# Geneseo

Geneseo is a village of 8,000 people (2020) in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The Geneseo Historic District has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

## Understand

Agriculture is a large contributor to Geneseo's economy. Geneseo is also used by many as a bedroom community for jobs in Rochester, 30 miles (48 km) to the north.
In its addition of Geneseo to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, the National Park Service said,
    "One of the most remarkably preserved villages in northwestern New York, Geneseo is one of the best examples of "picturesque" architecture and town planning as expounded by American landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing (1815−1852) in his enormously popular and influential books. The cohesive quality of the surviving town displays a textbook of styles and is almost unique in American architectural history. The relatively sophisticated and imposing structures included in the district reflect the village's early-19th century prosperity as a market place for the valley's farming communities."

## Get in

At the junction of State Routes 39 and 63 with U.S. Route 20, Geneseo is about 30 miles (50 km) south of Rochester International Airport in Rochester, New York.

## Get around

As it's such a small village (and a college town), Geneseo is pretty pedestrian-friendly. It's also car-friendly, but finding a parking space can be difficult.

## See

* The foundation of Geneseo lies in the center of Main Street, in the form of a bronze bear statue who appears to be holding up a light pole in the middle of Main Street.
* 42.796236-77.8167721 Geneseo Historic District. A remarkably well-preserved 19th-century streetscape, with Victorian architecture. The district includes Geneseo's historic commercial center. its most refined residential neighborhood, and the 102.8-acre (0.416 km2) estate of the Wadsworth family, The Homestead. The district consists of 312 properties, of which 288 are contributing. The district's buildings are stylistically somewhat diverse, with Italianate and Queen Anne Victorian styles of the second half of the 19th century dominating. (updated Dec 2023)
* 42.7987-77.84252 National Warplane Museum, Geneseo Airport, 3489 Big Tree Lane (west of the village), ☏ +1 585-243-2100. W-Sa 10AM-3PM, last guided tours begin at 2PM; May-Oct also open Su 10AM-3PM. Dedicated to the preservation and display of significant historical and military aircraft and artifacts An airshow is held annually on the field, during the second weekend in July. Adults $10, children 5-12 $4, children 4 and under free. (updated Dec 2023)
* 42.723056-77.8769443 New Family Theater (take the I-390; limited bus service is provided by RTS). A historic movie theater building in Mount Morris, a town of 4,300 people (2016) southwest of Genesco.

## Do

Geneseo is a college town. It is the location of one of the colleges in the State University of New York. In the 1960s its campus began to be too big. When the drinking age was lowered to 18, the market for bars ruined Main Street. The college is now very selective, and the village has been registered as an historic landmark, because the village values highly its rural heritage. A mile or two away is a WWII aircraft museum, with dirt airfield and yearly air show. Six miles away is Letchworth State Park, with planted trees now quite tall. People who own horses come to events nearby, and there is a yearly 5K road race.

## Buy

There are always all kinds of cute little shops coming in and out of town. A perennial favorite is Touch of Grayce, which is located at 65 Main Street.

## Go next

* Letchworth State Park — five minutes down the road on NY 39; it feature three major waterfalls and 66 miles (105 km) of hiking trails