On Tuesday, October 6th please join Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Senior Historian and Curator of Social History at the New York State Museum as she discusses Henry DiSpirito. When Henry DiSpirito emigrated from Italy in 1921 he was already a trained stonemason and bricklayer. In Utica, New York, he found work in those trades but longed to devote his life to art. He found his calling in the direct-carving style of sculpture. Renowned for his sculpture, DiSpirito was an accomplished painter as well. In 1963, he was appointed the first artist-in-residence at Utica College, a position he held until his death. Through his art, DiSpirito developed a deep connection with students and faculty, as well as the larger community in Utica.

October 13th tune in as we explore some of the great paintings in the collection at the Arkell Museum with Mary Alexander, Curator of Education and Public Engagement at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie and David Brooks of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. Discover more about the collection, the artists, and the history represented in the amazing portraits and landscapes. “Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power a pageant; but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in frame, unlimited in space and indefinite in duration.”― DeWitt Clinton, The Life and Writings of DeWitt Clinton
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site interpreter Jessica Serfilippi will present on the fascinating Women of Schuyler Mansion, Tuesday October 20th. The "Schuyler Sisters" have been causing quite a stir in the Broadway musical, Hamilton: An American Musical, but did you know that there were really five sisters? Learn what it was like growing up as a Schuyler, as Serfilippi takes an in-depth look at the history of the Schuyler women, their daily lives, and the impact they had in shaping their family's history.
Closing out the Tuesday Talks portion of our NYS History Month programs, join Amanda Massie and Valerie Balint for the presentation, “Converging on the Canal: the 19th Century Through Food.” Few things are more universal than a need for food. What people eat of often related to where they live and their socio-economic standing. The 19th century in America brought massive change to where people lived, and a growing industry often brought social uplift. At the center of much of this change was the opening and expansion of the Erie Canal and the people who lived and worked on it. Massie and Balint will discuss how the technology and ideas that moved along the Erie Canal shaped how Americans ate in the 19th century.

In addition, the site will also be offering several other online programs during the month. On Saturday, October 3rd, Tim McLean will discuss the Oneida Community at 1pm. Wednesday, October 21st there will be a presentation at 1pm from Ashley Maready of the Erie Canal Museum about the Life and Times of NYS Governor and Erie Canal proponent DeWitt Clinton. More programs will be announced soon. Webex links are available on the Schoharie Crossing Facebook page, on their NYS Parks Website, or by contacting the site.

New York State History Month:
October has been newly designated as New York State History Month by an executive order in December of 2019 that expands on the New York State Legislature’s 1997 act, Section 57.02 to the state’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Law declaring a month of recognition. “The purpose of this month shall be to celebrate the history of New York State and recognize the contributions of the state and local historians.” New York State History Month represents an opportunity for historians, cultural institutions, and the public to assert the vital importance of preserving and learning about our state’s history.
For information about this program, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our Facebook page.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual state parks, historic sites, golf courses, boat launches and recreational trails, which are visited by 71 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter
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