Cortland: History, Art and Theatre

Cortland offers cultural experiences ranging from historic homes and contemporary art to theatre productions and a Victorian garden cemetery. You can choose what to see based on your interests or the time you have available: some offerings are tied to a spring semester or the seasons, while an approximate duration is provided for one museum tour.

Museums: House History and Cortland County

The 1890 House Museum is located in Historic Downtown Cortland. In 1975, the 1890 House became a museum. A tour of The 1890 House takes you through four floors and lasts about 60 to 90 minutes. If you plan to take this tour, check the latest tour information before your visit, as operating details may change.

The Suggett House Museum is an Italianate-style home built in 1882. Inside, a gallery of vignettes uses objects from the collection to illustrate the history of Cortland County. There is also the Then & Now Children's Room, an interactive history room exclusively for children. The two houses offer different experiences: at the Suggett House, the architecture and county history come together in the gallery; at the 1890 House, the focus is on the tour through four floors.

Art and Theatre with Seasonal Connections

The Dowd Gallery presents up to seven exhibitions each year. The works on display are primarily by nationally and internationally recognized contemporary artists. The juried Student Select exhibition takes place each spring semester and gives the public a glimpse of the visual art being created on campus. In terms of timing, the Dowd Gallery presents up to seven exhibitions a year; Student Select is specifically tied to the spring semester. If you are planning to see a particular exhibition, check its dates, as individual dates may change.

The Cortland Repertory Theatre presents its fall and winter productions at the Downtown Cortland Theatre, 24–26 Port Watson Street, Cortland, New York 13045. These productions are tied to the seasons, unlike the Student Select exhibition, which takes place during the spring semester. For a specific performance, it is best to check the latest schedule.

Explore the Cortland Rural Cemetery on Foot

The Cortland Rural Cemetery is a 19th-century Victorian garden cemetery. Its rolling grounds, winding paths that follow the terrain, and lush plantings of trees and shrubs shape its appearance. You can explore the cemetery on foot with an interactive Cemetrail tour. This makes it a different kind of visit from a house tour or viewing art in an exhibition: here, the focus is on the cemetery landscape and exploring on foot.

The approximately 60 to 90 minutes required for the tour of the 1890 House provide a useful time reference for planning. The other offerings can be organized by their respective timing: Student Select takes place in the spring semester, and the Cortland Repertory Theatre productions run in fall and winter. If you are planning a specific visit or performance, check the relevant current dates or tour information.

Discover more destinations: Mcgraw, Marathon.

For the main travel overview: Cortland.