park System) is a state-local partnership established to preserve and develop areas that have special significance to New York State. From the Great Lakes to the eastern tip of Long Island, the Heritage Areas encompass some of the state's most significant natural, historic, and cultural resources, as well as the people and programs that keep them vital.

Start your visit at a Heritage Area Visitor Center, then tour the Heritage Areas and all they have to offer -- glorious vistas, exquisite architecture, informative exhibits, lively festivals, enticing shops, dynamic downtowns, and fascinating stories.

From rural charm to urban hustle and bustle, Heritage Areas offer something of interest to everyone. We invite you to explore the past and look into the future in New York State's Heritage Areas! For information, write NYS Heritage Area Programs, New York State Parks, Albany, NY 12238.

The year 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of the New York State Heritage Area Program. As part of a year-long series of events and publications, a Heritage Development Forum was held on November 13, 2007 to address heritage development issues. The Heritage Development Resource Guide (pdf) was compiled for use by those who work on heritage-related issues and programs. The Guide contains common definitions and brief profiles of the organizations and agencies that are doing this type of work.

Heritage Areas Albany Buffalo RiverSpark Kingston North Shore Mohawk Valley Harbor Park Ossining High Falls Sackets Harbor Saratoga Springs Schenectady Seneca Falls Susquehanna Syracuse Western Erie Canal Whitehall Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt

AlbanyBusiness & CapitalSince its beginnings as a fur-trading post, Albany has been a center for world trade, finance and government and a pivotal force in the development of the state and the nation. For information, call (518) 434-0405 or 1-800-258-3582.http://albany.org/

BuffaloFlowering of CultureSince the mid-19th century, when Buffalo was booming with lake, canal, and rail traffic, the city has supported a broad range of entertainment and culture, a tradition that lives on in the city and its Theatre District. For information, call (716) 852-2356 or 1-800-BUFFALO.http://www.buffalocvb.org/

Hudson-Mohawk - RiverSparkLabor & IndustryAt the confluence of two great rivers, natural resources and cutting-edge technology were harnessed in the region's transformation from an agrarian to an industrialized society. This heritage is visible today in the landscapes and streetscapes of the RiverSpark communities: Troy, Cohoes, Colonie, Green Island, Troy, Waterford and Watervliet. For information, call (518) 270-8667 or (518) 237-7999.http://riverspark.org/

KingstonTransportationThe city of Kingston began in the narrow streets and stone houses of the colonial Stockade District, which served as the first capital of New York State, and grew to include the bustling Hudson River port of Rondout. For information, call (800) 331-1518. For Rondout, call (845) 331-7517. For Uptown, call (845) 331-9506.http://ci.kingston.ny.us/

Long Island North ShoreFrom the historic mansions of Great Neck to the farm stands of Orient, from sunny vineyards and well-worn fishing piers to luxurious Gold Coast estates, Long Island's north shore abounds in attractions. For more information call (516) 628-1066.http://linorthshoreheritagearea.com/

Mohawk Valley Heritage CorridorThe dramatic landscapes of the eight Mohawk Valley counties are layered with centuries of history, from Iroquois encounters with fur-traders and missionaries, through European settlement, colonial wars, the Erie Canal and industrialization.

New York City - Harbor ParkMaritime Trade & ImmigrationHistoric waterfront sites around New York's harbor tell the epic story of growth from a colonial trading post to the largest seaport and immigration destination in the world. For information, call (212) 344-3491.http://thebattery.org/

OssiningReform MovementsIn this historic Hudson River village, unique landmarks like the Old Croton Aqueduct and Sing Sing Prison display state-of-the-art advances in 19th-century civil and social engineering. For information, call (914) 941-3189.http://www.hudsonriver.com/rivertowns/ossining.htm

Rochester - High FallsNatural EnvironmentWhere millraces and waterwheels once captured the power of the mighty Genesee River. Rochester's High Falls area now welcomes visitors day and night to revitalized factories, dramatic archaeological sites, and magnificent scenery. For information, call (585) 325-2030.http://centerathighfalls.org/

Sackets HarborDefenseThe War of 1812 Battlefield, historic Madison Barracks, and quaint village streets bear witness to Sackets Harbor's role as a military stronghold defending the northern border during our country's turbulent first centuries. For information, call (315) 646-2321.http://sacketsharborny.com/home.html

Saratoga SpringsNatural Environment"Queen of the Spas" in the 19th-century, Saratoga still attracts visitors to its bubbling mineral springs, racetracks, Victorian architecture, vibrant downtown and flourishing cultural life. For information, call (518) 587-3241.http://www.saratogatourism.com/vcstuff/vchome.html

SchenectadyLabor & Industry"The Electric City" grew from a 17th-century stockaded village into the modern industrial giant that is home to General Electric, the American Locomotive Co, Union College, and numerous historic neighborhoods. For information, call (518) 382-5147, ext. 5128.http://www.sayschenectady.org/

Seneca FallsThe righteous spirit of reform earned Seneca Falls a place in world history as the setting of the first Women's Rights Convention in 1848. Today, the historic mill town features a classic main street, canal promenade, and many mementos of women's activism. For information, call (315)568-2703.http://www.senecafalls.com/history-heritage.php

SusquehannaImmigration & Migration and Labor & IndustryAntique carousels, factories, ethnic neighborhoods and gold-domed churches tell the story of the thousands of immigrants drawn to the industries of Binghamton, Endicott, and Johnson City in the Susquehanna's "Valley of Opportunity". For information, call Binghamton (607) 772-0660, ext.255 or Endicott (607) 757-5355.http://www.roberson.org/visitors/binghamton_visitor_center.asphttp://www.endicottny.com/Visitor Center/visitorcenter.htm

SyracuseTransportation and Business & CapitalSalt, a precious natural resource, first put Syracuse on the map, but it was the Erie Canal that transformed the city into a modern center of business and capital. For information, call (315) 471-0593.http://eriecanalmuseum.org/urban.asp

Western Erie Canal Heritage CorridorThe Erie Canal brought pioneers, the fervor of social reform, and industrial progress to the fertile landscapes of Western New York, a legacy that survives in the fascinating cities, towns and sprawling farms that line today's canal. For more information call (585) 546-7029.http://eriecanalheritage.com

WhitehallDefenseWhitehall's harbors, museums, parks, and charming main street evoke the village's history as home base for Benedict Arnold's Lake Champlain fleet during the American Revolution and as a prosperous port on the Champlain Canal. For information, call (518) 499-1155 or (518) 499-0716.http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1155278

Lake Erie Concord Grape BeltFruitful vineyards, hospitable communities, breath-taking vistas, and healthy flavors abound in the 50 miles of shoreline that form the world's oldest and largest Concord grape-growing region.http://www.concordgrapebelt.org