Planning your visit to Yates County History Center

Standing proudly on Main Street in Penn Yan is the anchor building of the Yates County History Center, the Oliver House Museum, one of three buildings comprising the YCHC. The Center, formerly Yates County Genealogical & Historical Society, is one of the oldest in NYS, has been actively collecting, preserving and interpreting history since 1860. Learn more about us...

Visitors are encouraged to wear masks.

One campus, three buildings:

Oliver House Museum
L. Caroline Underwood Museum
Scherer Carriage House Museum

Parking is available at 107 Chapel Street, Penn Yan

First floors are handicapped accessible.

Admission

Free, a suggested donation of $5 per person is welcome.

$3 per person in groups of ten or more, children under the age of two are free.

Hours

Open Tuesday - Friday. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Please inquire about arrangements for visits outside regular hours. Large groups are welcome by appointment, by calling 315-536-7318. Special admission rates will apply.

Please patronize our business members for accommodations, meals, shopping and services. Yates County is home to a large community of horse and buggy driving members of the Mennonite Church. Learn more about interacting with these unique, religious people.

Closed

The museums are closed Sundays, Mondays, all major holidays and when local public schools are closed due to the weather.

Directions

From the North

Traveling south on Route 14A, you enter Penn Yan on Liberty Street at the bottom of Benton Hill. From the bottom of the hill, drive straight along Liberty, past Court Street, and take a left onto Chapel Street. The Oliver House Museum is on the corner of Chapel and Main. The L. Caroline Underwood Museum is at 107 Chapel Street. There is shared parking.

From the South

Traveling along Route 54, on Keuka Lake's east side, you enter Penn Yan and pass the McDonalds restaurant. Drive straight through the first traffic light and turn left when the street comes out to a "T" onto Main Street. Drive along Main, through Penn Yan's historic downtown, until you get to an intersection with churches on three corners. The Oliver House Museum will be on your left, on the corner of Main and Chapel Street. The L. Caroline Underwood Museum is at 107 Chapel Street. There is shared parking.

See you at the Museums!