Taughannock Falls State Park
One of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, Taughannock Falls plunges 215 feet down into a dramatic gorge that snakes out 3/4 of a mile to Cayuga Lake. Taughannock Falls State Park was founded in 1925 on land that was once known as Weyburn's Point and later as Goodwin's Point, named for early white settlers of the area. The word "Taughannock" is thought to be from the Indigenous Delaware or Lenape language, meaning "great falls in the woods." There are campsites and boat launches, as well as wonderful lake swimming, but one of the great attractions of Taughannock Falls State Park is the hiking trails. The Gorge Trail is a picturesque and flat 3/4 mile trail that leads to the base of the majestic falls. The Rim Trail is 3+ miles of hilly but not too challenging hiking that offers some spectacular views of Taughannock Creek below in the gorge.
Southside Community Center
The Southside Community Center was originally founded in the 1920s as the Serv-Us League by a group of community-minded black women. In the late 1930s federal Works Progress Administration funds supported the construction of the current Southside building on Plain Street in Ithaca, and its establishment as a full-service community center for the local black population. It sponsored job training, nutritional and health clinics, and recreational activities for kids and adults, including robust sports programming and instruction. High School students who participated in training programs at Southside were among the first African Americans to break the color barrier in professional Ithaca. One of the many sports programs that were historically run at the Southside Community Center that is represented in The History Center's photographic collection was boxing classes and instruction.
Newfield High School - 2022 championship Basketball team
In March 2022 the Newfield High School Basketball team made history when it won the New York State High School Class C Championship. A highly successful basketball program, Newfield could claim Section titles, and States Final Four appearances, but they had never won the state title until 2022, when they showed a come-from-behind spirit and dominated higher seeded teams. Their title game was won by half-time when they led by 8 points, and never looked back. The final score had them winning by 25 points and they made history.This storied championship team played at the Newfield High School at 247 Main Street in Newfield. Materials from the first title run are in the process of being donated to The History Center's collections.
Freeville-Dryden Inter-County Baseball Team
The term "amateur" means "one who engages in a pursuit...or a sport as a pastime rather than as a profession." The word comes from French, meaning "one who loves," and since the earliest days of baseball, there have been groups of players who don't play for money, but play for the love of the game. In central New York during the middle years of the 20th century, one such group was the Inter-County Baseball League. Teams from all around Tompkins County as well as surrounding towns such as Richford in Tioga County and Lodi in Seneca County competed enthusiastically from the early 1930s until after World War II. The Freeville team was sponsored by the local Knights of Pythias and were known as the Knights, or the K of P’s, or the Kapees, and later just as the Freeville-Dryden team. They were one of the best amateur teams of central New York.Just west of 193 Fall Creek Road, Freeville
Hammond Hill State Forest - Cross Country Skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking
Originally private farm and pasture land, what is now the Hammond Hill State Forest is 3,697 acres of wooded land that is popular for multiple recreational purposes. This natural treasure sprawls over parts of the towns of Caroline, Dryden, and Richford in Tioga County. Some of the land was acquired by the federal government in the 1930s, and Civilian Conservation Corps workers planted more than 700,000 spruce, pine, oak, ash, cherry, maple, and larch seedlings between 1935 and 1940. The land was later transferred to New York State, who manages it for conservation and recreational purposes. There are now more than 20 miles of multiple use trails, which are used for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing.
Myers Park - water sports including kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding
The International Salt Plant in Ludlowville donated 24 acres of lakefront property to the Town of Lansing in 1959, and by 1965, the development of Myers Park was finished and it was open to the public. Now consisting of 31 leafy green acres with pavilions, play areas, a basketball court, a marina, barbecue pits, camping, and a swim area with lifeguards in the summer months, Myers is also known as a great place for kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boarding. With easy access both to Cayuga Lake and Salmon Creek, launching is easy and pleasant and supported by Paddle-N-More rentals.Myers is also the home of one of Tompkins County's most picturesque lighthouses, a small gem situated on the end of the point of land jutting out into Cayuga Lake.
Farmer's Market - Home of the Rutabaga Curl
On the last day of Ithaca Farmers market in 1996, it was cold and with few customers, the farmers were bored, so for entertainment and to keep warm, they started hurling round vegetables towards a target. This spontaneity inspired vendor Steve Sierigk to harness the fun and organize the first official Rutabaga Curl at the last Saturday Market in 1997. Starting with a few rules, a 79-foot-long court, and 50 Rutabaga's from Blue Heron Farm, the event was rolling becoming more official each year! Rutabagas were being bred to win, a flaming rutabaga torch announced the start of the games [to Chariots of Fire music], refs were recruited to officiate, cheerleaders chanted, announcers provided lively commentary, local luminaries tossed the opening baga, and contestants signed up to compete. In 2007, the famous Rutabaga Chorus singing "Rutabaga" to Handel's Messiah made its first, now annual, debut. Many more Rutabaga stories can be told, including the Japanese team sent to compete, making it a truly international game. Come see the Ithaca Farmers Market Rutabaga Curl exhibit and share your Rutabaga Curl memories!
Cass Park - Dragon Boating
For most of its history, dragon boating was exclusively an annual holiday custom. In the past 50 years, however, dragon boating has gained popularity as a modern sport, one that is unique for retaining aspects of its Chinese heritage. Though stories, traditions, and modern interpretations vary widely, dragon boating has always been about bringing people together. It is an inherently communal sport, with success depending on a team’s synergy and harmony more than any one individual’s talent. The story of dragon boating is the story of communities, from the local Asian diaspora that sustains the Ithaca Dragon Boat Club to the multinational federation of athletes and spectators around the globe.
